Teacher-student ratios: New data compares northern NSW schools

The northern NSW schools with the best – and worst – ratios of teachers to students have been revealed as educators quit the system in droves amid increasing scrutiny on student discipline statewide.

Editor’s Note:A previous version of this article incorrectly listed Rissalah College Lakemba as among the Top 3 worst schools for student-teacher ratios. Rissalah’s student to teacher ratio in its secondary school is 11.64, not 20.28.

The northern NSW schools with the most crowded classrooms have been revealed as teachers leave the education system in droves amid increasing scrutiny on student discipline statewide.

The data from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) may come as a surprise.

For example, out of the 50 most crowded classrooms from the Tweed down to the Mid-North Coast, nine schools from the Catholic Diocese of Lismore had the worst student-teacher ratios.

The Diocese has been contacted for comment on the local figures, as has the Department of Education.

However, it’s clear from the 2023 data on public and private schools the public sector is most in need of more teachers locally.

The figures come to light as Australia is facing an education crisis – with teachers fleeing the school system in droves.

It comes as stricter school discipline is making a comeback in Australian classrooms, and as University of NSW professor Rebecca Collie stated in a report that teacher working conditions — such as disruptive student behaviour — appeared to be getting worse.

Teachers are set to work under the new discipline guidelines being rolled out to schools across the country to better implement rules and help students understand expectations.

The national average student teacher ratio in 2023 was 12.6 students for every teacher, a drop from the 13.3 ratio in 2021. At a primary school level, it is sitting at 13.6 and in secondary it’s 11.8.

Catholic schools have the highest national ratio for primary schools at 14.1. State schools had a ratio of 13.5, while independent schools had a ratio of 12.

Catholic schools also have the highest Australian ratio for secondary schools, with 12 students for each teacher. State schools were at 11.9 and independents 11.5.

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

NSW Teachers Federation organiser for Northern Rivers Marty Wheatley said: “For years we have seen no substantial improvement to class sizes.”

“Students in the Tweed and Northern Rivers really deserve better. The sooner we address this, the sooner we can give our kids the future they deserve,” he said.

“Smaller class sizes allow teachers the time and capacity to attend to the needs of all students. When a teacher can help a student unlock a new concept it’s a magical moment. We need and deserve more of this classroom magic.

“The current stalled funding negotiation between the Albanese Government and NSW is extremely frustrating. Under the agreed funding model an extra $1.9 billion should be flowing from the Commonwealth into NSW classrooms. This can’t come soon enough, the Prime Minister really needs to step up.”

See the breakdowns below.

Tweed

In the Tweed in 2023, there were more students per teacher at Crystal Creek Public School than any other school, with 18.8 students per educator.

Four full-time teachers were overseeing 75 students, according to the data.

Picture: iStock/courtneyk

Terranora Public School’s rations were the second highest at an average of 18.1 students for every teacher. It had 325 students enrolled and 18 full-time teachers.

Tweed Heads Public School had 17.9 students for every teacher, the Tweed region’s third highest.

Meanwhile, the Tweed region’s least crowded classrooms were at Murwillumbah High School, which had an average of 7.4 students for every teacher. The school had 653 students and 88 teachers.

Schools with the highest student to teacher ratio in Tweed:

- Crystal Creek Public School: 18.8 students per teacher

- Terranora Public School: 18.1 students per teacher

- Tweed Heads Public School: 17.9 students per teacher

- Pottsville Beach Public School: 17.7 students per teacher

- Banora Point Public School: 17.6 students per teacher

- Bilambil Public School: 17.1 students per teacher

- Bogangar Public School: 17.1 students per teacher

- St Ambrose Catholic Primary School: 16.4 students per teacher

- Duranbah Public School: 16.2 students per teacher

- Mount St Patrick Primary School: 16.1 students per teacher

Wider Northern Rivers

In the broader Northern Rivers region, there were more students per teacher at Holy Family Catholic Primary School than any other school.

Holy Family Catholic Primary School had 19.2 students for every teacher – the highest in the area. It had 420 students enrolled and 21 full-time equivalent teachers.

The second highest student-teacher ratios were at The Pocket Public School, where there was an average of 18.2 students for every teacher. It had 111 students and 6 full-time equivalent teachers.

Picture: Supplied

At St Mary’s Primary School, there were 18.2 students for every teacher. That was the region’s third highest. It had 603 students enrolled and 33 full-time equivalent teachers.

The area’s least crowded classrooms were at Southern Cross School of Distance Education, with an average of 2.9 students for every teacher at the school. It had 359 students enrolled and 122 full-time equivalent teachers.

