Qld school enrolments: Where they’re growing rapidly

South East Queensland’s most in-demand state schools have seen enrolments grow by about 1000 in just six years. SEARCH THE INTERACTIVE

Student numbers at the state’s largest public school have surged, with South East Queensland’s most in-demand schools squeezing in close to 1000 extra children in just six years.

A Courier-Mail analysis of the state’s most recent enrolment figures can reveal there are now seven schools with student populations booming to more than 3000 kids.

Marsden State High School’s popularity and reputation has seen its numbers rocket to 3637 enrolments this year – a whopping 29 per cent higher, or about 800 more than in 2020.

It means the school – which was named the best high school in the country in 2020 at the Australian Education Awards – has knocked off the popular Brisbane State High School as the largest senior school in the country, and also now boasts more kids than Kelvin Grove State College.

Principal Andrew Peach was the winner of the top public school principal at the 2020 awards, with the school’s also producing a raft of current and former NRL players including Cameron Smith, Israel Folau.

Both BSHS and KGSC have seen the enrolment figures plateau since 2020, largely thanks to strict management plans which see a large number of enrolments restricted to their inner-city catchments.

Marsden State High School principal Andrew Peach

Varsity College, Stretton State College, Mansfield State High School and Chancellor State High School have also seen their school numbers swell beyond 3000.

But a Queensland Department of Education spokeswoman said all seven schools were “currently operating under built capacity”.

She said schools has the capacity to apply to regional office for “consideration of additional resources”, if they had any local challenges.

“The department recognises that many schools are subject to fluctuations in enrolments as a result of demographic factors in the communities they serve,” she said.

“Regional offices work with individual schools to plan and manage school resourcing for each school year in the lead-up to the commencement of a new school year.”

Other schools to see record enrolment growth included Stafford Heights State School, with the population up more than 45 per cent since 2020, and Hamilton State School, who recorded a 32 per cent growth.

The education department said it regularly monitors growth across the state over the short, medium and long-term, to ensure future enrolments booms were being catered for.

“The department undertakes ongoing planning to ensure that all schools have sufficient classrooms for enrolments and to ensure that additional classrooms are in place where the school’s in-catchment population is growing,” she said.

“This planning takes into consideration local enrolment trends and projected population growth.”