Walford cops enrolment hit as high price school student figures wobble

One of SA’s priciest private schools has had a 20 per cent dive in enrolments, bucking a trend towards steady growth in independent colleges. See the list

One of the state’s most expensive private schools has recorded a 20 per cent drop in enrolments over six years, bucking a citywide trend towards steady student growth.

The Sunday Mail analysed the enrolment data of 34 of the state’s most prominent independent and Catholic schools, finding Walford Anglican School for Girls suffered the largest dive in student numbers from 2016 to 2021.

The Hyde Park school, which charges $28,580 for Year 12 students, had 492 students last year – 20 per cent fewer than its enrolments in 2016.

Loreto and Christian Brothers College both had 16 per cent decreases.

Rostrevor College Year 8 students Marco Rossi and Archer Urban-Burrows. Picture: Dean Martin

The average enrolment growth was 5.33 per cent, but some schools’ rises soared well beyond that.

University Senior College’s introduction of Year 10 students in 2020 helped the school record a 27 per cent rise in student numbers.

Big increases were also noted at Emmaus Christian College and St Andrew’s School (24 per cent), Gleeson College (23 per cent) and St Peter’s Girls (18 per cent).

Nobody from Walford or Christian Brothers College was available for an interview.

At Rostrevor College, principal Shana Bennett said 910 students were studying there this year – up from 885 in 2021.

“The school has the capacity to cater for an increased enrolment. We certainly have the physical space and we warmly welcome new boys and families to the college,” she said.

The school expects numbers to continue rising next year.

“We have some really exciting plans for our junior years and are further developing the wellbeing offerings at the college,” Ms Bennett said.

Year 8 student Marco Rossi said he loved Rostrevor’s soccer teams and coaches, and learning how he could help other people who are less fortunate.

Loreto College principal Nicole Archard said despite a previous decline in enrolments, the school had made “great strides” in attracting more girls over the past couple of years.

“From 2020-2022 we saw a 18.7 per cent increase in enrolments and anticipate this trend to continue into 2023 enrolments and beyond,” she said.

The Marryatville college now has 590 students and it’s expecting 625 girls to attend in 2023.

University Senior College principal Anita Zocchi. Photo Sam Wundke

Loreto College Principal Dr Nicole Archard.

Dr Archard pointed to school upgrades and the introduction of its award-winning social, emotional, and academic development program as reasons behind the school’s growth, along with the introduction of a weekly student wellbeing check-in for the girls.

A new feedback process for all teachers, including peer and student input, was also helping with staff development.

University Senior College principal Anita Zocchi said there had also been steady growth, as more people learned about the relatively young campus and the style of learning it offered. “We like to challenge students in their learning and prepare them for university,” Ms Zocchi said.

“Our students want to be independent. They want to be supported in their learning and treated as individuals and our adult learning environment really attracts them.”