The 2025 State of Our Schools survey was conducted throughout August and September. A total of 561 surveys were completed by 34 principals, 495 teachers and 32 support staff across Western Australia.

Student needs are more complex than ever

• 94 per cent of principals said the complexity of student needs in their school had increased in the last three years.
• 100 per cent of principals identified increasing wellbeing and mental health issues as adding to the complexity of student needs at their school.
• 94 per cent of teachers said that additional targeted funding for more wellbeing support for students would help to improve student outcomes.
• 95 per cent of teachers said that the diversity and complexity of student need within their classroom have increased in the last three years.
  • Student behaviour was most frequently cited by teachers as an area of increased complexity (93 per cent).
  • Student wellbeing and mental health was cited by 85 per cent of teachers.
  • An increase in students with learning difficulties was cited by 83 per cent of teachers.

More resources are needed to address classroom complexity and support students

• 85 per cent of teachers said that additional targeted funding for additional teacher support for students with behavioural issues would be “very helpful” in improving student outcomes and a further 13 per cent said it would be “helpful”.
• Smaller class sizes (82 per cent “very helpful” and 15 per cent “helpful”) and more expert classroom assistance for students with disability (71 per cent “very helpful” and 25 per cent “helpful”) were considered the next most important use of targeted additional funding.

Admin demands drive increasing teacher workloads

• 49 per cent of teachers say their working hours have increased in the last year; only seven per cent say they have reduced.
• 86 per cent of teachers say they are being asked to spend too much time on admin and 93 per cent say additional admin staff support would improve student outcomes.

Teacher shortages remain at unacceptable levels

• 76 per cent of principals said that their school had experienced teacher shortages in the last year, with 86 per cent saying they currently have unfilled positions.

More counsellors and wellbeing staff are urgently needed in public schools

• Only 18 per cent of principals across Western Australia said the level of counselling support at their school was adequate.
• 35 per cent of students who need help are waiting more than a month to see a school counsellor and 15 per cent are waiting longer than six months.

Small group tutoring lifts student achievement

The benefits of small group and one-to-one intervention programs have been well established for students with learning difficulties and those who have fallen behind in literacy and numeracy.

• 95 per cent of teachers say additional funding for small group tutoring would help improve literacy and numeracy outcomes.
• 67 per cent of teachers said small group or individual tutoring was available at their public school for children identified as needing additional support in literacy.
• Only 32 per cent said similar intervention programs were available for children identified as needing additional support in numeracy.