Leslie Massey
Australia has a two-sector education system, consisting of government and non-government schools. In 2023, there were 6,237 primary schools in Australia, with a net increase of 24 schools in 2024. There were 15 additional government schools in 2024, bringing the total number of government primary schools in Australia to over 6,250. The student-to-teacher ratio in government schools in 2024 was 13.1 students per teacher, compared to 11.7 in independent schools.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of government primary schools in Australia | 6,237 (2023) |
| Total number of primary schools in Australia | 9,600 (2023) |
| Total number of schools in Australia | 9,600 (2023) |
| Number of full-time teachers in Australian schools | 320,377 (2024) |
| Number of teachers in primary schools | 162,083 (2024) |
| Student-teacher ratio in primary schools | 14.0:1 (2024) |
| Student-teacher ratio in government schools | 13.1:1 (2024) |
| Year 7/8 to 12 retention rate for government schools | 74.1% (2024) |
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What You'll Learn
Number of government primary schools in each state/territory
Australia is home to nearly 10,000 schools, including primary, secondary, combined, and special schools. The Australian education system is managed independently by each state and territory, with slight variations between them.
While the exact number of government primary schools in each state or territory is not readily available, some data suggests that New South Wales had nearly 2,100 primary schools in 2023. This is the highest number among the states and territories, which is not surprising given that New South Wales is the most populous state in Australia.
In 2024, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) reported a student-to-teacher ratio of 14:1 in primary schools, which was higher than the national average of 12.9:1. This suggests that the ACT may have a higher number of students per teacher in its primary schools compared to other states or territories.
The Northern Territory, on the other hand, did not have available data for government schools in 2019 and 2020, which makes it challenging to determine the exact number of government primary schools in that territory.
It is worth noting that the Australian education system consists of two main sectors: Government schools and Non-Government schools, which include Catholic and Independent schools.
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Student-teacher ratio in government primary schools
Australia is home to approximately 9.6 thousand schools, including primary, secondary, combined, and special schools. The student-teacher ratio in primary schools is an important metric for understanding the educational landscape in the country.
In 2024, the student-teacher ratio for all schools in Australia was 12.9 students per teacher. However, this ratio varied between primary and secondary schools. Primary schools had a higher student-teacher ratio of 14.0 students per teacher, compared to 11.7 students per teacher in secondary schools. This indicates that primary school teachers in Australia have a slightly larger class size than their secondary school counterparts.
When comparing different types of schools, independent schools had a lower student-teacher ratio of 11.7, while government schools had a ratio of 13.1, and Catholic schools had a ratio of 13.3. This suggests that class sizes may be influenced by the type of school, with independent schools having smaller classes on average.
The student-teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the number of primary school students by the number of primary school teachers. Generally, a lower ratio, indicating smaller class sizes, is considered beneficial for students. In Australia, there were approximately 162,083 teachers in primary schools, contributing to the overall student-teacher ratio in the primary education system.
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Teacher gender ratio in government primary schools
Australia had approximately 9.6 thousand schools in total in 2023, including primary, secondary, combined, and special schools. While data on the number of government primary schools in Australia is unavailable, the Australian education system can be broadly categorized into primary, secondary, and tertiary education.
In terms of teacher gender ratios, Australian schools had around 320,377 full-time equivalent (FTE) teaching staff in 2024, comprising 230,809 females and 89,569 males. This represents a higher proportion of female teachers in primary schools (82.4%) compared to secondary schools (61.5%). Conversely, male teachers were more prevalent in secondary schools (38.5%) than in primary schools (17.6%).
The student-to-teacher ratio in all schools in 2024 was 12.9 students per teacher, with primary schools having a slightly higher ratio of 14.0 and secondary schools at 11.7. When comparing school types, independent schools boasted a lower student-to-teacher ratio of 11.7, while government schools and Catholic schools had higher ratios of 13.1 and 13.3, respectively.
It is worth noting that the retention rate, which measures the number of students enrolled in Year 12 relative to enrolments from Year 7/8, was consistently higher for females (83.5%) than for males (76.5%) across all school types.
