Marsden State High School chalks up record as country’s largest secondary school

A southside high school, which boasts rugby league royalty among its alumni, has broken the country’s record for the most number of enrolments, eclipsing Brisbane State High.

Marsden State High School principal Andrew Peach inside a class at the school which has grown to become the biggest school in Australia.

It’s known for its famous league players Cameron Smith and Israel Folau.

But this year, Marsden State High School will be known as the country’s biggest school in history.

Enrolments at the high school hit a whopping 3733 in January, the highest in Australia for years 7 to 12.

It outstripped Kelvin Grove State College, which had 3568 students at December 2021, boosting its numbers by including prep to year 6 in its figures.

Even Brisbane State High School, which had 3426 students and 230 teaching staff at the last bell in 2021, was left in its wake.

The three Queensland schools are the country’s largest.

They are followed closely by Mansfield State High School, Australia’s fourth largest high school, which had 3244 students and 223 teaching staff.

Marsden State High School principal Andrew Peach with some of his students who have made the school the largest in Australia.

Melbourne-based Haileybury College, which is a network of six campuses, has 4303 students registered and includes students from an extra seven years from prep to year 6.

A Department of Education spokesman said last year, the largest state secondary school in Queensland by enrolment numbers was Kelvin Grove State College, with 3568 students and 267 teaching staff, followed by Brisbane State High School with 3426 students and 230 teaching staff.

The spokesman said Varsity College was the third largest state high school last year, with 3345 students and 250 teachers, whilst Mansfield State High School was the fourth by student numbers (3244 students and 223 teaching staff).

“Average class sizes are within targets at each of the schools and range between 18 and 27 students,” the spokesman said.

Breaking records is nothing new to principal Andrew Peach, whose school was named the country’s top school in 2020 after he was named Principal of the Year in 2020.

Principal of the Senior School, Kylie Steinhardt, won Principal of the Year in 2021.

Mr Peach said the number of students at the school did not affect class sizes which were regulated under state law.

For years 4 to 10, a class cannot be more than 28 students per teacher and 25 students for Year 11 to 12.

As student numbers rose, the school was able to build a $20 million Academic Centre of Excellence to go with its Performing Arts Centre, Trade Training Centre and world-class sporting precinct and indoor basketball stadium.

Marsden State High School’s new Performing Arts Centre. PHOTO: Richard Walker

“As the school has grown, so has the number of opportunities with greater support from all three levels of government giving access to more quality teachers and facilities,” he said.

“I won’t deny it, it is a big job and a big responsibility.

“These days, the high schools are the heart of a community and people depend on the school for a range of services.

“Growth of the school is a reflection of the growth across Logan and the pride families get knowing their children are getting the very best by learning locally.”

Mr Peach said a lot of behind-the-scenes work went on to ensure each student and all the 350-plus staff were considered.

Marsden High School principal Andrew Peach in the school’s new basketball courts. PHOTO: Sarah Marshall

Queensland registered the country’s third highest growth rate for school enrolments in 2021, chalking up a 1.1 per cent increase, behind 1.5 per cent leaps in both the Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia.

Queensland also recorded the third highest population growth rate of 0.7 per cent for children aged between 5 and 19 last year, just behind Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia which both had rises of 1.2 per cent in enrolments.