Heatherwood School vs St Philip's School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Victoria, 1.3 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Heatherwood School
Donvale · Government special · U
214 students · ICSEA 991
St Philip's School
Blackburn North · Catholic primary · Prep-6
40 students · ICSEA 1137
| Measure | Heatherwood School Donvale VIC | St Philip's School Blackburn North VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 79 Top 5% |
| State rank (type) | – | – |
| National rank (type) | – | – |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Special | Primary |
| Year range | U | Prep-6 |
| Students | 214 | 40 |
| Girls / boys | 84 / 130 | 22 / 18 |
| Foundation intake | – | 3 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -17% | -55% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 991 | 1137 |
| ICSEA percentile | 43th | 93th |
| Top SEA quarter | 11% | 58% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 40% | 4% |
| Students per teacher | 4.6 | 8.7 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 46.6 | 4.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 35.2 | 4.3 |
| Language background other than English | 17% | 45% |
| Indigenous students | 4% | 0% |
| Suburb | Donvale 3111 | Blackburn North 3130 |
| Council area | Manningham | Whitehorse |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.heatherwood.vic.edu.au | www.stphilipbbn.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St Philip's School has the higher ICSEA (1137 vs 991), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Heatherwood School has fewer students per teacher (4.6 vs 8.7).
- •Heatherwood School is the larger school with 214 students compared with 40.
- •Heatherwood School has grown faster over five years (-17% vs -55%).
- •Heatherwood School is a government school while St Philip's 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 Heatherwood School better than St Philip's 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 Heatherwood School and St Philip's School?
About 1.3 km in a straight line, between Donvale and Blackburn North in Victoria.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Heatherwood School has 4.6 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Philip's School has 8.7.
How do Heatherwood School and St Philip's School rank in VIC?
Heatherwood School is unranked and St Philip's School is unranked among special schools in Victoria on the 2025 Success Index.