THE BEST AND WORST RESOURCED SCHOOLS
How your school compares
STUDENT-TEACHER ratios have been revealed for every school in North Queensland.
An analysis of national data from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority has revealed the schools where teachers have the most students to teach.
The figures show that in 2018 in the North Queensland region there were more students per teacher at Townsville Christian College than any other school.
According to the most upto-date data that includes all state and private schools nationally, Townsville Christian College had 20.4 students for every teacher, the highest in the area.
Principal Lynn Ireland told the Townsville Bulletin the data did not accurately represent the attention each student at the school received, with teacher aides reducing the ratio considerably.
“Our commitment to excellence in education has meant our teacher-student ratio has been carefully considered when employing staff,” Ms Ireland said.
“A number of our classes are also supported by a fulltime teacher assistant.”
There were 167 students enrolled in Townsville Christian College in 2018 with 15.15 full-time equivalent teachers.
The second highest student-teacher ratio was at Marian Catholic School, where there was an average of 19.3 students for every teacher at the school.
At St Joseph’s Catholic School there were 18 students for every teacher, the North Queensland region’s third highest.
In contrast there was one teacher for every 2.7 students at Burdekin School, the region’s lowest ratio of students per teacher.
The Burdekin School caters to students with special needs, with a total student population of 13 students and 4.8 full-time equivalent teachers.
The second lowest ratio was at Cleveland Education and Training Centre, where there were 3.1 students per teacher.
The figures show at Townsville Community Learning Centre – A State Special School there were 3.5 students per teacher, the third lowest ratio in the North Queensland region.
According to ACARA, the national student-teacher ratio was 13.5 students for every teacher.
Across the country, independent private schools had the lowest student to teacher ratios with 11.7 students to every teacher.
Government schools had an average of 13.8 students for every teacher while Catholic schools had an average of 14 students for every teacher.
Student-teacher ratios do not take into account teacher aides or non-teaching staff at schools, only the full-time equivalent teachers.
CLASSROOMS WITH BIGGEST STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO
Townsville Christian College: 20.4 students per teacher
Marian Catholic School:
Our commitment to excellence in education has meant our teacher/student ratio has been carefully considered when employing staff. A number of our classes are also supported by a full-time teacher assistant
Lynn Ireland
19.3 students per teacher
St Joseph’s Catholic School: 18.0 students per teacher
Holy Spirit Catholic School: 17.9 students per teacher
St Clare’s Catholic School: 17.9 students per teacher
St Benedict’s Catholic School: 17.2 students per teacher
St Francis’ School: 17.0 students per teacher
St Joseph’s Catholic School, The Strand: 16.9 students per teacher
Home Hill State School: 16.6 students per teacher
Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School: 16.4 students per teacher
CLASSROOMS WITH SMALLEST STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO
Burdekin School: 2.7 students per teacher
Cleveland Education and Training Centre: 3.1 students per teacher
Townsville Community Learning Centre — A State Special School: 3.5 students per teacher
Mount Fox State School: 3.6 students per teacher
Cameron Downs State School: 4.0 students per teacher
Toobanna State School: 4.3 students per teacher
Maidavale State School: 4.3 students per teacher
Hinchinbrook Christian School: 4.3 students per teacher
St Teresa’s College: 5.6 students per teacher
Abergowrie State School: 5.7 students per teacher