Schools with the highest student to teacher ratio in Northern Rivers:

- Holy Family Catholic Primary School: 19.2 students per teacher

- The Pocket Public School: 18.2 students per teacher

- St Mary’s Primary School: 18.2 students per teacher

- Modanville Public School: 17.5 students per teacher

- Tregeagle Public School: 17.5 students per teacher

- Main Arm Upper Public School: 17.5 students per teacher

- Rous Public School: 17.5 students per teacher

- Bangalow Public School: 17 students per teacher

- Burringbar Public School: 16.9 students per teacher

- St Francis Xavier Primary School: 16.7 students per teacher

Coffs Coast

Glenreagh Public School had a better student-teacher ratio than any other Coffs school. It had 18.3 students for every teacher, the 2023 data shows, with 75 students enrolled and four full-time teachers.

The second highest was Mullaway Public School, where there was 17.9 students for every teacher. 280 students were enrolled and there was 15 full-time equivalent teachers.

Picture: iStock

At Kororo Public School, here were 17.7 students for every teacher, the Coffs Coast region’s third highest. It had 549 students enrolled and 31 full-time equivalent teachers.

Meanwhile, the Coffs Coast region’s least crowded classrooms were at Coffs Harbour Bible Church School, where there was an average of 5.6 students for every teacher. It had 35 students enrolled and 6 full-time equivalent teachers.

Schools with the highest student to teacher ratio in Coffs Coast:

- Glenreagh Public School: 18.3 students per teacher

- Mullaway Public School: 17.9 students per teacher

- Kororo Public School: 17.7 students per teacher

- Boambee Public School: 17.3 students per teacher

- Narranga Public School: 16.8 students per teacher

- Sawtell Public School: 16.8 students per teacher

- Mary Help of Christians Primary School Sawtell: 16.4 students per teacher

- St Francis Xavier Primary School: 16.1 students per teacher

- St Augustine’s Primary School: 16.1 students per teacher

- Sandy Beach Public School: 15.8 students per teacher

Clarence

The figures show that in 2023 there were more students per teacher at Westlawn Public School than any other Clarence school at a ratio of 17.2, with 524 students enrolled and 30 teachers.

The second highest student-teacher ratios were at Chatsworth Island Public School, where there was an average of 16.9 students per teacher. It had 66 students enrolled and three full-time teachers.

03/03/2011 EDUCATION: Generic photo of a teacher writing on a blackboard in a classroom.

At Ulmarra Public School, there was 16.3 students per teacher, the region’s third highest. It had 85 students enrolled and five full-time equivalent teachers.

The Clarence Valley region’s least crowded classrooms were Bonalbo Central School, where there was an average of 4.5 students for every teacher at the school. It had 70 students enrolled and 15 full-time equivalent teachers.

Schools with the highest student to teacher ratio in Clarence Valley:

- Westlawn Public School: 17.2 students per teacher

- Chatsworth Island Public School: 16.9 students per teacher

- Ulmarra Public School: 16.3 students per teacher

- Maclean Public School: 15.9 students per teacher

- South Grafton Public School: 15.9 students per teacher

- Gulmarrad Public School: 15.5 students per teacher

- Yamba Public School: 15.5 students per teacher

- Copmanhurst Public School: 15.3 students per teacher

- Grafton Public School: 14.4 students per teacher

- St James’ Primary School: 13.5 students per teacher

Mid-North Coast

Tacking Point Public School fared better than any other Mid-North Coast school when it comes to student-teacher ratios, the data shows. The school had 18.5 students for every teacher – 620 students enrolled and 33 full-time teachers.

South West Rocks Public School recorded an average of 18.2 students for every teacher, the second highest. It had 333 students enrolled and 18 teachers.

Picture: NCA NewsWire/Nikki Short

At Smithtown Public School, 17.9 students were taught by each teacher – the region’s third highest. It had 77 students enrolled and 4 full-time equivalent teachers.

The least crowded classrooms were at Bowraville Central School, which had an average of 5.3 students for every teacher – 149 students enrolled and 28 teachers.

Schools with the highest student to teacher ratio in Mid North Coast:

- Tacking Point Public School: 18.5 students per teacher

- South West Rocks Public School: 18.2 students per teacher

- Smithtown Public School: 17.9 students per teacher

- Hastings Public School: 17.6 students per teacher

- Lake Cathie Public School: 16.7 students per teacher

- Telegraph Point Public School: 16.2 students per teacher

- St Peter’s Primary School: 16.2 students per teacher

- Crossmaglen Public School: 15.9 students per teacher

- St Agnes’ Primary School: 15.8 students per teacher

- Laurieton Public School: 15.8 students per teacher