South Burnett’s most crowded classrooms revealed

The schools with South Burnett‘s most crowded classrooms have been revealed. Find out how your school performed here.

2 min read

March 3, 2023 - 5:00AM

The South Burnett schools with South Burnett‘s most crowded classrooms have been revealed.

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An analysis of national data from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority has revealed the schools where teachers have the most students in their classes.

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There were more students per teacher at St John‘s Lutheran School than any other school across the South Burnett in 2021.

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According to the data, which is the most up to date and includes all state and private schools nationally, St John‘s Lutheran School had 16.3 students for every teacher, the highest in the area.

It had 441 students enrolled and 27.1 full-time equivalent teachers.

Principal Karyn Bjelke-Petersen said St John’s created calmer classrooms through having boundaries and expectations of high behaviour standards.

St John's principal Karyn Bjelke-Petersen said the school had a good range of experienced and younger teachers.

“In 2021 they were smaller classes - it’s going to skew the numbers because we have some teachers who are only here for electives so it probably is not a true reflection of the teachers,” Ms Bjelke-Petersen said.

“We have a good range of experienced teachers and younger teachers who bring fresh aspects, our experienced teachers take on new challenges and new ways.

“We all work together with a high ratio of ancillary staff and ’learning coaches’ we call them, who support the children’s learning.

“Every child is on their own learning journey and every child's journey looks different.”

The second highest student-teacher ratio was at Crawford State School where there was an average of 16.1 students for every teacher at the school.

It had 53 students enrolled and 3.3 full-time equivalent teachers.

At Coolabunia State School, there were 15.3 students for every teacher.

It had 89 students enrolled and 5.8 full-time equivalent teachers.

According to ACARA, the national student-teacher ratio in 2021 was 13.3 students for every teacher.

At a primary level it is 14.5 and secondary is 11.9.

Catholic schools have the highest national ratios for primary schools with a 15.4 ratio, followed by 14.4 for state schools and 14 for independent schools.

At the high school level, state schools had the highest ratio with 12.4, followed by Catholic with 12.2 and 10.5 for independent.

Meanwhile, the South Burnett region‘s least crowded classroom was at Cloyna State School where there was an average of 3.6 students for every teacher at the school.

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It had 12 students enrolled and 3.3 full-time equivalent teachers.

Principal Jane Mason said she had 11 students enrolled this year and she loved working at a small school.

“I can give small group delivery of the Australian curriculum, we can allow for different learning styles and needs and if some of my students need extension or support I can easily give my students that,” Ms Mason said.

“Throughout the year we join other small schools for sport and other activities like camps, art projects and school trips.

“It’s important our students get to spend time with their own peer groups and develop friendships which they can take into high school.”

Student-teacher ratios do not take into account teacher aides or non-teaching staff at schools, only the full-time equivalent teachers.