Independent schools are a significant, large and growing component of the Australian schooling system. They have a reputation as providers of quality education and are recognised for their leadership and innovation in school education.
Independent schools are a significant, large and growing component of the Australian schooling system. They have a reputation as providers of quality education and are recognised for their leadership and innovation in school education.
Including independent Catholic schools, 1,216 of the 9,629 schools in Australia are in the Independent school sector. In 2023, they enrolled 716,848 students, 18 per cent of the Australian student population, or one in six students.
Independent schools are diverse, in terms of the communities they serve, their student population, their size and their nature. This diversity has long been considered a major strength of the Independent schooling system, serving well the needs of a geographically dispersed, socially mixed, multicultural and multi-faith population.
The Independent school sector is characterised by;
FEWER THAN 50 STUDENTS | 11% |
50 — 199 STUDENTS | 25% |
200 — 999 STUDENTS | 42% |
1,000 — 1,999 STUDENTS | 19% |
2,000 OR MORE STUDENTS | 35 ÌÇÐÄvlog´«Ã½ OR 3% |
PRIMARY | 226 | 19% |
SECONDARY | 77 | 6% |
COMBINED | 770 | 63% |
SPECIAL ÌÇÐÄvlog´«Ã½ | 143 | 12% |
TOTAL | 1,216 | 100% |
Many Independent schools are affiliated with a particular religion or promote a particular educational philosophy.
Affiliation | Schools | Student FTE | % |
Anglican | 154 | 173,549 | 24.2% |
Non-Denominational | 234 | 109,061 | 15.2% |
Christian | 162 | 88,330 | 12.3% |
Islamic | 54 | 49,077 | 6.8% |
Uniting Church | 40 | 48,050 | 6.7% |
Catholic, Roman | 55 | 46,967 | 6.6% |
Lutheran | 78 | 44,310 | 6.2% |
Baptist | 41 | 26,337 | 3.7% |
Inter-Denominational | 24 | 19,061 | 2.7% |
Seventh Day Adventist | 44 | 16,312 | 2.3% |
Presbyterian | 13 | 12,479 | 1.7% |
Steiner | 51 | 9,924 | 1.4% |
Pentecostal | 20 | 9,553 | 1.3% |
Jewish | 18 | 9,007 | 1.3% |
Assemblies of God | 11 | 7,557 | 1.1% |
Brethren | 20 | 5,655 | 0.8% |
Montessori | 39 | 5,023 | 0.7% |
Orthodox, Greek | 8 | 4,037 | 0.6% |
Catholic, Other | 8 | 3,817 | 0.5% |
Orthodox, Other | 6 | 2,620 | 0.4% |
Other Religious Affiliation* | 13 | 5,985 | 0.8% |
Other** | 123 | 20,140 | 2.8% |
All recognised government and non-government schools in Australia operate within the bounds of state and territory and Australian Government legislation which together impose requirements in relation to financial operation, accountability, the curriculum, assessment and reporting.