Growth of the Independent school sector

Over the past 50 years, the Independent school sector has grown from around 114,000 students in 1970 to almost 768,000 students in 2025, representing a change in student share from 4 per cent to 18 per cent.

In the last decade, the average annual increase in full-time enrolments in the Independent sector, at 2.7 per cent, has consistently exceeded the average growth at Catholic systemic (0.8 per cent) and government (0.7 per cent) schools. The Independent sector has consistently exceeded student population growth year on year.

This growth in enrolments has occurred in most states and territories, with the strongest rates of growth in Victoria and Queensland (3.5 per cent and 3.8 per cent respectively).

In the past five years, 79 per cent of enrolment growth has been in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

In the past five years, the highest rates of enrolment growth across the Independent sector nationally are from schools with fees less than $7,500.

Both the major cities and regional areas are experiencing strong growth, most notably in outer regional areas. Remote areas of Australia have seen little growth in Independent schools, often due to low population growth in these areas.

Projected growth

Although projections by the Australian Bureau of Statistics suggest school population growth will slow over the coming years, the Independent school sector is projected to continue to increase its enrolment share and experience strong growth, year on year.

Enrolments in Independent schools are influenced by the education and funding policies of governments as well as national and local social, cultural and economic development.

Growth in the number and diversity of Independent schools over time corresponds with increased access to Independent schooling for a wider section of the population.

Much of this growth is in low-fee schools serving disadvantaged communities.

The Independent sector’s enrolment share is more significant in the later years of schooling, with 14 per cent of Australia’s primary students enrolled in an Independent school rising to 24 per cent of all secondary student enrolments being at an Independent schools.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student enrolments

In 2025, around 22,538 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students were enrolled in Independent schools. Many of these students attended one of the 52 Majority Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student Independent schools, which are mostly located in remote areas. In 2025, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students represented 2.9 per cent of the Independent school student population. Over the past decade, the Independent sector has increased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander enrolments by 6.5 per cent annually, higher than the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student population increase of 3.6 per cent.

Enrolments of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in Independent schools have grown at an average annual rate of almost 7 per cent per year over the last two decades.

Also see Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students page.

Enrolments of students with a disability

The number of students with disability in the Independent school sector has grown substantially over time.

There were an estimated 187,300 students with disability enrolled in Independent schools in 2025, representing more than 24 per cent of the Independent school student population. Most of these students attend regular Independent schools although more than 22,000 attend one of the 159 special and special assistance schools in the sector.