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.
CHARACTERISTICS OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
Including independent Catholic schools, 1,187 of the 9,679 schools in Australia are in the Independent school sector. In 2021, they enrolled 667,259 students, 17 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;
- broad choice for parents
- strong community links
- diversity of school type, size and focus
- autonomous governance arrangements
- comprehensive accountability.
Size of Independent schools
| FEWER THAN 50 STUDENTS | 12% |
| 50 — 199 STUDENTS | 26% |
| 200 — 999 STUDENTS | 42% |
| 1,000 — 1,999 STUDENTS | 18% |
| 2,000 OR MORE STUDENTS | 26 SCHOOLS OR 2% |
Number of Independent schools
| PRIMARY | 225 | 19% |
| SECONDARY | 72 | 6% |
| COMBINED | 752 | 63% |
| SPECIAL SCHOOLS | 138 | 12% |
| TOTAL | 1,187 | 100% |
Many Independent schools are affiliated with a particular religion or promote a particular educational philosophy.
School affiliation in the Independent sector, 2020
| Affiliation | Schools | Student FTE | % |
| Anglican | 154 | 158,874 | 24.6% |
| Non-Denominational | 222 | 92,641 | 14.3% |
| Christian Schools | 157 | 75,422 | 11.7% |
| Uniting Church in Australia | 42 | 49,562 | 7.7% |
| Catholic | 56 | 44,859 | 6.9% |
| Lutheran | 80 | 41,311 | 6.4% |
| Islamic | 47 | 40,561 | 6.3% |
| Baptist | 42 | 23,736 | 3.7% |
| Inter-Denominational | 25 | 17,636 | 2.7% |
| Seventh Day Adventist | 44 | 14,895 | 2.3% |
| Presbyterian | 13 | 11,652 | 1.8% |
| Jewish | 20 | 9,422 | 1.5% |
| Steiner School | 50 | 9,358 | 1.4% |
| Pentecostal | 20 | 8,226 | 1.3% |
| Assemblies of God | 11 | 7,029 | 1.1% |
| Brethren | 9 | 5,321 | 0.8% |
| Montessori School | 39 | 4,871 | 0.8% |
| Other Catholic | 8 | 3,722 | 0.6% |
| Greek Orthodox | 8 | 3,657 | 0.6% |
| Other Orthodox | 5 | 2,246 | 0.3% |
| Other Religious Affiliation* | 14 | 5,923 | 0.9% |
| Other** | 103 | 16,448 | 2.5 % |
Source: Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment.
*Other Religious Affiliation includes Churches of Christ, Ananda Marga, Hare Krishna and Society of Friends
**Other includes special schools, international schools, indigenous schools, and community schools.
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.
1 in 6
Australian students in Independent schools