Bullimbal School vs St Joseph's Primary School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 1.5 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Bullimbal School
South Tamworth · Government special · U
70 students · ICSEA 870
St Joseph's Primary School
West Tamworth · Catholic primary · K-6
185 students · ICSEA 1003
| Measure | Bullimbal School South Tamworth NSW | St Joseph's Primary School West Tamworth NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 53 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #820 of 1,619 |
| National rank (type) | – | #2503 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Special | Primary |
| Year range | U | K-6 |
| Students | 70 | 185 |
| Girls / boys | 14 / 56 | 89 / 96 |
| Foundation intake | – | 26 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +37% | +7% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 870 | 1003 |
| ICSEA percentile | 6th | 48th |
| Top SEA quarter | 8% | 11% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 63% | 22% |
| Students per teacher | 5.0 | 13.1 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 14.0 | 14.1 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 14.3 | 6.5 |
| Language background other than English | 7% | 18% |
| Indigenous students | 46% | 15% |
| Suburb | South Tamworth 2340 | West Tamworth 2340 |
| Council area | Tamworth | Tamworth |
| Remoteness | Inner Regional | Inner Regional |
| Website | bullimbal-s.schools.nsw.gov.au | stjosephstamworth.catholic.edu.au/ |
The verdict
- •St Joseph's Primary School has the higher ICSEA (1003 vs 870), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Bullimbal School has fewer students per teacher (5.0 vs 13.1).
- •St Joseph's Primary School is the larger school with 185 students compared with 70.
- •Bullimbal School has grown faster over five years (37% vs 7%).
- •Bullimbal School is a government school while St Joseph's Primary School is a catholic school, so fees and enrolment rules differ.
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 Bullimbal School better than St Joseph's Primary School?
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 Bullimbal School and St Joseph's Primary School?
About 1.5 km in a straight line, between South Tamworth and West Tamworth in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Bullimbal School has 5.0 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Joseph's Primary School has 13.1.
How do Bullimbal School and St Joseph's Primary School rank in NSW?
Bullimbal School is unranked and St Joseph's Primary School is 820th of 1,619 among special schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.