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Retention rate in government primary schools
In Australia, primary school typically runs for seven or eight years, from Preparatory or 'Prep' to Year 6 or 7. While there are no precise figures for the number of government primary schools in Australia, there were a total of approximately 9.6 thousand schools (primary, secondary, combined, and special schools) in the country in 2023. The majority of students were enrolled in government schools (64.5%), followed by Catholic schools (19.7%) and independent schools (15.9%).
Retention Rates in Government Primary Schools
The retention rate is the percentage of students who remain enrolled in school from one year to the next. It is an important indicator of the health and effectiveness of a school system. In Australia, the Year 7/8 to 12 full-time apparent retention rate measures the number of secondary students who were enrolled in Year 12 in a given year as a proportion of student enrolments from Year 7/8, four or five years prior.
In 2022, the Year 7/8 to 12 full-time apparent retention rate for Australia decreased to 80.5%, down from 83.1% in 2021. The retention rate was higher for females (84.9%) than for males (76.3%). When broken down by school type, independent schools had the highest retention rate (96.6%), followed by Catholic schools (81.6%), and then government schools (74.1%).
Between 2023 and 2024, the Year 10 to 12 apparent retention rate for Australia increased by 1.2 percentage points to 79.9%. Again, the retention rate was higher for females (83.5%) than for males (76.4%). Independent schools had the highest retention rate (91.0%), followed by Catholic schools (85.3%), and then government schools (74.3%).
While there is a lack of data specifically for government primary schools, the overall trend suggests that government schools have lower retention rates than independent and Catholic schools in Australia. This may be due to a variety of factors, including funding, resources, and student population characteristics.
It is worth noting that the student-to-teacher ratio is also higher in government schools than in independent schools, which could impact student retention. In 2024, the student-to-teaching staff ratio for all schools in Australia was 12.9 students per teacher, but this ratio was higher in primary schools (14.0 students per teacher) and in government schools (13.1 students per teacher).
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Comparison of government and non-government primary schools
Education in Australia can be broadly categorized into primary, secondary, and tertiary education. As of 2023, there were approximately 9.6 thousand schools in total. Government schools, also known as public schools, are constitutionally the responsibility of state and territory governments in terms of regulation, administration, and funding. The Australian government can also provide public funds and play a leading role in 'educational leadership'. Students attending government schools do so at no cost or a minimal cost, with the government providing education without compulsory tuition fees. However, many government schools ask for 'voluntary' fees to cover specific expenses.
Non-government schools, on the other hand, are self-funded and can choose their students and set their tuition fees. They often promote strong alumni networks, exceptional facilities, and a broad curriculum not offered in government schools. Non-government schools are further categorized into Catholic schools and private schools. Catholic schools are mainly funded by the state and federal governments and have low fees. Students at Catholic schools are primarily from the associated religious sector, and staff members share the same values. Most Catholic schools (96%) are systemically funded, meaning they receive government funding through the relevant state Catholic Education Commission. In contrast, 61 Australian Catholic schools are non-systemically funded (independent schools) and receive government funding directly.
In 2023, government schools educated 64% of all students, while Catholic schools educated 19.7% and independent schools 16.3%. There was a net increase of 24 schools between 2023 and 2024, with 15 government schools and 14 independent schools added, and a reduction of 5 Catholic schools. In 2024, there were approximately 162,083 teachers in primary schools and 320,377 full-time equivalent (FTE) teaching staff across all Australian schools. The student-to-teacher ratio was higher in primary schools (14.0 students per teacher) than in secondary schools (11.7 students per teacher). Independent schools had a lower student-to-teacher ratio (11.7:1) than government (13.1:1) and Catholic schools (13.3:1).
In terms of retention rates, independent schools had the highest rate (96.6%) for students enrolled in Year 12 in 2024 as a proportion of enrolments from Year 7/8, followed by Catholic schools (81.6%) and government schools (74.1%).
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2023, there were 6,237 primary schools in Australia.
As of 2024, the student-teacher ratio for all schools in Australia was 12.9:1. The ratio was higher in primary schools at 14:1.
English is the primary language of instruction in most schools in Australia. However, several schools offer bilingual education, and many schools provide foreign language classes.
Education in Australia is divided into primary, secondary, and tertiary education. Primary school typically lasts for seven or eight years, and secondary school lasts for three or four years, with two additional but non-compulsory senior secondary school years.
As of 2024, there were 162,083 teachers in Australian primary schools.
