Northern Sydney’s fastest growing schools revealed

Enrolment numbers in Sydney’s north are skyrocketing, with one campus increasing its student headcount by 148 per cent in just five years. See how your child’s school compares.

David Barwell and Jim O'Rourke

2 min read

November 22, 2023 - 5:00AM

Manly Daily

A photo of students of Cammeraygal High – one of the fastest growing schools in Sydney’s north.

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Northern Sydney’s fastest growing schools – and the ones going backwards – have been revealed.

An analysis of federal government data has revealed every Northern Sydney region school’s student enrolment trajectory over the past five years – exposing where student numbers have risen and declined the most.

International Chinese School in St Leonards is Northern Sydney’s fastest growing school, with enrolments increasing by 148 per cent in the five years from 2018 to 2022.

The second fastest growing school was Yanginanook School in Belrose with a 104 per cent change while Cammeraygal High School in Crows Nest recorded the third biggest change with a 72 per cent increase.

Peter Jamieson, principal of International Chinese School, attributed the school’s growth to its bilingual education program which involves half the curriculum taught in English and the other in Mandarin.

“The main attractions are the bilingual Mandarin program where 50 per cent of the week students are taught in Mandarin,” he said.

“There is a growing appreciation of the significance of cultural heritage and the opportunities in life that open through bilingualism in our globalised society. The growth is occurring as families on the Lower North Shore hear about the success of our program.”

A photo of International Chinese School in St Leonards.

Meanwhile, the analysis also highlighted the Northern Sydney region’s schools in decline with Karuna Montessori School in Narraweena recording a 43 per cent drop over five years.

St Paul’s Catholic College in Manly was the second school going backwards for enrolment with a 41 per cent drop and Kambora Public School in Davidson was the third with a 41 per cent decline.

Enrolment numbers have increased at St Ives High School

The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority figures are the most up to date enrolment numbers that include all state and private schools nationally.