25 per cent spike in private school enrolments over past decade

The number of Australian students joining one part of the education sector has jumped a mammoth 25 per cent in the past decade.

The number of Australian school students enrolled at private schools has jumped by 25 per cent over the past decade.

This dramatic figure includes a 3.3 per cent growth rate at independent schools in 2022 alone.

The total number of school enrolments for last year increased by 0.3 per cent or 11,795 students.

There was a one per cent increase in students attending Catholic schools over the same period, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Ellouise Roberts, ABS head of education statistics, said the independent schools student number increase was more stark than other statistical trends within the education sector.

“Over the past decade, enrolments in independent schools have increased by over 25 per cent (130,306),” she said.

There was an increase of 0.3 per cent of Australian student enrolments across 2022.

“In comparison, government school enrolments rose 11 per cent (263,447), followed by an 8 per cent (58,773) rise in Catholic school enrolments over the same period.”

The majority of Australian students were enrolled in government schools (64.5 per cent), followed by Catholic schools (19.7 per cent) and independent schools (15.9 per cent).

Across the country, primary school student enrolments were down slightly, with 20,266 fewer students enrolled compared with 2021, representing a -0.9 per cent drop.

Secondary school student enrolments increased by 32,061 students, or 1.8 per cent.

“These growth rates are partially due to South Australia fully transitioning to Year 7 as the starting secondary school grade in 2022. Changes in student numbers are also likely to reflect changes in the number of children in particular age groups,” Ms Roberts said.

In 2022, there were 307,041 full-time equivalent teaching staff across Australian primary and secondary schools, an increase of 1.2 per cent from 2021.