Which Penrith schools have the largest student-teacher ratios
Two Catholic schools in Penrith are ranked in the top 10 of western Sydney’s largest student-to-teacher ratios.
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Two Catholic schools in Penrith are ranked in the top 10 of western Sydney’s largest student to teacher ratio class sizes.
This is according to new national data from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority which has revealed the schools with the highest student to teacher ratio.
The figures also revealed that all the top 10 schools on the western Sydney list are Catholic primary schools.
Bethany Catholic Primary School in Glenmore Park ranked second with 20.9 students per teacher, and St Mary MacKillop Primary School in South Penrith ranked seventh place with 20.3 students per teacher.
Both schools are part of the Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta.
In western Sydney one in five schools are part of the Catholic diocese.
According to the data authority, the national student-teacher ratio was 13.5 students for every teacher.
Catholic schools had an average of 14 students for every teacher.
A spokesperson for the Catholic Parramatta diocese put the large class sizes down to the growth of areas such as Penrith.
“With significant growth across Sydney, including in the Penrith area, Catholic schools have an important role to play in meeting growing enrolment demand,” the spokesperson said.
“In most areas, particularly in the Penrith area, demand for places in Catholic schools is very strong and our schools have a very strong reputation for quality.
“At each school, class sizes also vary from grade to grade and year to year based on enrolment demand and other relevant factors such as student support needs.”
The spokesperson said the Parramatta diocese is responding to the enrolment demand in the Penrith area, but stressed that larger class sizes do not mean students are forgotten.
“When class sizes are larger or individual student needs are higher, additional support is provided, including through the allocation of support staff and relevant resources, including technology,” they said.
“Staff are encouraged to collaborate, resulting in opportunities for teaching across different learning groups and cohorts.”
A spokesperson for Catholic Schools NSW said the figures are affected by a “number of factors”.
“Student-teacher ratios are declining across our sector, and the average remains only marginally different from that of the government sectors,” they said.
“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.”
WESTERN SYDNEY TOP 10 HIGHEST STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIO
1. St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School (Picton): 21.7 students per teacher
2. Bethany Catholic Primary School (Glenmore Park): 20.9 students per teacher
3. Our Lady Queen of Peace Primary School (Greystanes): 20.9 students per teacher
4. St Patrick’s Primary School (Parramatta): 20.9 students per teacher
5. Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School (Carnes Hill) l: 20.7 students per teacher
6. St Clare’s Catholic Primary School (Narellan Vale): 20.5 students per teacher
7. St Mary MacKillop Primary School (South Penrith): 20.3 students per teacher
8. St Catherine of Siena Catholic Primary School (Prestons): 20.3 students per teacher
9. Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Primary School (Kingsgrove): 20.2 students per teacher
10. St Paul the Apostle Primary School (Winston Hills): 20.2 students per teacher