New England and North West · Region (SA4)

Education & Qualifications in New England and North West

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

Fewer people in New England and North West have finished high school or university compared to the rest of the state. Only 40.5% of residents completed Year 12, though this is 6.1 percentage points higher than it was in 2011. The region relies heavily on trade qualifications and practical certificates over higher degrees.

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📍 New England and North West, Region (SA4)

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

15.1% ▲ +34.7%
  • 0.0%–1.8%: 0 areas
  • 1.8%–3.6%: 1 area
  • 3.6%–5.4%: 0 areas
  • 5.4%–7.1%: 0 areas
  • 7.1%–8.9%: 3 areas
  • 8.9%–10.7%: 1 area
  • 10.7%–12.5%: 12 areas
  • 12.5%–14.3%: 15 areas
  • 14.3%–16.1%: 8 areas
  • 16.1%–17.9%: 9 areas
  • 17.9%–19.6%: 3 areas
  • 19.6%–21.4%: 9 areas
  • 21.4%–23.2%: 6 areas
  • 23.2%–25.0%: 2 areas
  • 25.0%–26.8%: 7 areas
  • 26.8%–28.6%: 4 areas
  • 28.6%–30.4%: 3 areas
  • 30.4%–32.1%: 1 area
  • 32.1%–33.9%: 1 area
  • 33.9%–35.7%: 0 areas
  • 35.7%–37.5%: 1 area
  • 37.5%–39.3%: 3 areas
  • 39.3%–41.1%: 0 areas
  • 41.1%–42.9%: 1 area
  • 42.9%–44.6%: 3 areas
  • 44.6%–46.4%: 1 area
  • 46.4%–48.2%: 2 areas
  • 48.2%–50.0%: 5 areas

All region (sa4) areas, 2021. The marker is New England and North West — lower than 65% of areas.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher compared with the state and national average
New England and North West15.1%
Rest of NSW 17.8%
New South Wales 27.8%
Australia 26.3%

Schooling

Highest year of school completed.

Year 12 completion sits at 40.5%, which is far below both the state and national figures of around 59%. Roughly 28.7% of people stopped their schooling at Year 10.

40.5% ▲ +17.7%

Lower than 76% of region (sa4) areas.

  • 2011: 34.4%
  • 2016: 37.3%
  • 2021: 40.5%

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

Highest year of school

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

Qualifications

Post-school qualifications and degrees.

Just 15.1% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the New South Wales figure of 27.8%. The most common qualification is a Certificate III or IV, held by 32.9% of the population.

15.1% ▲ +34.7%

Lower than 65% of region (sa4) areas.

  • 2011: 11.2%
  • 2016: 12.9%
  • 2021: 15.1%

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

Field of study

What people studied.

The most common fields of study for those with qualifications are management and commerce at 14.3%, followed by engineering and related fields at 12.8%.

Schools

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

There are 154 schools serving the region, which is more than most similar areas. Most schools are small, with an average of 195 students, and 77.3% are government-run.

933

Lower than 90% of region (sa4) 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 and North West — hover a marker for details. Open the full map →

Schools serving New England and North West

154 schools — 29,783 students, average ICSEA 933.

