Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall said the additional support was a result of the NSW Government being the first to sign up to and fully fund the Gonski education agreement, which will deliver $5 billion in additional funding to NSW students over six years.

Mr Marshall said that this year, the third under the needs-based allocation model, funding for Northern Tablelands schools increased by $3.2 million.

“With these extra resources for 2017, our local Northern Tablelands schools will benefit from recurrent funding under the NSW Government’s Resource Allocation Model (RAM) – and there’s more to come,” he said. 

“In total, the 59 Northern Tablelands public schools will receive $21.25 million in needs-based equity funding next year.

“It’s what NSW public schools have always wanted – a significant increase in funding guaranteed into the future, with the greatest benefits flowing to schools and students with the greatest need.”

A breakdown of the funding for Glen Innes Severn local government area schools sees Glen Innes Public School receiving $839,499 in 2017, Ben Lomond Public School $23,914, Deepwater Public School $76,655, Emmaville Central School $236,164, Red Range Public School $154,457, Glen Innes West Infants School $126,549 and Glen Innes High School $726,327.

Glen Innes High School Principal Shelly Way said needs-based funding like Gonski is important because it allows the high school to provide programs for their students that they would not otherwise be able to provide.

“We have Gonski funded programs available to our students that are available to them on top of the normal curriculum,” she said

Mr Marshall said the Federal Government should commit to funding its share of the final two years of Gonski because country schools and students benefit the most from these reforms.