Merimbula Public School vs Pambula Beach Flexible School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 5.9 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Merimbula Public School
Merimbula · Government primary · K-6
428 students · ICSEA 1001
Pambula Beach Flexible School
Pambula · Independent special · 7-10
52 students · ICSEA 888
| Measure | Merimbula Public School Merimbula NSW | Pambula Beach Flexible School Pambula NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 50 Top 50% | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | #880 of 1,619 | – |
| National rank (type) | #2698 of 4,908 | – |
| Sector | Government | Independent |
| Type | Primary | Special |
| Year range | K-6 | 7-10 |
| Students | 428 | 52 |
| Girls / boys | 197 / 231 | 31 / 21 |
| Foundation intake | 56 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 5 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +14% | – |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1001 | 888 |
| ICSEA percentile | 47th | 9th |
| Top SEA quarter | 16% | 4% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 29% | 62% |
| Students per teacher | 15.7 | 6.2 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 27.3 | 8.4 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 7.2 | 6.0 |
| Language background other than English | 17% | 0% |
| Indigenous students | 9% | 35% |
| Suburb | Merimbula 2548 | Pambula 2549 |
| Council area | Bega Valley | Bega Valley |
| Remoteness | Outer Regional | Outer Regional |
| Website | merimbula-p.schools.nsw.gov.au | pambulabeach.flexi.edu.au/ |
The verdict
- •Merimbula Public School has the higher ICSEA (1001 vs 888), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Pambula Beach Flexible School has fewer students per teacher (6.2 vs 15.7).
- •Merimbula Public School is the larger school with 428 students compared with 52.
- •Merimbula Public School is a government school while Pambula Beach Flexible 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 Merimbula Public School better than Pambula Beach Flexible 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 Merimbula Public School and Pambula Beach Flexible School?
About 5.9 km in a straight line, between Merimbula and Pambula in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Merimbula Public School has 15.7 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Pambula Beach Flexible School has 6.2.
How do Merimbula Public School and Pambula Beach Flexible School rank in NSW?
Merimbula Public School is 880th of 1,619 and Pambula Beach Flexible School is unranked among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.