Kensington Secondary School vs Penrhos College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Western Australia, 1.7 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Kensington Secondary School
Kensington · Government special · 7-12
82 students · ICSEA 1008
Penrhos College
Como · Independent combined · PP-12
1,033 students · ICSEA 1143
| Measure | Kensington Secondary School Kensington WA | Penrhos College Como WA |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 82 Top 10% |
| State rank (type) | – | #5 of 172 |
| National rank (type) | – | #79 of 1,259 |
| Sector | Government | Independent |
| Type | Special | Combined |
| Year range | 7-12 | PP-12 |
| Students | 82 | 1,033 |
| Girls / boys | 26 / 56 | 1,033 / 0 |
| Foundation intake | – | 44 |
| Year 7 cohort | 18 | 112 |
| Year 12 cohort | 16 | 129 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +37% | +7% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1008 | 1143 |
| ICSEA percentile | 51th | 94th |
| Top SEA quarter | 18% | 59% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 30% | 4% |
| Students per teacher | 5.7 | 10.2 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 14.4 | 101.3 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 44.2 | 82.3 |
| Language background other than English | 41% | 29% |
| Indigenous students | 10% | 2% |
| Suburb | Kensington 6151 | Como 6152 |
| Council area | Victoria Park | South Perth |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.det.wa.edu.au/schoolsonline/overview.do?schoolID=6012 | www.penrhos.wa.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Penrhos College has the higher ICSEA (1143 vs 1008), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Kensington Secondary School has fewer students per teacher (5.7 vs 10.2).
- •Penrhos College is the larger school with 1,033 students compared with 82.
- •Kensington Secondary School has grown faster over five years (37% vs 7%).
- •Kensington Secondary School is a government school while Penrhos College 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 Kensington Secondary School better than Penrhos College?
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 Kensington Secondary School and Penrhos College?
About 1.7 km in a straight line, between Kensington and Como in Western Australia.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Kensington Secondary School has 5.7 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Penrhos College has 10.2.
How do Kensington Secondary School and Penrhos College rank in WA?
Kensington Secondary School is unranked and Penrhos College is 5th of 172 among special schools in Western Australia on the 2025 Success Index.