CensusAtlas

New England · Federal Electorate

Education & Qualifications in New England

How far people went at school, the qualifications they hold and what they studied.

A gap of 17 percentage points separates New England from the rest of the state in high school completion. Only 41.5% of people here finished Year 12, which is far below the national figure and represents a significant drop from previous years. This trend contributes to a smaller proportion of adults holding university degrees compared to other areas.

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📍 New England, Federal Electorate

Where New England sits — Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

15.7% —

All federal electorate areas, 2021. The marker is New England — lower than 73% of areas.

New England15.7%
Rest of NSW 17.8%
New South Wales 27.8%
Australia 26.3%

Schooling

Highest year of school completed.

Year 12 completion has fallen 22 points since 2011 to reach 41.5%, a figure far below the New South Wales and national averages. About 29% of residents reached Year 10, while 13.3% finished Year 9 or below.

Completed Year 12

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41.5% ▼ -34.9%

Lower than 82% of federal electorate areas.

Share of people whose highest year of school is Year 12 or equivalent.

Highest year of school

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In New England, the largest group is Year 12 at 46%, followed by Year 10 (32%) and Year 9 or below (15%).

Year 12 41.5% Year 10 29.0% Year 9 or below 13.3% Year 11 6.3%

Qualifications

Post-school qualifications and degrees.

Only 15.7% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the national figure of 26.3%. While this is lower than most areas, the proportion of people with degrees has risen 2.3 points since 2016.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

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15.7% —

Lower than 73% of federal electorate areas.

Share of people aged 15+ whose highest qualification is a bachelor degree or above (incl. graduate and postgraduate).

Highest qualification level

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In New England, the largest group is Certificate III / IV at 44%, followed by Bachelor degree (24%) and Advanced diploma / diploma (17%).

Certificate III / IV 33.5% Bachelor degree 18.1% Advanced diploma / diploma 12.8% Postgraduate degree 5.8% Graduate diploma / certificate 2.9% Certificate I / II 2.8%

Field of study

What people studied.

The most common qualifications are in management and commerce at 14.6%, followed by engineering at 12.8% and health at 11.3%. Society and culture and education also make up significant portions of the study fields.

Schools

Schools in the area and how many children they serve (ACARA).

New England has one of the highest number of schools per 1,000 children, though typical school sizes are much lower than most areas. Government schools make up 76.9% of the sector, with primary schools being the most common type.

Schools within 3 km

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121

Higher than 92% of federal electorate areas.

Schools serving the area — within 3 km of small areas, or inside larger ones. A measure of access (catchments overlap, so don't add it across areas).

Average school ICSEA

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949

Lower than 92% of federal electorate areas.

Enrolment-weighted average ICSEA — an index of socio-educational advantage, centred near 1000 (context, not a quality ranking).

Schools in and around New England — hover a marker for details. Open the full map →

Schools serving New England

121 schools — 25,987 students, average ICSEA 949.

By sector: Government 93 · Catholic 18 · Independent 10

By type: Primary 85 · Combined 20 · Secondary 16
Kingstown Public School, Kingstown Government Primary 21.8 km 10 955
Bundarra Central School, Bundarra Government Combined 22.0 km 99 874
Tingha Public School, Tingha Government Primary 41.1 km 28 714
Rocky River Public School, Uralla Government Primary 41.5 km 39 963
Black Mountain Public School, Black Mountain Government Primary 42.9 km 20 807
Uralla Central School, Uralla Government Combined 44.1 km 264 901
St Joseph's Primary School, Uralla Catholic Primary 44.5 km 52 982
St Mary of the Angels Primary School, Guyra Catholic Primary 45.8 km 72 1,008
New England Girls' School, Armidale Independent Combined 46.2 km 247 1,047
Martins Gully Public School, Armidale Government Primary 46.2 km 164 1,050
Guyra Central School, Guyra Government Combined 46.3 km 292 889
Sandon Public School, Armidale Government Primary 46.6 km 179 923
Drummond Memorial Public School, Armidale Government Primary 46.8 km 233 827
OneSchool Global NSW - Armidale, Armidale Independent Combined 46.9 km 35 981
Armidale Secondary College, Armidale Government Secondary 47.4 km 1,029 928
PLC Armidale, Armidale Independent Combined 47.6 km 226 1,077
St Mary's Primary School, Armidale Catholic Primary 48.2 km 327 1,038
Armidale City Public School, Armidale Government Primary 48.3 km 349 963
Ben Venue Public School, Armidale Government Primary 48.5 km 509 1,008
Kellys Plains Public School, Armidale Government Primary 48.9 km 27 1,054
The Armidale School, Armidale Independent Combined 49.1 km 625 1,097
O'Connor Catholic College, Armidale Catholic Secondary 49.3 km 511 1,020
Newling Public School, Armidale Government Primary 49.6 km 165 802
The Armidale Waldorf School, Armidale Independent Combined 49.8 km 163 1,057
Minimbah Primary School, Armidale Independent Primary 50.1 km 47 697
Kentucky Public School, Kentucky Government Primary 53.0 km 28 1,002
Gilgai Public School, Gilgai Government Primary 53.8 km 42 843
Ben Lomond Public School, Ben Lomond Government Primary 55.4 km 5 908
Bald Blair Public School, Guyra Government Primary 56.2 km 32 969
St Joseph's Primary School, Barraba Catholic Primary 58.0 km 73 989
Barraba Central School, Barraba Government Combined 59.0 km 161 839
Thalgarrah Environmental Education Centre, Armidale Government Combined 60.3 km — —
Holy Trinity School, Inverell Catholic Combined 61.6 km 577 1,003
Bendemeer Public School, Bendemeer Government Primary 62.3 km 29 920
Inverell Public School, Inverell Government Primary 62.4 km 498 899
Macintyre High School, Inverell Government Secondary 62.7 km 487 919
Ross Hill Public School, Inverell Government Primary 63.0 km 475 871
Inverell High School, Inverell Government Secondary 63.4 km 484 888
Gum Flat Public School, Gum Flat Government Primary 65.0 km 29 997
Manilla Central School, Manilla Government Combined 65.9 km 244 855
St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Manilla Catholic Primary 66.1 km 79 948
Woolbrook Public School, Woolbrook Government Primary 72.5 km 11 900
Attunga Public School, Attunga Government Primary 75.5 km 39 908
Moonbi Public School, Moonbi Government Primary 77.9 km 31 850
Bingara Central School, Bingara Government Combined 80.5 km 175 916
St Patrick's Primary School, Walcha Catholic Primary 81.2 km 94 1,027
Walcha Central School, Walcha Government Combined 81.8 km 230 906
Kootingal Public School, Kootingal Government Primary 82.0 km 168 928
Glen Innes West Infants School, Glen Innes Government Primary 82.1 km 19 898
Glen Innes High School, Glen Innes Government Secondary 82.7 km 434 926
St Joseph's Primary School, Glen Innes Catholic Primary 83.2 km 159 1,042
Glen Innes Public School, Glen Innes Government Primary 83.3 km 339 903
Chandler Public School, Wollomombi Government Primary 83.5 km 4 —
Delungra Public School, Delungra Government Primary 83.8 km 18 827
Calrossy Anglican School, Tamworth Independent Secondary 85.9 km 1,033 1,079
Tintinhull Public School, Kootingal Government Primary 86.4 km 113 973
Oxley Vale Public School, Tamworth Government Primary 86.6 km 377 870
Somerton Public School, Somerton Government Primary 87.0 km 17 895
Oxley High School, North Tamworth Government Secondary 87.3 km 1,007 936
McCarthy Catholic College, West Tamworth Catholic Secondary 87.3 km 935 991
Tamworth Public School, Tamworth Government Primary 88.1 km 891 997
St Nicholas' Primary School, Tamworth Catholic Primary 89.0 km 586 1,042
Tamworth West Public School, West Tamworth Government Primary 89.3 km 370 908
St Joseph's Primary School, West Tamworth Catholic Primary 89.5 km 185 1,003
Red Range Public School, Red Range Government Primary 90.2 km 28 858
Parry School, West Tamworth Government Secondary 90.8 km 20 753
Bullimbal School, South Tamworth Government Combined 90.8 km 70 870
Tamworth High School, South Tamworth Government Secondary 90.9 km 663 860
Nemingha Public School, Nemingha Government Primary 90.9 km 193 996
Tamworth South Public School, Tamworth Government Primary 90.9 km 477 828
Peel High School, Tamworth Government Secondary 91.0 km 629 831
Westdale Public School, Westdale Government Primary 91.0 km 370 870
St Edward's Primary School, South Tamworth Catholic Primary 91.3 km 525 956
Hillvue Public School, Tamworth Government Primary 92.3 km 449 761
Carinya Christian School Tamworth, Tamworth Independent Combined 92.6 km 857 1,034
Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School, Calala Government Secondary 92.7 km 606 1,025
Liberty College, Tamworth Independent Primary 94.4 km 63 897
Dungowan Public School, Dungowan Government Primary 99.4 km 26 1,004
Timbumburi Public School, Timbumburi Government Primary 101.3 km 159 1,003
Emmaville Central School, Emmaville Government Combined 105.1 km 94 886
Duri Public School, Duri Government Primary 105.7 km 42 842
Woolomin Public School, Woolomin Government Primary 108.4 km 11 840
Niangala Public School, Niangala Government Primary 109.4 km 11 995
Ebor Public School, Ebor Government Primary 109.6 km 7 826
Wytaliba Public School, Glen Innes Government Primary 111.9 km 13 923
Ashford Central School, Ashford Government Combined 112.6 km 119 808
Currabubula Public School, Currabubula Government Primary 113.4 km 24 953
Deepwater Public School, Deepwater Government Primary 116.1 km 17 960
Yarrowitch Public School, Yarrowitch Government Primary 124.3 km 3 —
Werris Creek Public School, Werris Creek Government Primary 125.4 km 68 836
Nundle Public School, Nundle Government Primary 126.0 km 27 955
Quirindi Public School, Quirindi Government Primary 139.6 km 277 904
Wallabadah Public School, Wallabadah Government Primary 139.7 km 37 941
Quirindi High School, Quirindi Government Secondary 139.9 km 352 891
Walhallow Public School, Caroona Government Primary 140.3 km 10 692
St Joseph's Primary School, Quirindi Catholic Primary 140.9 km 74 953
Bonshaw Public School, Bonshaw Government Primary 142.8 km 8 951
Spring Ridge Public School, Spring Ridge Government Primary 149.4 km 25 1,004
Willow Tree Public School, Willow Tree Government Primary 154.7 km 51 982
St Joseph's Primary School, Tenterfield Catholic Primary 161.1 km 137 1,006
Tenterfield High School, Tenterfield Government Secondary 161.7 km 267 914
The Sir Henry Parkes Memorial Public School, Tenterfield Government Primary 161.9 km 199 865
Murrurundi Public School, Murrurundi Government Primary 163.5 km 36 893
Blandford Public School, Blandford Government Primary 164.0 km 10 978
Yetman Public School, Yetman Government Primary 164.1 km 7 1,022
Ellerston Public School, Ellerston Government Primary 165.8 km 11 935
Jennings Public School, Jennings Government Primary 170.8 km 10 795
Blackville Public School, Blackville Government Primary 172.9 km 9 914
Premer Public School, Premer Government Primary 176.9 km 12 822
Belltrees Public School, Belltrees Government Primary 184.7 km 9 927
Drake Public School, Drake Government Primary 192.0 km 14 928
Scone Public School, Scone Government Primary 194.2 km 400 943
Scone Grammar School, Scone Independent Combined 194.3 km 692 1,025
St Mary's Primary School, Scone Catholic Primary 194.4 km 138 1,002
Scone High School, Scone Government Secondary 194.8 km 316 894
Aberdeen Public School, Aberdeen Government Primary 206.6 km 151 890
St Joseph's Catholic College, Aberdeen Catholic Secondary 206.8 km 685 968
St Joseph's Primary School, Merriwa Catholic Primary 216.7 km 49 1,000
Merriwa Central School, Merriwa Government Combined 217.8 km 221 879
Cassilis Public School, Cassilis Government Primary 220.2 km 11 959
Urbenville Public School, Urbenville Government Primary 243.5 km 8 959

Sources

  • Census of Population and Housing — Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 (CC BY 4.0).
  • Australian Schools List — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025 (CC BY 4.0).

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Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Education & Qualifications in New England [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/ced/CED130/new-england/topic/education