Shearwater, the Mullumbimby Steiner School vs St John's Primary School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 3.7 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Shearwater, the Mullumbimby Steiner School
Mullumbimby · Independent combined · K-12
587 students · ICSEA 1070
St John's Primary School
Mullumbimby · Catholic primary · K-6
63 students · ICSEA 1038
| Measure | Shearwater, the Mullumbimby Steiner School Mullumbimby NSW | St John's Primary School Mullumbimby NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 59 Top 50% | 59 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | #154 of 314 | – |
| National rank (type) | #482 of 1,259 | – |
| Sector | Independent | Catholic |
| Type | Combined | Primary |
| Year range | K-12 | K-6 |
| Students | 587 | 63 |
| Girls / boys | 315 / 272 | 35 / 28 |
| Foundation intake | 52 | 6 |
| Year 7 cohort | 50 | – |
| Year 12 cohort | 34 | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -10% | -33% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1070 | 1038 |
| ICSEA percentile | 75th | 63th |
| Top SEA quarter | 29% | 19% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 8% | 14% |
| Students per teacher | 10.0 | 7.3 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 58.6 | 8.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 46.1 | 2.7 |
| Language background other than English | 27% | 2% |
| Indigenous students | 6% | 8% |
| Suburb | Mullumbimby 2482 | Mullumbimby 2482 |
| Council area | Byron | Byron |
| Remoteness | Inner Regional | Inner Regional |
| Website | www.shearwater.nsw.edu.au | www.mbyplism.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (58.8 vs 58.9).
- •Shearwater, the Mullumbimby Steiner School has the higher ICSEA (1070 vs 1038), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St John's Primary School has fewer students per teacher (7.3 vs 10.0).
- •Shearwater, the Mullumbimby Steiner School is the larger school with 587 students compared with 63.
- •Shearwater, the Mullumbimby Steiner School has grown faster over five years (-10% vs -33%).
- •Shearwater, the Mullumbimby Steiner School is a independent school while St John'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 Shearwater, the Mullumbimby Steiner School better than St John'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 Shearwater, the Mullumbimby Steiner School and St John's Primary School?
About 3.7 km in a straight line, between Mullumbimby and Mullumbimby in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Shearwater, the Mullumbimby Steiner School has 10.0 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St John's Primary School has 7.3.
How do Shearwater, the Mullumbimby Steiner School and St John's Primary School rank in NSW?
Shearwater, the Mullumbimby Steiner School is 154th of 314 and St John's Primary School is unranked among combined schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.