The Northern Territory Government is considering a move to independent public schools at some sites, seeking the same benefits as Queensland and Western Australia have claimed.

Meanwhile, New South Wales Education continues to avoid the Federal Government's new $70 million Independent Public Schools initiative.

NT Education Minister Peter Chandler has opened up discussions on the plan to establish a system of more autonomous schools, outlining possible amendments to the Education Act as early as this year.

Mr Chandler says other states have enjoyed the increased role played by principals and local P&C groups in choosing their schools’ direction.

“We are looking at independence and offering a choice,” Chandler says.

He says private companies would be approached to supplement funding for the independent schools, providing lunch menus, curriculum packages or even erecting advertising signs on school grounds.

“You may have a major player who wants to support a particular school or a group of schools in an area,” he said.

“Why shouldn't they be allowed to do that?

“If it means that a little bit of advertising is involved, I am not going to rule that kind of thing out.”

Education Department chief executive Ken Davies has signalled his support of the discussions, saying the independent model will benefit schools through better decision-making on staff and funding avenues.

“We are moving to get as much of the decision making about schools and classrooms down to the principal level,” he said.

Over in New South Wales, Education Minister Adrian Piccoli says the state’s schools are independent enough.

“We've made it clear and New South Wales has gone substantially down the road of increased school autonomy. Public schools in NSW will manage 70 per cent of their budget up from the current 10 per cent,” he said.

“So we have gone substantially down the road of school autonomy, New South Wales has done a lot.

“The Commonwealth have got their views and I have met with Christopher Pyne to talk about where our reforms actually meet the kinds of changes that he would like to see and we continue those negotiations.”

‘I'll be working with him to develop the kind of autonomy in schools that we both think is of an advantage to students, particularly, in bringing about good outcomes for students.”

Piccoli was speaking in response to comments from Federal Education Minister Christopher Pyne, who said every state and territory except South Australia has told him they want to be part of the target to convert 25 per cent of public schools to Independent Public Schools by 2017.