Zahra Grammar School’s population booms as Southwest Sydney’s fastest growing schools revealed

Welcome to education boomtown. Enrolments in Sydney’s southwest are skyrocketing, with one facility increasing by 804 per cent in just five years. See how your child’s school compares.

Zahra Grammar School, Kingdom Culture Christian School and St Anthony of Padua are all rapidly booming. Picture is Tamara Khattar, Celine Eyou, Jarryd Crescini and Antonio Mittiga at St Anthony of Padua in 2018.

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

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

Zahra Grammar School in Minto is southwest Sydney’s fastest growing school, with enrolments increasing by 804 per cent in the five years from 2018 to 2022.

The second fastest growing school was St Anthony of Padua Catholic College in Austral with a 738 per cent change while Kingdom Culture Christian School in Arncliffe recorded the third biggest change with a 243 per cent increase.

Zahra Grammar School principal Gulzar Khan said the school had opened in 2018 with just 22 students enrolled. For 2024, they have 254 children enrolled.

Dr Khan said the population in the region was booming which saw an increased demand for schools and new facilities were rapidly reaching capacity.

Zahra Grammar School’s population booms as Southwest Sydney’s fastest growing schools revealed.

“While we are a private primary school I think the fees are affordable and we provide quality education,” he said.

“We emphasise on the wellbeing of our children as well as their education so I think we have a very good reputation in the community, and we have a big waiting list for all grades.”

Dr Khan said due to the demand the school would be looking at constructing new buildings in 2024, and he hoped to soon open a high school.

He also said another positive aspect of the school was the teacher satisfaction rate, with a high retention of staff.

Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher, blessing the new classrooms at St Anthony of Padua Catholic College, Austral in when it opened. The school is now one of the fastest-growing in the region. Picture: Genah Karagiannis, Sydney Catholic Schools

“We even had one staff member move to Blacktown but she prefers to travel here then work somewhere else,” Dr Khan said.

Meanwhile, the analysis also highlighted the southwest Sydney region’s schools in decline with Bardwell Park Infants School in Bardwell Park recording a 52 per cent drop over five years.

Woronora River Public School in Woronora was the second school going backwards for enrolment with a 45 per cent drop and Southside Montessori School in Riverwood was the third with a 36 per cent decline.

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

Schools with fastest growth between 2018 and 2022:

1. Zahra Grammar School: 804 per cent
2. St Anthony of Padua Catholic College: 738 per cent
3. Kingdom Culture Christian School: 243 per cent
4. All Saints Catholic College: 227 per cent
5. St Francis Catholic College: 223 per cent
6. Kyeemagh Public School: 185 per cent
7. Bardia Public School: 164 per cent
8. Al-Faisal College – Liverpool: 160 per cent
9. Spring Farm Public School: 118 per cent
10. Rissalah College: 78 per cent

Schools in decline 2018-2022:

1. Bardwell Park Infants School: 52 per cent
2. Woronora River Public School: 45 per cent
3. Southside Montessori School: 36 per cent
4. Condell Park Christian School: 34 per cent
5. Rossmore Public School: 34 per cent
6. Hannans Road Public School: 32 per cent
7. Bringelly Public School: 31 per cent
8. Brighton-Le-Sands Public School: 30 per cent
9. Kingsgrove High School: 27 per cent
10. Undercliffe Public School: 27 per cent