Summer holidays at an end, well over three million students returned to school in Australia this month. Close to one in three students returned to a non-government school, non-government schools representing 28% of all Australian schools.

Catholic Schools
Traditionally dominating the non-government sector, Catholic schools (1 696) and students (641 655) represented just over two thirds. However, the Catholic sector has declined since the eighties when it represented 68.5% of all non-government schools and 73% of students (ABS, 2001), (Hughes, 2001).

Notably, sixty percent of Catholic students attended primary school and only forty secondary school. The higher proportion of primary students stems from the fact that most Catholic parishes in Australia operate a primary school and the larger parishes sometimes operate more than one. The establishment of parish primary schools in Australia really began in the latter half of the 19th century when state aid was removed and religious sisters and brothers worked to provide very affordable Catholic education for all children of Catholic parents. Fees have traditionally been lower than in other independent schools and subsidies organised for a portion of parents unable to afford those.

In 1885, it was determined that the first priority of a new parish was to build a school and that Catholic parents who sent their children to a state school without good reason be denied confession (Dixon 1996). However, many parents favoured Catholic education themselves and while the bishops stipulation is no longer required, parish primary schools despite a slight decline, continue to represent the largest slice of Non-Government schools.

Anglican Schools
Anglican schools represented 5.0% of all non-government schools (133) and one in ten non-government students (102 699). Anglican schools have experienced a gradual increase over the past 16 years (from 4.2% of students and 9.0% of schools in 1986) (Hughes 2001).

Unlike Catholic students, 63% or just under two thirds of students attending Anglican schools were at a secondary level. The Anglican tradition has not stressed the importance of education in the Anglican faith at denominational schools like the Catholics have. Many Anglican schools possess a reputation for quality, if not prestigious private education. It is likely that some parents send their older children considering it effective preparation for university or business life. Unlike the humble parish primary school, fees can reflect this.

Other Non-government Schools
Other Non-government schools have experienced the most growth over the past sixteen years. As a proportion of all schools they represent 8.4% and 7.8% of all students. When viewed as a proportion of Non-government schools they represent one quarter (25.5%) of all schools and 30.6% of all students. As distinct from both students of Catholic and Anglican schools, primary and secondary students attending Other Non-government schools were more equally represented with only marginally more secondary students (52.2%)           (Hughes 2001), (ABS 2001).          

According to Hughes (2001), other Christian schools make up a substantial proportion of the Other Non-government category. These schools are often small and thus include both primary and secondary departments. In many instances, parents would rate the provision of education for their children in their particular denominational tradition or stream (ie. evangelical Christian) equal to quality traditional education.

In 1996, 11% of the Other Non-government school category consisted of Christian Community Schools Ltd. (80 schools, 17 465 students). An additional 10% was made up by Christian Parent Controlled Schools (76 schools, 20 841 students). Other noteworthy associations of Christian schools include the Christian Schools Association of Queensland and the South Australian Association of Christian Schools. There were also at least an additional 250 independent Christian schools, an estimated 100 of these unregistered (Hughes 2001).
                              
Excluding Catholic and Anglican schools, the largest Christian denominational school networks were Lutheran schools in 1996 with 72 schools and 21 179 students. Education has been of traditional importance for Lutheranism, Luther maintaining that schools were “second in importance only to the church” and that through the provision of education the church would not lack pastors. Historically, Lutheran church schools provided for the children of German migrants and instruction was only changed to English due to the First World War. The denomination even has its own teachers college at Luther Campus (Schild & Hughes 1996).Seventh-day Adventist schools, with 71 schools, 6 992 students constituted the forth largest network

Jewish schools made the biggest non-Christian contribution to the Other Non-government category. In 1996 there were 18 schools with 9 016 students. Jewish schools were founded due to the inadequacies of existing schools in providing appropriate and inclusive education. Schools vary in their religious and political orientation including Orthodox pro-Zionist, Strictly Orthodox, Yiddishist, Reform and secular Zionist schools (Rubinstein 1996).

Islamic schools also make a large contribution to Other Non-government, non-Christian schools. In 1996 there were 12 schools which observe state curriculum standards but operate with an Islamic ethos including Arabic and Islamic studies as subjects. Prayer times are incorporated into the timetable and students generally must observe Islamic standards of dress awrah which may be described as modest, loose clothing and includes the hijab or head covering worn by women (Omar & Allen 1996).

Other Non-government Schools Online
An effective (although not exhaustive) site on Other Non-government schools is located at http://isd.com.au The site enables users to select the region/s, religious affiliation (if any), year level and type (ie. coed school) of school they seek, bringing up a description of the school with contact details.

References
                              
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2001) Schools Australia Preliminary, Canberra.

Dixon, R (1996) The Catholics in Australia, Bureau of Immigration, Multicultural and Population Research, Canberra.

Hughes, P (2001) Australia’s Religious Communities: A Multimedia Exploration (CD ROM: Professional edition), Christian Research Association, Kew.

Omar, W & Allen, K, (1996) The Muslims in Australia, Bureau of Immigration, Multicultural and Population Research, Canberra.

Rubenstein, W.D., (1996) The Lutherans in Australia, Bureau of Immigration, Multicultural and Population Research, Canberra.
                              
Schild, M & Hughes, P (1996) Judaism in Australia, Bureau of Immigration, Multicultural and Population Research, Canberra.