The numbers speak volumes of the sheer size and scale of public education in NSW, the largest education system in the southern hemisphere, with schools ranging in size from less than 10 students to new schools built for 3,000 students.

Almost 800,000 public school students returned to classrooms today for the 2025 school year. This included almost 62,000 Kindergarten students and 53,000 starting high school in Year 7. Around 880 new teachers joined the 95,000-strong teaching workforce in NSW public education.

Five new permanent schools and two temporary public schools opened today, with major upgrades revealed at another 11 schools, adding 400 new classrooms, 20 sports facilities, seven halls, eight libraries and nine canteens to public education in NSW.

Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar attended the opening this morning of Melonba Public School and Melonba High School in Marsden Park, Sydney, with Premier Chris Minns and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car.

“About 800,000 public school students have just bounded through the school gates. It’s really exciting to welcome back our students, our teachers and support staff,” he told the assembled media.

“Our school leadership teams have been preparing to welcome everyone for what’s going to be a wonderful year of teaching and learning.”

New students at the six-storey Wentworth Point High School arrived today in their new school uniform, designed with community consultation to represent the colours of the earth and the Parramatta River.

The school will eventually grow to 1500 students, starting today with 180 Year 7 students.

Girls and boys make history

Day one at Georges River College Penshurst campus was a historic one.

The campus has gone co-ed, so boys joined the girls at the school today for the first time.

The principal, Noeline Ross, said the move has proved hugely popular, with Year 7 enrolments up from 95 in 2024 to 172 this year.

“We used to be able to only open our doors to half the community. Now they’re open to the entire community and it just feels wonderful,” she said.

At the GRC Hurstville campus principal Kathy Klados told the Year 7 students they were starting at a school with high expectations and student results well above the State average.

“Our outstanding results are because of our teachers and our students’ commitment to hard work,” she said.

Georges River Principals’ Network Director Joanna French congratulated all staff in the college who were making the transition. GRC Penshurst was formerly the Penshurst Girls campus and GRC Hurstville was formerly the Hurstville Boys campus of the college.

“The collaboration between the principals, in particular, over a very long period of time has been remarkable, as has been the extensive consultation with the community,” she said.

Like the Penshurst campus, the Hurstville campus has seen a significant enrolment boost – in 2024 there were 48 students in Year 7; this year there are 119 students.

Georges River College now has four co-educational campuses – Year 7 to 10 at Peakhurst, Penshurst and Hurstville campuses and Year 11 and 12 at Oatley Senior College.

Day one also ushered in a new era in Sydney’s east, with the combined Randwick High School welcoming boys and girls for the first time.

The move to co-education has also been warmly received there, with Year 7 enrolments up nearly 40% compared to last year across the former Randwick Boys and Girls High Schools.

Rural life a winner at Gilgandra

Gilgandra Public School in the Western Plains welcomed back students for another year of learning and growing. 

Principal Mick Darcy said it was always lovely to see rural school communities come together to support the next generation at the start of every year, and 2025 had been no different. 

“It’s because Gilgandra is rural it’s such a tight-knit town - and that means there's a lot of siblings and close friends that are already at school, ready to look after the little ones and show them the ropes,” he said. 

Besides a few tears shed by both Kindergarteners and parents, Mr Darcy said Gilgandra Public School’s newest students are settling in already. 

“We couldn't ask for more to be honest. We’re living the great rural life, because at Gilgandra Public School only the best will do,” he said.

High schools off and running

Hunter and Central Coast high schools hit the ground running on the first day of term. 

At Hunter River High, new principal Sue Xenos held a whole school assembly to welcome students back to the fold, before the students attended year group meetings. 

At nearby Irrawang High the Year 7 students participated in games in the school hall to get to know each other and make new friends. 

Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College The Entrance Campus was buzzing with excitement, as staff and support dogs welcomed students who arrived with big smiles. 

Staff gave each Year 11 student a first day pack, comprising timetables, assessment schedules, a magnet of key dates and other important information to help them make a strong start to the year. The Year 12 students, arriving for their last first day of school, kicked off classes with their Week A timetable and enjoyed a lunchtime barbecue to reconnect with each other.

