Eileen O'Connor Catholic College vs The John Berne School
A head-to-head comparison of two special schools in New South Wales, 153 m apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Eileen O'Connor Catholic College
Lewisham · Catholic special · U
74 students · ICSEA 1052
The John Berne School
Lewisham · Independent special · U
45 students · ICSEA 1038
| Measure | Eileen O'Connor Catholic College Lewisham NSW | The John Berne School Lewisham NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | – | – |
| National rank (type) | – | – |
| Sector | Catholic | Independent |
| Type | Special | Special |
| Year range | U | U |
| Students | 74 | 45 |
| Girls / boys | 28 / 46 | 6 / 39 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -22% | +13% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1052 | 1038 |
| ICSEA percentile | 69th | 63th |
| Top SEA quarter | 26% | 32% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 21% | 18% |
| Students per teacher | 3.2 | 4.6 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 23.1 | 9.8 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 15.5 | 9.2 |
| Language background other than English | 61% | 11% |
| Indigenous students | 0% | 18% |
| Suburb | Lewisham 2049 | Lewisham 2049 |
| Council area | Inner West | Inner West |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | eocc.syd.catholic.edu.au | www.thejohnberneschool.org |
The verdict
- •Eileen O'Connor Catholic College has the higher ICSEA (1052 vs 1038), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Eileen O'Connor Catholic College has fewer students per teacher (3.2 vs 4.6).
- •Eileen O'Connor Catholic College is the larger school with 74 students compared with 45.
- •The John Berne School has grown faster over five years (13% vs -22%).
- •Eileen O'Connor Catholic College is a catholic school while The John Berne School is an independent 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 Eileen O'Connor Catholic College better than The John Berne 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 Eileen O'Connor Catholic College and The John Berne School?
About 153 m in a straight line, between Lewisham and Lewisham in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Eileen O'Connor Catholic College has 3.2 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and The John Berne School has 4.6.
How do Eileen O'Connor Catholic College and The John Berne School rank in NSW?
Eileen O'Connor Catholic College is unranked and The John Berne School is unranked among special schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.