By sector: Government 119 · Catholic 23 · Independent 12

By type: Primary 108 · Combined 26 · Secondary 20

Schools serving New England and North West, sortable by name, sector, type, distance and student count
Calrossy Anglican School, Tamworth Independent Secondary — 1,033 1,079
Armidale Secondary College, Armidale Government Secondary — 1,029 928
Oxley High School, North Tamworth Government Secondary — 1,007 936
McCarthy Catholic College, West Tamworth Catholic Secondary — 935 991
Tamworth Public School, Tamworth Government Primary — 891 997
Carinya Christian School Tamworth, Tamworth Independent Combined — 857 1,034
Tamworth High School, South Tamworth Government Secondary — 663 860
Peel High School, Tamworth Government Secondary — 629 831
The Armidale School, Armidale Independent Combined — 625 1,097
Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School, Calala Government Secondary — 606 1,025
St Nicholas' Primary School, Tamworth Catholic Primary — 586 1,042
Holy Trinity School, Inverell Catholic Combined — 577 1,003
Gunnedah South Public School, Gunnedah Government Primary — 533 902
St Edward's Primary School, South Tamworth Catholic Primary — 525 956
O'Connor Catholic College, Armidale Catholic Secondary — 511 1,020
Ben Venue Public School, Armidale Government Primary — 509 1,008
Inverell Public School, Inverell Government Primary — 498 899
Macintyre High School, Inverell Government Secondary — 487 919
Inverell High School, Inverell Government Secondary — 484 888
Tamworth South Public School, Tamworth Government Primary — 477 828
Ross Hill Public School, Inverell Government Primary — 475 871
Hillvue Public School, Tamworth Government Primary — 449 761
Gunnedah High School, Gunnedah Government Secondary — 438 820
Glen Innes High School, Glen Innes Government Secondary — 434 926
Moree Public School, Moree Government Primary — 432 862
Narrabri High School, Narrabri Government Secondary — 420 864
St Mary's College, Gunnedah Catholic Secondary — 411 976
Oxley Vale Public School, Tamworth Government Primary — 377 870
Tamworth West Public School, West Tamworth Government Primary — 370 908
Westdale Public School, Westdale Government Primary — 370 870
Moree Secondary College, Moree Government Secondary — 369 771
St Xavier's Primary School, Gunnedah Catholic Primary — 366 996
Quirindi High School, Quirindi Government Secondary — 352 891
Armidale City Public School, Armidale Government Primary — 349 963
Glen Innes Public School, Glen Innes Government Primary — 339 903
St Philomena's School, Moree Catholic Combined — 336 952
St Mary's Primary School, Armidale Catholic Primary — 327 1,038
St Francis Xavier's Primary School, Narrabri Catholic Primary — 300 1,000
Guyra Central School, Guyra Government Combined — 292 889
Quirindi Public School, Quirindi Government Primary — 277 904
Narrabri Public School, Narrabri Government Primary — 267 823
Tenterfield High School, Tenterfield Government Secondary — 267 914
Uralla Central School, Uralla Government Combined — 264 901
New England Girls' School, Armidale Independent Combined — 247 1,047
Manilla Central School, Manilla Government Combined — 244 855
Drummond Memorial Public School, Armidale Government Primary — 233 827
Narrabri West Public School, Narrabri Government Primary — 232 889
Carinya Christian School Gunnedah, Gunnedah Independent Combined — 231 965
Moree East Public School, Moree Government Primary — 230 689
Walcha Central School, Walcha Government Combined — 230 906
PLC Armidale, Armidale Independent Combined — 226 1,077
The Sir Henry Parkes Memorial Public School, Tenterfield Government Primary — 199 865
Warialda High School, Warialda Government Secondary — 199 900
Nemingha Public School, Nemingha Government Primary — 193 996
Warialda Public School, Warialda Government Primary — 192 927
St Joseph's Primary School, West Tamworth Catholic Primary — 185 1,003
Wee Waa High School, Wee Waa Government Secondary — 181 853
Sandon Public School, Armidale Government Primary — 179 923
Bingara Central School, Bingara Government Combined — 175 916
Gunnedah Public School, Gunnedah Government Primary — 175 785
Kootingal Public School, Kootingal Government Primary — 168 928
Newling Public School, Armidale Government Primary — 165 802
Martins Gully Public School, Armidale Government Primary — 164 1,050
The Armidale Waldorf School, Armidale Independent Combined — 163 1,057
Barraba Central School, Barraba Government Combined — 161 839
St Joseph's Primary School, Glen Innes Catholic Primary — 159 1,042
Timbumburi Public School, Timbumburi Government Primary — 159 1,003
St Joseph's Primary School, Tenterfield Catholic Primary — 137 1,006
Namoi Valley Christian School, Wee Waa Independent Combined — 128 936
Moree Christian School, Moree Independent Combined — 126 1,002
Ashford Central School, Ashford Government Combined — 119 808
St Joseph's Primary School, Wee Waa Catholic Primary — 118 961
Tintinhull Public School, Kootingal Government Primary — 113 973
Bundarra Central School, Bundarra Government Combined — 99 874
Boggabri Public School, Boggabri Government Primary — 96 908
Emmaville Central School, Emmaville Government Combined — 94 886
