This PhD mixed-methods research focused on a specific Australian faith-based school system, Adventist Schools Australia, and, importantly, where most parents were not affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist faith. It aimed to understand why an increasing number of parents are choosing Seventh-day Adventist schools in Australia, despite ample government and other non-government schools from which to choose. An invitation to participate in a survey was sent to all families of these schools (1879 families), and 778 parents responded, giving a response rate of 41.4%. Within the survey, parents were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview. 196 survey parents indicated their interest, and 21 interviewees were selected from varied cultural backgrounds, genders, religions, and their children’s year level.
Key insights:
This research highlights the complex and synergistic process that parents experience when choosing a faith-based school. Parents evaluate many features of a school, including facilities, extra-curricular activities, provision for special needs, range of subjects offered, behaviour management, fees, and the list goes on. Additionally, a significant finding of this research is that parents choose a school if it was perceived to uphold and teach their family values, provide their children with a nurturing and supportive environment, and where educational potential rather than academic results was the focus of the educational program.
Impact and outcomes:
Faith-based schools could draw on the findings of this research to develop relevant educational directions to ensure their schools are meeting the needs and desires of their consumers, namely the parents. Targeted marketing strategies and appropriate future planning can use this research to provide a faith-based educational landscape that parents desire. Focusing on the teaching of values, providing a nurturing environment, and promoting a well-rounded education are the three key and unique factors why parents choose faith-based schools. Understanding what parents want in a school could help struggling schools increase their enrolments, and these findings may also be transferable to other faith-based school systems.
Research outputs:
Henley, V. (2024). An exploration into the sources of information parents use when choosing a faith-based school in Australia. TEACH Journal of Christian Education, 18(1).
Henley, V. (2023). An exploration into the factors that influence parents when choosing a faith-based school for their children: An Australian faith-based school system case study. [Doctoral dissertation, Avondale University]. https://research.avondale.edu.au/items/b5592912-5f08-4b4b-a429-90a29e9196d0
Henley, V. (2022). In their own words: Parent perceptions of Adventist education. In P. Williams & K. Pearce (Eds), Revealing Jesus in the learning environment: In celebration of teaching (pp. 77-100). Avondale Academic Press.
Henley, V. (2021). Research from the inside: One teacher’s research journey within a school setting. TEACH Journal of Christian Education, 15(2).
Fields of Research Codes:
3901Â Curriculum and pedagogy
3902Â Education policy, sociology and philosophy
3903Â Education systems
Status:
Completed (2018-June 2023)
More information:
Sustainable Development Goal:
