Every Queensland primary school’s non-teaching staff numbers ranked

Queensland principals are being forced to mow lawns as data reveals the schools with the lowest non-teaching staff numbers. SEARCH YOUR SCHOOL

An exclusive Courier-Mail data analysis reveals the Queensland schools with the lowest rates of non-teaching staff per 100 students.

Principals are forced to jump on lawnmowers to fill the role of groundsmen as many Queensland schools struggle with a shortage of non-teaching staff.

But the Department of Education has denied there is a shortage, with staffing allocations determined by annual enrolments.

QLD’S BIGGEST SCHOOLS – SEARCH THE TABLE BELOW

An exclusive analysis by The Courier-Mail reveals many of the state’s largest schools – most located in Brisbane or on the Gold Coast – have less than two non-teaching staff per 100 students.

This includes Indooroopilly State School, with 25.3 full-time-equivalent non-teaching staff for 1408 students (1.8 per 100 students), and Ironside State School at St Lucia, with 17.4 for 937 students (1.86 per 100).

Meanwhile, some schools in regional and remote Queensland have over 10 non-teaching staff per 100 students, including Cherbourg State School at 15.19 and Thabeban State School in south Bundaberg at 14.46.

Three primary schools have only one non-teaching staff member – including those at Birdsville in the state’s southwest, Linville in the Somerset region and Lochington in the Central Highlands – while eight have just two.

In terms of schools where there are more than 100 students enrolled, Gooburrum State School near Bundaberg (130 students) has just five non-teaching staff and St Augustine’s School at Mossman (101 students) has six.

EVERY QLD PRIMARY SCHOOL – SEARCH THE TABLE BELOW

An Education Department spokesman said staffing allocations for state schools were determined by annual student enrolment collections.

“The Department of Education employs more than 59,000 full-time equivalent teachers and teacher aides,” he said.

“Based on 2025 funding allocations and student learning support requirements, there are currently no recorded staffing shortages of teacher aides across Queensland state schools.”

The spokesman said teacher-aide allocations were provided based on a number of parameters including base student enrolments, and individual student learning needs.

“Schools are supported to make local decisions on school staffing arrangements based on the needs of the school community.”

Originally published as Every Queensland primary school’s non-teaching staff numbers ranked