St Patrick's Primary School, Walcha Catholic Primary — 94 1,027
Boggabilla Central School, Boggabilla Government Combined — 79 670
St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Manilla Catholic Primary — 79 948
Wee Waa Public School, Wee Waa Government Primary — 79 720
Curlewis Public School, Curlewis Government Primary — 77 833
St Joseph's Primary School, Quirindi Catholic Primary — 74 953
St Joseph's Primary School, Barraba Catholic Primary — 73 989
St Mary of the Angels Primary School, Guyra Catholic Primary — 72 1,008
Bullimbal School, South Tamworth Government Combined — 70 870
Werris Creek Public School, Werris Creek Government Primary — 68 836
Mungindi Central School, Mungindi Government Combined — 66 795
Liberty College, Tamworth Independent Primary — 63 897
St Joseph's Primary School, Uralla Catholic Primary — 52 982
Willow Tree Public School, Willow Tree Government Primary — 51 982
Minimbah Primary School, Armidale Independent Primary — 47 697
St Joseph's Primary School, Mungindi Catholic Primary — 47 957
Carroll Public School, Carroll Government Primary — 46 987
Duri Public School, Duri Government Primary — 42 842
Gilgai Public School, Gilgai Government Primary — 42 843
Toomelah Public School, Boggabilla Government Primary — 41 625
Attunga Public School, Attunga Government Primary — 39 908
Rocky River Public School, Uralla Government Primary — 39 963
Wallabadah Public School, Wallabadah Government Primary — 37 941
G S Kidd Memorial School, Gunnedah Government Combined — 35 881
OneSchool Global NSW - Armidale, Armidale Independent Combined — 35 981
Bald Blair Public School, Guyra Government Primary — 32 969
Moonbi Public School, Moonbi Government Primary — 31 850
Bendemeer Public School, Bendemeer Government Primary — 29 920
Gum Flat Public School, Gum Flat Government Primary — 29 997
Kentucky Public School, Kentucky Government Primary — 28 1,002
Mullaley Public School, Mullaley Government Primary — 28 922
Red Range Public School, Red Range Government Primary — 28 858
Tingha Public School, Tingha Government Primary — 28 714
Kellys Plains Public School, Armidale Government Primary — 27 1,054
Nundle Public School, Nundle Government Primary — 27 955
Dungowan Public School, Dungowan Government Primary — 26 1,004
Spring Ridge Public School, Spring Ridge Government Primary — 25 1,004
St Joseph's Primary School, Warialda Catholic Primary — 25 864
Bullarah Public School, Bullarah Government Primary — 24 887
Currabubula Public School, Currabubula Government Primary — 24 953
Gravesend Public School, Gravesend Government Primary — 23 918
North Star Public School, North Star Government Primary — 22 973
Gwabegar Public School, Gwabegar Government Primary — 21 694
Pallamallawa Public School, Pallamallawa Government Primary — 21 857
Sacred Heart Primary School, Boggabri Catholic Primary — 21 983
Black Mountain Public School, Black Mountain Government Primary — 20 807
Parry School, West Tamworth Government Secondary — 20 753
Glen Innes West Infants School, Glen Innes Government Primary — 19 898
Delungra Public School, Delungra Government Primary — 18 827
Pilliga Public School, Pilliga Government Primary — 18 747
Bellata Public School, Bellata Government Primary — 17 913
Deepwater Public School, Deepwater Government Primary — 17 960
Somerton Public School, Somerton Government Primary — 17 895
Drake Public School, Drake Government Primary — 14 928
Garah Public School, Garah Government Primary — 14 933
Wytaliba Public School, Glen Innes Government Primary — 13 923
Croppa Creek Public School, Croppa Creek Government Primary — 12 979
Premer Public School, Premer Government Primary — 12 822
Mallawa Public School, Moree Government Primary — 11 874
Niangala Public School, Niangala Government Primary — 11 995
Woolbrook Public School, Woolbrook Government Primary — 11 900
Woolomin Public School, Woolomin Government Primary — 11 840
Jennings Public School, Jennings Government Primary — 10 795
Kingstown Public School, Kingstown Government Primary — 10 955
Walhallow Public School, Caroona Government Primary — 10 692
Blackville Public School, Blackville Government Primary — 9 914
Bonshaw Public School, Bonshaw Government Primary — 8 951
Urbenville Public School, Urbenville Government Primary — 8 959
Barwon Learning Centre, Moree Government Combined — 7 —
Boomi Public School, Boomi Government Primary — 7 770
Ebor Public School, Ebor Government Primary — 7 826
Yetman Public School, Yetman Government Primary — 7 1,022
Ben Lomond Public School, Ben Lomond Government Primary — 5 908
Chandler Public School, Wollomombi Government Primary — 4 —
Fairfax Public School, Maules Creek Government Primary — 3 —
Yarrowitch Public School, Yarrowitch Government Primary — 3 —
Tulloona Public School, Tulloona Government Primary — 1 —
Thalgarrah Environmental Education Centre, Armidale Government Combined — — —

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).

More for New England and North West

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Education & Qualifications in New England and North West [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa4/110/new-england-and-north-west/topic/education