Northern beaches schools: Best and worst for student to teacher ratios
New data reveals the best and worst schools for student to teacher ratios on the peninsula, with the 10 worst resourced schools all primary schools.
Schools Hub
Don't miss out on the headlines from Schools Hub. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Damaged asbestos found in 23 schools on northern beaches
- How northern beaches secondary schools rated in NAPLAN
MANY classes on the northern beaches have a higher student to teacher ratio than the national average, according to the latest statistics.
Nine out of 10 schools on the peninsula with the highest student to teacher ratio are public primary schools.
But the school where teachers have the most pupils on the peninsula is Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Primary School in Forestville.
It has 20.8 students per teacher, compared with the Catholic schools across the country, which have an average of 14 students for every teacher in 2018.
A spokesman for Catholic Schools NSW said student-teacher ratios are declining across our sector, and the average remains only marginally different from that of the government sector.
“Student-teacher ratios are affected by a range of factors specific to an individual school’s context, such as teacher experience, the number of non-teaching staff, school size, and the level of socio-educational advantage of the students,” the spokesman said.
“NSW Catholic Schools continue to offer a terrific education, with high-quality teachers and academic results well-above the state average.”
Wheeler Heights Public School had the second worst ratio with 20.1 students per teacher and then Mimosa Public School with 20 students per teacher.
The figures on student to teacher ratios come from an analysis of national data from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority.
According to ACARA the national student to teacher ratio was 13.5 students for every teacher.
Across the country independent private schools had the lowest student to teacher ratios with 11.7 students to every teacher.
Government schools had an average of 13.8 students for every teacher while Catholic schools had an average of 14 students for every teacher.
Student-teacher ratios do not take into account teacher aides or non-teaching staff at schools, only the full-time equivalent teachers.
Hannah Archer Lawton, NSW Teacher’s Federation Northern Beaches, said fewer students per teacher was obviously better for the children.
She also said the figures seemed low and that they perhaps included the principal and others because class sizes were large on the peninsula.
“Our main issue is overcrowding with small classrooms or 30 children in a small demountable,” she said.
Ms Archer Lawton said the union has in place protection on class sizes in government schools with kindy allowed a max of 20 kids, Year 1, 22 pupils, Year 2, 24 and Years 3 to 6, 30.
The lowest student to teacher ratios are schools catering for those with special needs.
Not including montessori schools, the Sydney Japanese International School or German International School Sydney, private school Pittwater House in Cromer is the best resourced.
Pittwater House Principal, Dr Nancy Hillier said their ratios were tailored to cater specifically to individual students.
“Research shows this is particularly effective in the younger years where one-on-one learning opportunities can positively influence student learning outcomes,” she said.
See the list here:
Northern beaches’s highest student to teacher ratios:
Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Primary School: 20.8 students per teacher
Wheeler Heights Public School: 20.1 students per teacher
Mimosa Public School: 20.0 students per teacher
Manly West Public School: 19.9 students per teacher
Avalon Public School: 19.9 students per teacher
Curl Curl North Public School: 19.9 students per teacher
Harbord Public School: 19.8 students per teacher
Manly Village Public School: 19.8 students per teacher
Balgowlah Heights Public School: 19.7 students per teacher
Belrose Public School: 19.7 students per teacher
Northern beaches’s lowest student to teacher ratios:
Karuna Montessori School: 2.6 students per teacher
Arranounbai School: 2.7 students per teacher
Aspect Vern Barnett School: 4.0 students per teacher
Fisher Road School: 4.4 students per teacher
The Beach School: 4.5 students per teacher
Forestville Montessori School: 4.5 students per teacher
Sydney Japanese International School: 7.2 students per teacher
Farmhouse Montessori School: 8.4 students per teacher
German International School Sydney: 8.9 students per teacher
Pittwater House Schools: 9.4 students per teacher