Our students

• 805,378 students in our classrooms (including students in department-operated preschools and schools for specific purposes)*
• 63,618 students starting kindergarten*
• 477,078 students entering primary school and preschool*+
• 52,913 students starting Year 7*
• 320,774 students entering high school*+

*Anticipated 2024 school enrolments as at 31 December 2023.
+Data includes support enrolments in mainstream schools.

Our schools

• More than 2,200 public schools in NSW

School staff

• 99,080 full-time (FTE) teachers and staff dedicated to students
• 6,301 new permanent teachers*+
• 44 new principals*
  

*Data as at 16 January 2024 and is subject to change.
+5,485 classroom teachers appointed under the temporary to permanent initiative.
New teachers: First time teaching staff appointed to their first permanent teaching role in their teaching career.
New principals: First time principals, teaching staff appointed to their first permanent principal role in their career with the department.

Scholarships

• 298 scholarships awarded under the 2022-23 Early Childhood and Care Vocational Education and Training scholarships program
• 150 Teacher Education Scholarships offered
• 60 teach.Rural Scholarships offered
• 57 Inclusive Practice in Education Scholarships offered

Supporting students with additional learning and support needs

• 1,975 learning and support teacher positions*
  
• More than 30,800 students in approximately 4,290 support classes (mainstream and schools for specific purposes (SSP))*+
• 86% of students with specific learning needs in mainstream classes*
  
• 11% of students with specific learning needs in support classes*
• 3% of students with specific learning needs in schools for specific purposes (SSPs)*
• 26% of students identifying as living with a disability*

*Approximate figures.
+As at December 2023.

Increasing support for student health and wellbeing

Ongoing partnerships with leading mental health organisations to support schools to deliver best practice in prevention and early intervention mental health support for students.

• Over 1,240 full-time equivalent school counselling service positions
• Over 450 student support officers
• Over 90 nurses supporting over 410 schools
• Over 340 school chaplains and student wellbeing officers

Technology

• $55.7m investment in devices and digital technology for rural and remote schools
• 3,809 new student and teacher devices
• 1,211 classroooms with digital tech upgrades

Early childhood education and care

• More than 6,074 early childhood education services+
• 23,000 children attending public preschool, community or mobile preschool*
• 58,000 children attending long day care*
• 184,000 children attending out of school hours care**
• 24% attending public preschools, community or mobile preschool***
  
• 61% attending long day care or centre based day care***

+As at 30 November 2023
*Approximate figures in the year before full-time school. Source: Preschool Education Australia 2022.
**Approximate figures. Source: Child Care Subsidy June Quarter 2023 Report
***year-before-school full-time school population. Source: Preschool Education Australia 2022.

Skills

• 2,992 School Based Apprentices and Trainees (SBATs)*
• 24,136 Apprenticeships (excluding SBATs)*
• 23,482 Traineeships (excluding SBATs)*
  
• 207,370 Smart and Skilled commencements (full and part qualifications)*

School Infrastructure NSW

New and upgraded schools

• More than 200 new classrooms*
• 18 new and upgraded schools*
• 8 new halls*
  
• 8 new libraries*
• 8 new covered outdoor learning areas*
  

*These figures reflect schools that are under the new and upgraded major projects program and do not include minor works