By any measure, Oberthur Primary School is the best in the Perth area. It doesn't just top the charts on all the school ranking websites, it also claims the highest National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) rating. And, it ranks among the top schools in internet searches. But, we found many other top primary schools WA, and list them according to rank.
| 🏫school name | 🔎Internet search volume | 💹SEA percentage | 📈NAPLAN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oberthur Primary School | 600 | 98 | 532.1 |
| Floreat Park Primary School | 150 | 99 | 498.2 |
| Nedlands Primary School | 500 | 98 | 511.9 |
| Caladenia Primary School | 800 | 87 | 519 |
| Kapinara Primary School | 300 | 97 | 496 |
| The International School of Western Australia | 500 | 98 | 509.9 |
| Hale School | 2 700 | 96 | 500.3 |
| Perth Montessori School | 100 | 88 | 468 |
| St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls | 250 | 98 | 479.5 |
| John XXIII College | 1 800 | 99 | 494.7 |
Top Primary Schools in Perth: Government Schools
Many myths surround the concept of public education. Many believe that government schools are free, but they're not. We fund them with our tax dollars. Likewise, most believe that public schools must be inferior to those that charge high fees to attend.
Neither of these beliefs is true, as the chart above shows. Seven of the ten top primary schools WA are public schools.
Oberthur Primary School icsea value
This public 'Kindergarten through Sixth Year' (K-6) primary school opened its doors in 1979, in the Perth suburb of Bull Creek. It ranks among the more technologically advanced primary teaching facilities, for its 'Bring your own device' program. This introduces students effective technology usage strategies.
School staff
- 43 teachers
- 32 support staff
Student body
- 668 total students
- 346 boys
- 322 girls
SEA distribution
- 25% across all measures
- School distribution: 68% top quarter
Oberthur deserves special mention for its Chinese immersion program. Science and Maths curriculums are taught in Mandarin. The school keeps a specialist available for physical education and music classes in Chinese, too. Try as we might, we found no such offerings in Melbourne primary schools.
Floreat Park Primary School
This is a much older school than Oberthur, 28 years older, to be exact. No worries, though, the government keeps updating the curriculum, and the learning facilities.
This school maintains a sharply defined intake area.
It spans City Beach, Jolimont, Wembley and Churchlands.
From a demographics perspective, Floreat Park breaks into:
As noted above, the school's age has nothing to do with its current condition. The school features an outdoor learning area, a kitchen garden, and rooms dedicated to music and art study. It even boasts a computer lab to rival those in the top primary schools in Sydney.
Nedlands Primary School
Nedlands places heavy emphasis on parent-teacher partnerships to educate their students. Their curriculum revolves around discovery, in science, as well as in music and the arts.
K-6 school
35 teachers
14 administrative staff
500 students (261 boys 239 girls)
The staff prioritises the needs of individual students, allowing them to explore their academic interests, without sacrificing mandatory learning. Physical activity - sports, and hands-on learning, is also a dominant theme.
Caladenia Primary School
This K-6 primary school contrasts with Floreat in several ways, not the least of which being age. Caladenia opened its doors in 2007.
It's a much bigger learning centre than its more stately counterpart, and has the larger student body to fill its classrooms:
- 978 students (502 boys, 478 girls)
- 61 teachers
- 28 non-teaching staff
Caladenia is noteworthy for its Multi-Age Academic Class program. This initiative allows high-achieving junior students to work and study alongside older learners. In return, older classmates develop leadership and support skills. This program is one reason why Caladenia earned the WA School of the Year Award (2019-2020).
Kapinara Primary School
Usually, the setting a school happens to be in is the least of parents' consideration. What matters to them is whether the teachers are good, the area is safe, and the kids are happy to be there. Kapinara contends that those are all important points, but so are the surroundings.
Kap: water
Inara: over there
This school is in City Beach, about 15 minutes from Perth's city centre. It welcomed its first students in 1967, and has been thriving ever since. Today, 380 students (198 boys, 182 girls) receive instruction from 27 teachers. They have 18 support staff to help meet students' needs.
Top Primary Schools WA: Private Schools
In Australia, the difference between private and independent schools are few. We tend to use those terms interchangeably, but we're not correct in doing so.
Private schools may set their own agendas, and independent schools comply with government policy, to some extent.
