The face of independent schooling has changed, with new data showing western Sydney families are increasingly choosing an affordable faith or non-faith Independent education for their children.
Enrolment Dynamics, an annual study of official school and student data by the Association of Independent Schools of NSW (AISNSW), shows that tens of thousands of low-to-middle income families are prioritising an education for their children that reflects their beliefs, values and philosophies over other spending.
“Much of the enrolment growth has been in low-to-mid fee Christian, Islamic, Anglican or secular schools serving families in Sydney’s fastest growing suburbs,” AISNSW Chief Executive Margery Evans said.
“In 2025, the typical Independent school is co-ed, K-12, faith-based, located west of Parramatta and charging less than $6,000 a year,” she said.
Key findings in Enrolment Dynamics, 2025 Edition include:
- Since 2000, NSW Independent schools have enrolled almost two-thirds of the state’s additional students, growing by 101,565 (compared with 39,817 in Catholic systemic schools and 18,500 in government schools).
- In the past five years, more new students were enrolled in NSW Independent schools than in every state and territory government school sector combined.
- More than half of students attending NSW Independent schools are from low-to-medium income families.
- The median fee collected in NSW Independent schools is less than $6,000 a year.
- Student growth is highest in Sydney’s northwest and southwest where 10 new, low-to-mid fee Independent schools have opened over the past decade and many others have expanded.
Ms Evans said the remarkable aspect about this student growth is that the Independent sector comprises only 430 schools, or 14 per cent of the state’s schools.
Enrolment Dynamics also reflects forecasts that Australia’s record low birth rate will slow student growth in all school sectors over the next 10 years. Total enrolments are expected to grow by an average of 5,100 per year – less than half the pre-pandemic average – driven by migration, as Australia’s fertility rate falls to 1.5 births per woman.
Ms Evans said parents valued the strong community links, explicit wellbeing programs, and co-curricular academic, sports and arts opportunities available in many Independent schools.
“There are also practical considerations; half of NSW Independent schools are combined primary/secondary and co-educational schools, an environment many families prefer for their child.
“Independent schools are also far more affordable than many people realise; more Independent schools charge less than $2,000 per year than over $20,000,” she said.
NSW Independent schools account for almost 20 per cent of all the state’s enrolments, up from 13 per cent in 2000. They employ over 33,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff, including 21,000 FTE teachers, and make a significant contribution to the state’s prosperity as well as the lives of students, Ms Evans said.
