Margery Evans, Chief Executive of the Association of Independent Schools of NSW (AISNSW), discusses the diversity of Independent schools across NSW and explains how parents are increasingly opting for schools which align with their values and aspirations.
Independent schools now educate almost one in five NSW students, a significant contrast to just 13 per cent 20 years ago. This shift has occurred as families look for more diversity, affordability and a values-based approach to their child’s learning.
AISNSW, the peak body for Independent schools across NSW, has mapped these enrolment trends by incorporating official ACARA and ABS data with its own research and analysis. In its inaugural Enrolment Dynamics report, AISNSW reveals how families and Independent schools have reshaped the education landscape so significantly.
Sizable enrolment growth
In 2024, the Independent sector in NSW comprised 430 schools operating across 573 campuses, educating 245,452 full-time equivalent students – almost 20 per cent of all the state’s learners. Supporting those students were 33,760 full-time equivalent teaching and non-teaching staff (the sector employs 22 per cent of all NSW teaching staff).
The Catholic school system served about 231,000 students while government schools educated approximately 780,000.
Since 2000, NSW schools have added 160,000 students; more than 100,000 of those students were enrolled in Independent schools – almost two-thirds of the total growth.
Over the past five years, student growth has averaged 3.3 per cent each year. Over the same period, the Catholic school system grew by an average 1.2 per cent yearly, while the government sector registered an average decline of 0.6 per cent annually.
Remarkably, NSW Independent schools have added more students since 2019 (36,000) than every state and territory government school sector combined (23,189).
What’s driving families to Independent schools?
The Independent sector’s growth story is rooted in diversity; there is a school for every family.
With 15 different faith traditions represented alongside 129 secular schools grounded in various philosophical approaches, families can find an environment that aligns with their values and aspirations. There are 67 specialist campuses catering solely to 6,500 students with additional needs, reflecting the sector’s commitment to inclusive and specialised learning.
Religious affiliations remain strong drivers of enrolments with Anglican schools enrolling 27 per cent of all Independent school students, followed by Independent Catholic (18 per cent), Christian (16 per cent), secular (12 per cent) and Islamic (9 per cent) schools. Those five affiliations accounted for 87 per cent of the sector’s enrolment growth in 2024.
Nearly half of all Independent schools operate as K–12 campuses, compared with just 2-3 per cent in other school sectors. K–12 schools appeal to many families looking for consistency and certainty in their child’s education. Additionally, almost 40 Independent schools offer the International Baccalaureate, adding further appeal for families seeking global curricula opportunities for their child.
Fees and accessibility
One of the most misunderstood aspects of Independent schooling is cost to parents; the median fee in NSW Independent schools is just under $6,000 per student, less than one-third of the average cost of educating a child nationally ($20,444).
There are more Independent schools charging under $2,000 per year than there are charging over $20,000 annually. This fee range underscores the sector’s accessibility for low-to-middle income families and challenges the commonly held notion that ‘Independent equals expensive’.
Changing demographics
Independent schools today are as diverse and vibrant as the Australian communities they serve.
Over half (54 per cent) of Independent school students come from low-to-middle income households, while 36 per cent have a language background other than English, on par with the statewide average of 39 per cent.
Faith identities are evolving too; while religious identification among students’ families is declining, faith-based Independent schools are experiencing record enrolment growth.
Over the past decade, enrolments in faith-based schools have increased by 30 per cent, reflecting the continued appeal of values-based education, despite an almost doubling of families who identify with no faith (from 16 to 29 per cent).
These trends signal a redefinition of what an Independent education means: not only prestigious schools commanding high fees, but co-educational, values-driven campuses that reflect modern Australian life.
Today, a typical Independent school is likely to be a faith-based K–12 school in greater Western Sydney charging less than $6,000 per year.
Meeting the state’s growth needs
Independent school growth is most pronounced in areas of increased development activity, both in Sydney and beyond. In Greater Sydney, student growth is highest in the city’s northwest and southwest where 10 new, low-to-mid fee Independent schools have opened over the past decade and many others have expanded.
Outside Sydney, it’s the Central Coast, Newcastle and the North Coast leading the charge, absorbing most of the sector’s regional students. Overall, 37 per cent of Independent school students now learn outside Greater Sydney.
Outlook
By 2034, AISNSW predicts Independent schools will enrol over 22 per cent of NSW students, cementing their role as a central pillar of NSW’s education system. Fuelled by diversity, increasing affordability and regional expansion, Independent schools have surged past fringe status to educate nearly one in five NSW students.
As AISNSW’s Enrolment Dynamics report reveals, tomorrow’s Independent schools will be even more varied in faith, fee, geography and pedagogy. These schools should no longer be viewed as simply isolated alternatives but as integral to Australia’s educational future, helping shape the next generation in classrooms as varied as the society they reflect.
