David Seymour

“Chris Hipkins’ opposition to charter schools is based on claims that have been proven false. ACT is challenging him to accept the facts, change his position, and let children learn in the way that works best for them,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“Hipkins has gone on Newstalk ZB this morning and repeated the same false claims that charter schools cost more than state schools, despite official figures showing otherwise.

“At the NZ Herald Leaders’ Debate, Ryan Bridge asked Hipkins whether he’d ever lied. Hipkins said not deliberately, but acknowledged making incorrect statements based on outdated information and claimed he had always corrected them.

“Last week we asked him to prove that. The figures are publicly available on the Charter School Agency's website, but Hipkins has chosen to keep spreading false claims.

“The figures show charter schools receive broadly the same funding as state schools, and slightly less for staffing and operations. Compared like for like the number are:

Primary schools: $8,762 per student at state schools, compared with $8,278 at charter schools.

Secondary schools: $11,040 per student at state schools, compared with $10,741 at charter schools.

“Even the establishment funding figures show charter schools receive less. A new primary charter school with 100 students receives $401,675 in staffing and operating funding, compared with $638,249 for an equivalent state school.

“If Hipkins can't accept these facts, it suggests the real reason he opposes charter schools is that he and the unions are afraid they're becoming too successful.

“Since the first charter schools opened last year, enrolments have grown from 215 to more than 2,100. Five of the original seven schools exceeded their attendance targets in their first year, and five exceeded their achievement targets.

“Families are choosing these schools because they offer something different. For many students, the traditional system simply wasn't working. Now they're attending school, learning, and getting opportunities they didn't have before.

“Charter schools are contracted to deliver results. If they fail to meet their attendance and achievement targets, they risk losing their funding. That's a level of accountability not seen elsewhere in the state school system.

“Chris Hipkins should be celebrating schools that are helping students succeed, not threatening to abolish the model to keep his union mates happy.

“He now has the opportunity to put the interests of students ahead of the unions by accepting the facts and letting families choose the education that works best for their children.”