Reports and Statistics
Queensland State Schools
July 2015
opendata@dete.qld.gov.au
Class Size Target Achievement and Average Class Size

A class size snapshot is undertaken in May of each year.

Schools are allocated classroom teaching staff to achieve the formation of
classes on or within established class-size targets.

Class size targets are:
o 25 students per class for Prep, Years 1 - 3;
o 28 students per class for Years 4 - 7 Primary;
o 28 students per class for Years 7 Secondary - 10; and
o 25 students per class for Years 11 - 12.

It should be noted that while targets are an important consideration in the
formation of classes, the actual make-up of classes is determined at the school
level by principals in consultation with staff. For example, a Principal may form a
class with one or two students over the target to keep students of the same year
level together, rather than forming multi-age classes.

The first table shows the proportion of state school classes achieving class size
targets by Year level groupings.

The second table shows average class size, defined as the number of students
per class under the instruction of a full-time equivalent teacher.

In 2011, OneSchool timetabling functionality was introduced for all state schools.
The new system provides the department an enhanced class-size dataset,
particularly for secondary school classes (Years 7–12).

The enhanced dataset allows the department to use information for each class
period. The compilation of class-size information using ‘period level’ data
captures a wider variety of school practises in creating classes and therefore
presents a more accurate reflection of class configuration decisions made by
schools. This is a superior method because it draws on every class period and
removes any bias due to subjects having a different number of lessons per week.

From 2015, Year 7 has moved to secondary in Queensland state schools. In
reported data, Year 7s being taught in a primary model are included in the “Year
7 Primary” year level category and Year 7s taught in a secondary model are
included in the “Year 7 Secondary” year level category. A small number of
schools took part in a pilot program in 2014.

Primary year level class data are based on individual roll classes and secondary
year level class data (including the pilot Year 7 in high school classes during
2014) are based on individual periods where a specific subject/or set of subjects
are being taught on a specific day and time. Due to these differences, care
should be taken when making comparisons between primary and secondary year
levels or analysing overall totals across all year levels.
Proportion of State School Classes Achieving Class Size Targets
Years
Meeting or
Better Than
Target
Target
Better Than
Target
On Target
Over Target
Prep – Year 3
2011
25
90%
73%
17%
10%
2012
25
92%
78%
14%
8%
2013
25
88%
72%
16%
12%
2014
25
87%
72%
16%
13%
2015
25
87%
72%
15%
13%
2011
28
94%
82%
12%
6%
2012
28
95%
84%
11%
5%
2013
28
91%
77%
14%
9%
2014
28
89%
75%
14%
11%
2015
28
91%
80%
11%
9%
Year 4 – Year 7 Primary
Year 7 Secondary – Year
10 a
2011
28
93%
83%
10%
7%
2012
28
96%
85%
10%
4%
2013
28
95%
84%
11%
5%
2014
28
95%
84%
11%
5%
2015
28
95%
85%
10%
5%
2011
25
94%
89%
5%
6%
2012
25
95%
90%
6%
5%
2013
25
94%
88%
6%
6%
2014
25
95%
89%
6%
5%
2015
25
94%
88%
6%
6%
Year 11 – Year 12 a
Notes:
a)
Numbers may not total due to rounding.
Average Class Size at Queensland State Schools
Target
Average
Class Size
2011
25
22.5
2012
25
20.9
2013
25
21.2
2014
25
21.1
2015
25
21.0
2011
28
24.9
2012
28
23.2
2013
28
23.6
2014
28
23.8
2015
28
22.1
Years
Prep – Year 3
Year 4 – Year 7 Primary
Year 7 Secondary – Year 10a
2011
28
22.7
2012
28
22.6
2013
28
22.8
2014
28
22.5
28
22.4
2011
25
17.8
2012
25
17.7
2013
25
18.1
2014
25
18.0
2015
25
18.3
2015
Year 11 – Year
12 a