Average Class Sizes in Australian Schools (2021 Data)
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Schools Australia 2021:
| Level | Average Students per Class |
|---|
| Primary (Years F–6) | 24.7 |
| Secondary (Years 7–12) | 24.9 |
Context & Nuance
- Public vs. Independent: Independent schools often smaller (18–22); public schools larger (25–30)
- State variation: NSW/Vic tend higher; SA/Tas/NT often lower
- Year-level variation: Early years (F–2) often capped lower (20–24); senior secondary (11–12) can be smaller (15–20) for electives
- Composite/multi-age classes: Common in rural/small schools; affect averages
Policy Targets
- No national mandated maximum
- Some states have guidelines (e.g., NSW: K–2 target 20, 3–6 target 30; Vic: P–2 21, 3–6 26)
- Union (AEU) campaigns for lower caps
International Comparison (OECD, 2021)
- Australia: ~25 (primary), ~25 (lower secondary)
- OECD avg: 21 (primary), 23 (lower secondary)
- Japan/Korea: ~27–30; Finland: ~19–20
Australian classes are above OECD average—a perennial policy debate.
Wanderlust World