The number of students from the lowest socio-economic quartile eligible for an ATAR was less than half of those in the top quartile in 2021, an internal Department of Education document shows.
 

The document shows that out of the 54,847 students eligible for an ATAR in 2021, 19,914 came from the highest SES quartile and only 8,606 students from the lowest SES quartile.
 

There were14,582 students eligible from the second highest quartile and 11,456 from the third quartile.
 

Overall, 12,403 students from the bottom SES quartile were awarded a HSC, compared to 21,751 from the top quartile.
 

In 2021, 66,710 students completed the HSC – approximately two-thirds of the number that attended high school from that grade.
 

The statistics show the disparity in HSC attainment and the need to address education outcomes earlier.
 

Labor’s commitment to a free permanent tutoring program will help stem the decline in education outcomes.
 

In the 2022 NAPLAN results, more than 12,700 failed to meet the minimum grammar and punctuation standards, the worst performance in the state’s history, and more than 13,800 Year nine students failed the minimum writing standards.
 
This grade, now starting Year 10, were affected by COVID Lockdowns and are on the verge of entering into the HSC years or going into the workforce.
 

A Grattan Institute report just released has also identified that small-group tuition can add an extra four months of learning, on average, over a year.
 

Quotes attributable to Chris Minns, NSW Labor Leader:
 

“This report is damning – my fear is that we have a generation of children who are being left behind due to a lack of investment in education.
 

“Instead we have an Education Minister more interested in attacking the teaching profession rather than investing in schools and education.
 

“There is no more important an investment we can make in a child’s life than their education and a Labor government will fix the decline left by a decade of Liberal and National neglect.”
 

Quotes attributable to Prue Car, NSW Shadow Minister for Education:
 

“After 12 years in charge this government has left a legacy of declining outcomes and underperformance.
 

“The Liberal National Government has left schools and students to fend for themselves and failed to provide the teachers and resources our children need.”
 CHRIS MINNS MP
NSW LABOR LEADER

PRUE CAR MP
NSW DEPUTY LABOR LEADER
NSW SHADOW MINISTER FOR EDUCATION