Fully private schools are rare in our country. The schools we feature on this list are independent schools, unless otherwise indicated.
The International School of Western Australia
This non-government school caters to a pre-primary (PP) to Year 12 student body, across two campuses. It's a relatively small school, with 51 teachers for 391 students (204 boys, 187 girls). By its name, you can guess that it serves Perth's international student population, but Australian students are welcome, too.
Among its many features, these are the most notable:
We note one comparable learning centre of all the schools in Brisbane. It too has an excellent program, but the Perth school boasts a gorgeous setting, and more outdoor amenities.
Hale School
Hale is among WA's oldest all-boys schools, welcoming its first students in 1858. Like the International School, it offers a PP-12 study program. It boasts the largest student body of all the schools on our list (so far): 1 618 learners receive instruction from 167 teachers.
Performing Arts development initiatives
Yearly overseas trips
Progressive technology learning sector
Outdoor education program
Besides these curricular aspects, the Hale campus boasts a new aquatic centre - to go with its already extensive sports facilities. Design and Technology facilities, Performing Arts venues, and a well-stocked library complete the campus profile.
Perth Montessori School
This small Montessori school offers a PP-12 learning program targeted at families who value independent learning and achievement. The nature of Montessori education means student progress isn't measured by standardised testing, but by student-led learning.
Of all the schools examined so far, Perth Montessori has the most balanced socio-educational advantage profile: 47% of students are in the top quarter, with 36% falling into the middle quarter.
Granted, this school's size makes that distribution possible. Just 20 teachers guide 89 students' learning (51 boys 38 girls). Still, completing this program awards students the International Big Picture Learning Credential, a 'degree' accepted at 12 Australian universities.
By contrast, Canberra Montessori offers limited learning programs. And then, only for the state's primary school students.
St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls
St Hilda's is Hale's partner school, with 127 teachers guiding learning for girls - 1 083 of them, to be exact. Like its brother campus, it boasts PP-12 education, across 2 linked facilities. And, in tandem with their partner-school, St Hilda's teaching facilities revolve around digital education. Classrooms feature:
- interactive whiteboard
- personal digital assistants
- touchpads
- digital projectors
- an arsenal of computers
St Hilda's can be proud of its academic record, which touts a near-100% university acceptance rate. This school's focus is on technology learning, but it doesn't sacrifice physical education in the process. Students have access to indoor and outdoor sports programs, performing art facilities, and an enviable library.
John XXIII College
This Catholic PP-12 learning facility emphasises the social and religious aspects of education. That's not to say its 1 494 students (766 boys 728 girls) don't benefit from modern study initiatives. This college's 130 teachers rely on new technologies to prepare their students for success in the digital world.
Primary education focuses on the development of knowledge, skills and understanding - academic, physical, emotional, social and spiritual.
From the school's prospectus.
Like primary schools in Adelaide - Catholic or not, John XXIII focuses on early development during its primary phase. Mentors encourage students to develop social awareness, and discover the qualities within themselves to help the world rise above society's challenges.
Choosing the Best Primary Schools in Perth
When choosing a school, what matters the most is that it meets your child's learning needs.
For instance, a school with no music study program will not suit your musically gifted child. If your learner is particularly talented in maths, any school without advanced mathematics studies will keep them from developing their skills.
Next, any primary school you consider for your child must suit your situation and objectives.
Aspects to examine in that regard include:
cultural values
- religious
- ethical
- pastoral care
practical values
- distance from home
- programs and amenities
- costs
academic values
- educational quality
- academic opportunity
- nurturing and encouragement
A school too far away from home might make it hard for you to get your child to class on time. One that doesn't reflect your cultural values will likely cause friction between you, the teachers, and the staff.
What About Perth Primary School Ranking?
School rankings can help you decide which schools to investigate. They should not dictate which school to enrol your child in. Just because it's the best school, according to whichever measure, doesn't mean your child will learn well, there.
Visiting the schools, touring the facilities, and talking with teachers and administrators is the only way to ensure the school checks all your boxes. And, those of your child. After all, they have to sit in those rooms, listen to those teachers, and learn from them.
The best primary schools in Australia withstand that scrutiny, from prospective students' families, before any school year starts. Surely, the best primary schools in Perth will do the same.
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