SMH Schools Summit 2025 LIVE updates: Prue Car speaks after funding deal, selective schools in the spotlight

Top of today’s agenda will be a historic 10-year funding deal Education Prue Car has secured with the Commonwealth government, which will deliver public schools an extra $4.8 billion over the next four years.

The money is expected to start flowing in 2026 and comes after NSW schools have been grappling with harsh budget cuts. It means public schools will be funded to 100 per cent of the school resourcing standard, a model developed by David Gonski. It sounds out the minimum amount of cash a school needs for its students to reach their educational potential, depending on their backgrounds and school location.

Across NSW, public schools and teachers have been told to do more with less: new targets demand better NAPLAN results and lift wellbeing outcomes, while many schools can’t afford to hire a bus to take students to PSSA sport. Half a billion dollars was taken out of public school bank accounts last year.

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare says the billions of extra dollars are not a blank cheque. He wants to see better outcomes, too, and mandated a numeracy screening check for year 1 students.

At a press conference on Tuesday, NSW Education Minister Prue Car said that “this money is about ensuring that the teaching and learning in the classroom will benefit every child”, but indicated it may go some way to building schools which were needed.

“This money will help us really – I hate to use this word – but turbocharge this in New South Wales, we’re hard at work to ensure that we build the schools where they are needed,” she said.

“The previous state government in New South Wales left communities in the growing north-west and south-west of Sydney in particular, without schools, tens of thousands of people without schools.”

Car is set to address the summit this morning.