Aspect Vern Barnett School vs St Edmund's College
A head-to-head comparison of two special schools in New South Wales, 10 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Aspect Vern Barnett School
Forestville · Independent special · U
97 students · ICSEA 1107
St Edmund's College
Wahroonga · Independent special · U
112 students · ICSEA 1107
| Measure | Aspect Vern Barnett School Forestville NSW | St Edmund's College Wahroonga NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | – | – |
| National rank (type) | – | – |
| Sector | Independent | Independent |
| Type | Special | Special |
| Year range | U | U |
| Students | 97 | 112 |
| Girls / boys | 22 / 75 | 47 / 65 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -20% | -7% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1107 | 1107 |
| ICSEA percentile | 86th | 86th |
| Top SEA quarter | 44% | 46% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 6% | 7% |
| Students per teacher | 4.2 | 4.9 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 23.1 | 22.8 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 27.2 | 31.6 |
| Language background other than English | 54% | 27% |
| Indigenous students | 1% | 3% |
| Suburb | Forestville 2087 | Wahroonga 2076 |
| Council area | Northern Beaches | Ku-ring-gai |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.autismspectrum.org.au | www.stedmunds.nsw.edu.au/ |
The verdict
- •Aspect Vern Barnett School has fewer students per teacher (4.2 vs 4.9).
- •St Edmund's College is the larger school with 112 students compared with 97.
- •St Edmund's College has grown faster over five years (-7% vs -20%).
The Success Index summarises community advantage, resourcing and momentum from ACARA data. It does not measure teaching quality, results or fit. Methodology.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Aspect Vern Barnett School better than St Edmund's College?
The two schools are very close on the Success Index. Differences in sector, size, year range and distance from home will matter more than the score.
How far apart are Aspect Vern Barnett School and St Edmund's College?
About 10 km in a straight line, between Forestville and Wahroonga in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Aspect Vern Barnett School has 4.2 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Edmund's College has 4.9.
How do Aspect Vern Barnett School and St Edmund's College rank in NSW?
Aspect Vern Barnett School is unranked and St Edmund's College is unranked among special schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.