Teacher vs student ratio for all schools in FNQ revealed
Analysis has revealed the schools with the highest student to teacher ratio. See how your child’s school compares in a full break down of every Far North school.
Cairns
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Analysis has revealed the schools in Far North Queensland’s with the highest student to teacher ratio.
A breakdown of national data from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) showed, for 2021, there were more students per teacher at Cairns School of Distance Education than any other school.
According to the data – Cairns School of Distance Education had 27.3 students for every teacher. It had 4161 students enrolled and 152.4 full-time equivalent teachers.
St Gerard Majella Primary School had the second highest ratio. There was an average of 18.5 students for every teacher at the school. It had 402 students enrolled and 21.7 full-time equivalent teachers.
Feluga State School had the third highest – there were 18.4 students for every teacher. But this ratio was drawn from a small student enrolment; the school had 46 students enrolled and 2.5 full-time equivalent teachers.
A spokesman for the Department of Education said the ratios do not reflect class size nor the learning environment for students.
“It’s simply a count of students divided by teachers,” he said.
“These ratio figures also do not factor in non-teaching staff such as teacher aides, who play an invaluable role in supporting our teachers and students.
“The department supports principals to work with teachers and the school community in
forming classes that best reflect the needs of students and ensure the best quality of
learning for all students.”
Balaclava State School have a student-teacher ratio of 12.8 students per teacher which is below the median for a school their size.
Mum Bianca Gibson said she likes the school community at Balaclava State School.
“I think my daughter (Aveaha-Dawn Gibson) has a lot of one on one time with the teachers,” she said.
“It’s comforting knowing she’s in an environment like this.
“She’s excited to go to school every day.”
According to ACARA, the national student-teacher ratio in 2021 was 13.3 students for every teacher. At a primary level it is 14.5 and 11.9 for secondary.
Cresta Richardson, the president of the Queensland Teachers Union, said smaller class sizes equate to more individual attention and better outcomes for students.
“Students in prep, years 1 to 3 and years 11 to 12 should have a maximum of 25, and in years 4 to 10 a maximum of 28,” Ms Richardson said.
“Teachers and school leaders deserve quality salaries and manageable workloads, as teaching conditions are learning conditions.”
At the high school level, nationally, state schools had the highest ratio with 12.4, followed by Catholic with 12.2 and 10.5 for independent.
The student-teacher ratios do not take into account teacher aides or non-teaching staff at schools, only the full-time equivalent teachers.
A spokeswoman for Feluga State School declined to comment when contacted. St Gerard Majella Primary School and Cairns School of Distance Education were also contacted for comment.
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