Tasmanian school enrolments in decline for the first time since 2016, new DoE data shows

Tasmania’s government school enrolments have decreased for the first time since 2016, but schools in some areas of the state have reported a massive boost in student numbers. SEARCH EVERY TASSIE SCHOOL HERE >>

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TASMANIA’S government school enrolments have decreased for the first time since 2016, but schools in some areas of the state have reported a massive boost in student numbers.

Tasmanian Association of State School Organisations president Jared Dickason said growth and decline in populations and demographics lead to shifting enrolments year by year.

“Mining on the West Coast and the new irrigation systems in agricultural areas will potentially have an impact on enrolment numbers in schools in those areas,” he said.

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“I think some of these ups and downs and swings are changes that occur in all areas and regions over time.”

Schools on the West Coast have seen a large increase.

Since 2017 enrolments at Latrobe High School have increased by 25.8 per cent, Parklands District School by 15.7 per cent, Burnie High School by 13.9 per cent and Penguin District School by 10.3 per cent.

Clarence High School students Ben Ryan 14, Joni Uytendaal 14, Nick Birch 13 and Priya Bowering 13. Picture Chris Kidd

“You then have areas like Legana and Brighton where large sections of land for housing have opened up, creating demand for local education resources, and the Education Department has seen there is a need for a school development in these areas,” he said.

Schools close to Legana have seen an enrolment boost, with Riverside High School seeing an 4.9 per cent increase from 2017, Riverside Primary School seeing a 11.17 per cent increase, and enrolments at Trevallyn Primary School remaining steady.

Enrolments at Brighton Primary School have decreased by about 7 per cent.

“It’s all about trying to work out what’s best for those demographics in this area, providing sustainable and sensible development which can provide our children with quality education outcomes,” he said.

Mr Dickason said he did not believe a decrease in international or interstate students would have a massive impact on student enrolments, but said only good things could come from smaller class sizes.

“In relation to international students, whilst the universities use this as a core or strategic business model, it is not core business for state schools,” he said.

“It is more about helping to provide opportunities and pathways for students that they may not be able to access, and provide different culture experiences for all in their school.

“As a parent, in the current climate with limited and ever changing border access, I don’t feel any of us would place our children anywhere we cannot support or access them easily.

“Any impact that reduces class sizes and allows our teachers to perform the job makes things better, as long as we ensure children are receiving formal engaging education and have our support.”

A Department of Education spokesman said total government school enrolments in 2020 had decreased for the first time since 2016.

“The Department does not formally capture data relating to reasons for movement between sectors, however, enrolment fluctuations are generally the result of a number of different factors, including changes in cohort sizes,” he said.

“School enrolment numbers are affected by a range of factors each year, including the number of students of school age in a school’s intake area, and can fluctuate as families move and students change schools.”

He said in 2020 the department had also recorded a reduction in primary and secondary students between the start and end of the year.

“This appears to be due to a lower number of new enrolments after Census and likely an impact of COVID-19, with a reduction in international students, and likely reduced interstate enrolments,” he said.

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