Next year that equity funding will have increased by a whopping 300 per cent to $504,000 thanks to the Gonski education reforms, hailed by the region’s principals as a long overdue – and very welcome – step in the right direction.

The 2015 allocations were announced last week, with significant increases for many schools from the 2014 levels, the first year of the changes to equity funding in line with the Gonski inquiry recommendations.

The needs-based funding is now determined for each school according to the Resource Allocation Model (RAM) which has five loadings: the number of students from low socio-economic backgrounds; with a low-level disability; from a non-English speaking background; from Aboriginal backgrounds; and, for the first time in 2015, how remote the community is.

“It’s what NSW public schools have wanted – a significant increase in funding guaranteed into the future, with the greatest benefits flowing to schools and students with the greatest need,” Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall said.

The real impact of these Gonski funding reforms can only be properly appreciated though when a comparison is made with the 2013 levels.

Inverell High, for example, received $11,828 in 2013, pre-Gonski, but next year will see its share rise to more than $668,000.

Little Yetman Public banked just over $400 in 2013, but next year will have $68,000 extra in their school budget.

It’s the same story across the region and for Ashford Central principal Mick Lewis, who has presided over the school for 20 years, the benefits can’t be underestimated.

“It’s given us the flexibility to do a lot more than we used to,” he said.

“Allocating funding according to where the highest needs are is the sensible approach. It’s the fair way of doing it.”

Mr Lewis said this year the additional funding had allowed the school to offer a broader range of subjects to its seniors, more resources for pre-schoolers, an intensive maths program for years 5 to 8, teacher aids to assist students with learning difficulties and tutoring for Aboriginal students in years 11 and 12.

The fact the funding is recurrent has been praised by principals everywhere, but the concern is the federal government’s refusal to commit to the final two years of the six-year Gonski agreement.

The NSW government was the first to sign up to and fully fund the agreement in conjunction with the commonwealth, which was to deliver $5 billion in additional funding to the state’s students over that six-year period, with the most funding flowing to schools in that last two years.

Mr Lewis said he hoped there would be a change of heart considering the changes already underway at his school.

“We’re seeing the benefits in student results and their engagement at school,” he said.