Creative countdown in Orange

Orange Public School has literally been counting down the days for students to be back in the classroom. 

In the lead-up to the big day, teachers and support staff decided to build the excitement – and make the transition for their youngest students – just a little less daunting by getting creative with the camera.

The staff took photos reading, listening and learning, playing on the playground, and crossing the road safely and posted them on social media under a countdown such as ‘5 sleeps to go’. The idea was to give new and returning students a picture of what school life was like.

Terrigal classrooms buzzing

Terrigal Public School welcomed 102 excited kindergarten students today as they embarked on their first day of primary school.
Terrigal has a history of consistently having more than 100 starters each year, one of the largest Kindergarten cohorts on the Central Coast.

Acting Principal Natalie MacDonald said the new students embraced the excitement of their first day, marking a positive and memorable start to their educational journey at Terrigal Public School.

“Classrooms were a hive of activity as parents said their goodbyes and students connected with their peers and teachers, settling into their new learning environment,” Mrs McDonald said.

Bateau Bay Public School also welcomed a large cohort of Kindys, with 75 students starting today. Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College, Berkeley Vale Campus welcomed 219 Year 7 students.

Small is beautiful at Como

Kindergarten student Maeve Thompson was hanging out to play on the monkey bars at Como Public School, where brother Henry is in Year 3.

Mum Sian Thompson said Maeve, five, was already quite studious and was looking forward to learning to read, making art and writing stories.

“She’s absolutely thrilled to be going to school because she can’t wait to do what her brother does – but better,” Ms Thompson said.

The family chose Como Public School in southern Sydney because they wanted a small school with a community feel, initially for Henry who has Type 1 diabetes.

“The teachers go above and beyond, and these kids don’t miss out on anything. There is choir, dance, carnivals with other schools, and Henry has been extended in Maths and English, all in a small school,” Ms Thompson said.

Illawarra welcomes kinders

Among Mount Terry Public School’s 95 new kindergarteners were three sets of cousins making the transition to school just a little more familiar.

Lachlan Ward said he and cousin Logan Henshaw were not only cousins but best friends, too.

“It’s fun coming to school and having lots of friends to play with,” he said.

Assistant Principal and Kindergarten teacher Kristie Wright said the first day of school was an important milestone for all the new Kindergarten students and her aim was to impart a love of learning and a love of school.

“These first few days you want to make them love coming to school and love learning,” she said.

Miss Wright said the students were very familiar with the school already through the transition program during 2024. The school sent the students a gift bag and a small surprise the night before school.

At Wollongong Public School 76 new kindergarten students enjoyed a full day of activities including writing, listening to stories, playing sports, a visit to the library and a fun and interactive class scavenger hunt.

The students and parents speak 58 languages and some of the new Kindergarten students today hailed from Egypt, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, United Kingdom, Brazil, Bangladesh, Singapore and the Philippines.

Assistant Principal, Zac Wood, said the most important aspect of the first day of school is to feel safe and happy in their new environment.

“This sense of safety and happiness sets the tone for a positive and successful start to their educational journey,” he said.

Magic Mogo welcome

No-one arriving at Mogo Public School this morning could be in any doubt that they were welcome.

Principal Lynn Dallas and staff greeted newcomers, returning students and families with big smiles at the school, south of Batemans Bay.

Four new kindergarten students and new enrolments arrived to find their names on a handwritten sign on the front porch.

Another handwritten sign told returning students how much they had been missed.

The small Far South Coast school has less than 30 students but a huge heart.

It is an important hub for its community, which went through significant trauma during the bushfires in 2019 and 2020.

Milton enrolment growth

Milton Public school was over the moon to welcome 131 Kindergarten students, an increase in enrolments from the 112 Kinder students in 2024.

Principal Jason Barby said he was honoured that local families had chosen Milton Public School to start their children’s education journey, in a town where there was healthy competition with non-government schools,

“At Milton Public School, we are committed to providing a nurturing, inclusive, and stimulating environment where curiosity thrives,” he said.

“We are deeply grateful to our parents for entrusting us with the responsibility of shaping their children’s futures. Together, we will ensure that this year is filled with growth, discovery, and success.”