Coffs Harbour Learning Centre vs Mary Help of Christians Primary School Sawtell
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.
Coffs Harbour Learning Centre
Boambee · Government special · U
23 students · ICSEA 841
Mary Help of Christians Primary School Sawtell
Toormina · Catholic primary · K-6
490 students · ICSEA 1052
| Measure | Coffs Harbour Learning Centre Boambee NSW | Mary Help of Christians Primary School Sawtell Toormina NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 65 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #476 of 1,619 |
| National rank (type) | – | #1454 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Special | Primary |
| Year range | U | K-6 |
| Students | 23 | 490 |
| Girls / boys | 8 / 15 | 263 / 227 |
| Foundation intake | – | 64 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +5% | +14% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 841 | 1052 |
| ICSEA percentile | 4th | 69th |
| Top SEA quarter | 1% | 24% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 78% | 15% |
| Students per teacher | 3.8 | 16.1 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 6.0 | 30.4 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 6.6 | 15.3 |
| Language background other than English | 0% | 13% |
| Indigenous students | 39% | 6% |
| Suburb | Boambee 2450 | Toormina 2452 |
| Council area | Coffs Harbour | Coffs Harbour |
| Remoteness | Inner Regional | Inner Regional |
| Website | coffshbrlc-s.schools.nsw.gov.au | moodle.sawplism.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Mary Help of Christians Primary School Sawtell has the higher ICSEA (1052 vs 841), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Coffs Harbour Learning Centre has fewer students per teacher (3.8 vs 16.1).
- •Mary Help of Christians Primary School Sawtell is the larger school with 490 students compared with 23.
- •Mary Help of Christians Primary School Sawtell has grown faster over five years (14% vs 5%).
- •Coffs Harbour Learning Centre is a government school while Mary Help of Christians Primary School Sawtell 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 Coffs Harbour Learning Centre better than Mary Help of Christians Primary School Sawtell?
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 Coffs Harbour Learning Centre and Mary Help of Christians Primary School Sawtell?
About 1.5 km in a straight line, between Boambee and Toormina in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Coffs Harbour Learning Centre has 3.8 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Mary Help of Christians Primary School Sawtell has 16.1.
How do Coffs Harbour Learning Centre and Mary Help of Christians Primary School Sawtell rank in NSW?
Coffs Harbour Learning Centre is unranked and Mary Help of Christians Primary School Sawtell is 476th of 1,619 among special schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.