During 2020–21, an average of 41,588 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff were employed. Of these, 57.2% were teachers, 30.0% were support staff, 7.7% were cleaners and gardeners, and 5.1% were administrative and clerical staff. School‑based staff represented 96.4% of total FTE.
For further information about our staff, refer to our workforce demographics, tables 15 to 18 and figures 3 and 4.
Our average FTE increased by 1,577 FTE (3.9%) from 2019–20, mainly due to:
- additional school-based staff employed to meet growth in the number of students in existing schools, as well as staffing for new schools in 2020–21
- more education assistants as a result of a previous election commitment to employ a further 300 education assistants by December 2020
- increased number of cleaners to maintain an enhanced level of cleaning at all educational facilities throughout 2020–21.
We achieved the State Government’s previous election commitments to fund 300 FTE education assistants and 50 FTE Aboriginal and Islander education officers to directly support students. As at 30 June 2021, funding had been allocated to 259 schools for the employment of an additional 300 FTE education assistants. Funding was also allocated for the employment of an additional 43 FTE Aboriginal and Islander education officers across 70 regional senior high schools, district high schools and remote community schools; with a further 7.0 FTE allocated to employ Aboriginal Boarding Supervisors at four residential colleges. All staff were employed on a permanent basis.
Since the Public Sector Commissioner’s instruction regarding the conversion and appointment of fixed‑term contract and casual employees to permanency was released in August 2018, we have continued to review and oversee the employment arrangements of our fixed‑term and casual staff. We are committed to permanency being the preferred form of employment.
Both teacher retirements and resignations remained relatively stable in 2020 (refer to Appendix 3).
| Demographics(a) | 2020 (%) | 2021 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people | 2.3 | 2.3 |
| Culturally and linguistically diverse people | 9.4 | 9.9 |
| People with disability | 1.3 | 1.2 |
| Age profile | ||
| People 24 years of age and under | 4.0 | 4.2 |
| People 25 to 44 years of age | 41.1 | 41.3 |
| People 45 years of age and over | 54.9 | 54.5 |
| Gender breakdown of Senior Executive Service(b)(c) | ||
| Female Male | 40.0 60.0 | 36.0 64.0 |
| Gender breakdown of school administrators(b)(d) | ||
| Primary Female Male | 67.2 32.8 | 68.7 31.3 |
| Secondary Female Male | 55.4 44.6 | 56.7 43.3 |
Source: Workforce and Education Business Services, using Human Resource Minimum Obligatory Information Requirements (HRMOIR) data
(a) Data as at June of each year.
(b) No employees were recorded against Indeterminate/Intersex in these positions in June 2020 or June 2021.
(c) Employees who are members of the Senior Executive Service (SES) under section 43 of the Public Sector Management Act 1994 (WA).
(d) Defined as levels 3 to 6 under the School Education Act Employees’ (Teachers and Administrators) General Agreement 2019 (WA).
Table 15: Staff(a) by category 2016–17 to 2020–21
| Category | 2016–17 | 2017–18(b) | 2018–19 | 2019–20 | 2020–21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teaching(c) | 22,889 | 22,878 | 23,031 | 23,303 | 23,802 |
| Support(d) | 11,127 | 11,447 | 11,674 | 11,944 | 12,454 |
| Cleaning and gardening | 2,541 | 2,573 | 2,593 | 2,763 | 3,197 |
| Administrative and clerical(e) | 1,741 | 1,938 | 1,907 | 2,001 | 2,135 |
| Total | 38,298 | 38,836 | 39,205 | 40,011 | 41,588 |
Source: Education Business Services
(a) Average financial year paid full-time equivalent staff rounded to nearest whole number.
(b) From 2017–18, the new Department of Education was formed, which included staff from School Curriculum and Standards Authority and former Department of Education, Department of Education Services, and Country High School Hostels Authority.
(c) Includes principals and deputy principals.
(d) Includes school clerical staff and education assistants.
(e) Public Sector Management Act 1994 (WA) positions and teaching award staff in administrative roles.
Table 16: Staff(a) by operational area and category 2020–21
| Operational area | Teaching(b) | Support(c) | Cleaning and gardening | Administrative and clerical(d) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schools | 23,765 | 12,451 | 3,192 | 674 | 40,082 |
| Central strategic and corporate services | – | – | – | 1,363 | 1,363 |
| Regional offices | 37(e) | 3 | 5 | 98 | 143 |
| Total | 23,802 | 12,454 | 3,197 | 2,135 | 41,588 |
Source: Education Business Services
(a) Average financial year paid full-time equivalent staff rounded to nearest whole number.
(b) Includes principals and deputy principals.
(c) Includes school clerical staff and education assistants.
(d) Public Sector Management Act 1994 (WA) positions and teaching award staff in administrative roles.
(e) Includes Primary Extension and Challenge (PEAC) teachers and home education moderators.
Table 17: School-related staff(a) by type of school and category 2020–21
| Type of school | Teaching(b) | Support(c) | Cleaning and gardening | Administrative and clerical(d) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community kindergarten | 20 | 18 | – | – | 38 |
| Primary(e) | 12,453 | 6,752 | 1,726 | 10 | 20,941 |
| District high | 1,015 | 552 | 190 | 5 | 1,762 |
| Kindergarten–Year 12(f) | 418 | 166 | 47 | 37 | 668 |
| Secondary | 8,195 | 2,820 | 1,184 | 540 | 12,739 |
| Education support(g) | 924 | 1,940 | 38 | 45 | 2,947 |
| Specialist services(h) | 740 | 203 | 7 | 37 | 987 |
| Total | 23,765 | 12,451 | 3,192 | 674 | 40,082 |
Source: Education Business Services
(a) Average financial year paid full-time equivalent staff rounded to nearest whole number.
(b) Includes principals and deputy principals.
(c) Includes school clerical staff and education assistants.
(d) Public Sector Management Act 1994 (WA) positions and teaching award staff in administrative roles.
(e) Includes schools of the air and remote community schools.
(f) Includes School of Isolated and Distance Education.
(g) Includes language development school and centres.
(h) Includes education services that do not directly enrol students such as camp schools, some schools of special educational needs, vacation swimming and Instrumental Music School Services. Residential colleges are included under Support.
Table 18: School-based teaching staff(a) by category and education category(b) 2021
| Category | Primary | Secondary | Education support | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Principal | 567 | 171 | 66 | 804 |
| Deputy principal | 819 | 417 | 68 | 1,304 |
| Head of department or program coordinator | 19 | 1,019 | 9 | 1,047 |
| Teacher | 10,584 | 6,801 | 700 | 18,085 |
| Guidance/counselling | 178 | 133 | 31 | 342 |
| Total | 12,167 | 8,541 | 874 | 21,582 |
Source: System and School Performance
(a) Full-time equivalents at Semester 1 student census including teachers at community kindergartens. Based on counting method used for National Schools Statistics Collection that does not include staff on extended leave.
(b) Staff apportioned to education category based on proportion of students in each education category.
Figure 3: School-based teaching staff(a) by education category(b) and gender 2021(c)
Source: System and School Performance
(a) Full-time equivalents at Semester 1 student census including teachers at community kindergartens. Based on counting method used for National Schools Statistics Collection that does not include staff on extended leave.
(b) Staff apportioned to education category based on proportion of students in each education category.
(c) For corresponding table, refer to Appendix 3.
Figure 4: Student–teacher ratios(a) 2016 to 2020
Source: System and School Performance
(a) Ratios based on full-time equivalent students and full-time equivalent teaching staff at Semester 2.
(b) Excludes Kindergarten.