Inner west schools share $5 million extra funding

Inner-west schools will receive almost $5 million this year as part of the state government’s Education State funding.

Announced in May and detailed last week, the additional funding will deliver $4.8 million to schools in the state electorates of Footscray, Williamstown and Altona.

The biggest boost in Footscray will go to Western English Language School ($540,095), Braybrook College ($504,336), Gilmore College for Girls ($156,726), Dinjerra Primary ($141,710) and Rosamond Special School ($52,862).

In Williamstown, extra funding will go to Bayside P-12 College ($257,568), Altona North Primary ($140,129), Williamstown High School ($125,426), Yarraville West Primary ($29,773) and Wembley Primary ($24,859).

Additional funding for schools in Altona includes Laverton P-12 College ($737,730), Altona Meadows Primary ($118,037), Altona P-9 College ($63,190), Seabrook Primary ($51,453) and Western Autistic School ($39,081).

Braybrook College principal Kelly Panousieris said the money would boost its literacy and numeracy programs.

“Mixed ability classes, which cater for each individual ability, can’t be done without this kind of funding,” she said.

“We will be able to set short-term targets rather than a class target. Students can work at their own level.”

Footscray MP Marsha Thomson said making Victoria the Education State started with local schools.

Shadow education minister Nick Wakeling said the funding for the Education State initiative was not new.

“This is not new or extra funding as Daniel Andrews falsely tried to claim,” he said. “It was already announced as part of the last budget.”