Teacher-student ratios: How every Queensland school class compares

The worst Queensland schools for teacher-student ratio are predominantly located in the southeast, with chronic understaffing a growing issue. SEARCH YOUR SCHOOL

At least 15 schools in Queensland have 18 students per teacher, while several have just eight. Picture: istock

Bundaberg has the school with the worst student-teacher ratio in the state, followed by Mackay, it has been revealed.

But the majority of the 15 most understaffed schools are in the southeast, including Ipswich and the Gold Coast.

The statewide data, released today by The Courier-Mail as part of the Best In Class campaign, allows parents to search for their child’s school.

The Department of Education pointed out that every school in the state passed the benchmark, which are class size targets set in 2019 as part of the Teachers’ Certified Agreement.

The 2023 student and teacher numbers for every school were sourced from The Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority’s (ACARA) My School Database.

Micro schools (less than 100 enrolments), trade colleges, and distance education schools were included in the data collection, but deliberately omitted from the analysis.

Queensland Pathways State College in Brisbane recorded the best student-teacher ratio with 6.1, and the rest of the top 10 schools all had ratios of less than eight students per teacher.

The rest of the top 15 schools with the best ratios were mostly regional state schools, including Vincent State School in Townsville with 137 students and a ratio of less than seven.

There was also Mount Isa School of the Air, Catholic institution Mount St Bernard College near Cairns, Longreach State High School, Richmond State School, and Djarragun College.

A standout was Tagai State College on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait with 1237 students and more than 150 full-time equivalent teachers, resulting in a ratio of just over 8.

The only other metropolitan school in the top 10 best student-teacher ratio schools analysis was Palmview State Secondary College on the Sunshine Coast.

At the other end of the scale, the schools with the worst student-teacher ratios were Bundaberg independent primary school St John’s Lutheran, with 21 students per teacher, and Dundula State School in Bakers Creek in Mackay, with a ratio of more than 20.

The Department of Education pointed out that every school in the state passed the benchmark.

Otherwise, a series of Catholic schools in the South East had some of the worst ratios – all above 18 – including Guardian Angels’ Catholic Primary at Ashmore, Marymount Primary in Burleigh Waters, St Joseph’s Primary in Corinda, and St Thomas’ School in Camp Hill.

Brisbane and Bundaberg Catholic Education were contacted for comment.

St John’s Lutheran principal Jocelyn Bakker, who took over the role this year, said the Prep-Year 6 school had focused on bolstering its specialist teachers and teaching assistants.

“[The school] proudly upholds its commitment to educational excellence, supported by a team of professionally trained staff,” Ms Bakker said.

“This year, in addition to our dedicated class teachers, we have enriched our faculty with full-time teaching assistants and specialist teachers in Junior and Senior Learning Support, Physical Education, Japanese, the Arts, and Instrumental Music tutors.

“Notably, St. John’s Lutheran Primary School achieved the second-highest NAPLAN results out of 44 primary schools in the region in 2023.

“We remain dedicated to fostering a nurturing and well-rounded learning environment that supports the academic and personal growth of every student.”

A Department of Education spokesman said Dundula State School’s ratio remained under the statewide ratios agreed in 2019.

“State-wide class size targets for 2024 remain the same as specified in the Teachers’ Certified Agreement 2022, and they have not changed over the last six years,” they said.

“Class sizes remain under these targets: 25 students per teacher for Prep to Year 3; 28 students per teacher for Years 4 to 10; and 25 students per teacher for Years 11 to 12.

“Student teacher ratios do not reflect class size nor the learning environment for students, it’s simply a rudimentary count of students divided by teachers.

“These ratio figures also do not factor in other supporting staff such as teacher aides, who play an invaluable role in assisting our teachers and students.

“Dundula State School is a smaller school, so some variation in teacher and student ratios can be expected year on year.”

Originally published as Teacher-student ratios: How every Queensland school class compares