That Review of Funding for Schooling, David Gonski AC, Chair. (February 20, 2012)

To quote from the letter sent by the chair of the Review of Funding for Schools, David Gonski to the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, Peter Garrett: "On 15 April 2010, the then Federal Minister for Education, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, initiated a review of funding arrangements for schooling to develop a funding system which is transparent, fair, financially sustainable and effective in promoting excellent educational outcomes for all Australian students."

There follows a seven-page Executive Summary and overall conclusion, followed in turn by 41 Recommendations and 26 Findings.

The overall conclusion:

The panel accepts that resources alone will not be sufficient to fully address Australia’s schooling challenges and achieve a high-quality, internationally respected schooling system. The new funding arrangements must be accompanied by continued and renewed efforts to strengthen and reform Australia’s schooling system.

Australia’s schools, government and non-government, should be staffed with the very best principals and teachers, those who feel empowered to lead and drive change, and create opportunities for students to learn in new ways to meet their individual needs. Classrooms should support innovative approaches to learning, not only through the curriculum, technologies and infrastructure, but also through the culture of the school. Principals and teachers should encourage a culture of high expectations, continuous learning, and independence and responsibility for all students. They should also forge connections with parents and the community, as key partners in children’s learning and attitudes to school.

For these practices to be championed in every school, the Australian Government and state and territory governments must continue to work together, in consultation with the non-government school sector, to progress the current school reform agenda.

Australia and its children and young people, now and in the future, deserve nothing less.

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Sorry chaps we ain't got no silver bullet.

So any odds on evidence based policy?