school kids with the type of material being taught- there was absolutely no standard in education. So based on that, I think the government would have to invest a lot more in public schools before I'd be willing to send my kids there. I totally agree with you on the school ranking and having your UAI raised based on how your school did! My best fried and I both went to public (but different) high schools. Academically we were both the same, just above average. However she was severly bullied so her parents pulled her out of the public school and placed her in an all girls private school for year 11 & 12. The bullying stopped, however she noted how handfed they were in preparation for their HSC. The school had an image to uphold of high UAIs and so they basically made sure it stayed that way by spoon feeding their students. My friend ended up with a UAI in the high 90s, everyone was shocked. Even her. Her school scaled well and bumped up her marks. The issue is definitely not public vs. private. I have taught extensively in three private schools and two public schools. The private school populus was as diverse as in the public schools, and reflected the demographic in the surrounding areas. Two of the private schools were founded specifically to meet a need in the local community. In the most expensive of the schools, students were very independent and 'self-directed learning' was