Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School
Wide open minds in wide open spaces!
About the school
Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School is Australia's only selective agricultural high school for boys, located near Tamworth, NSW. Established in 1939, the school has built a strong reputation for excellence in agriculture, academics, and personal development. Farrer offers a unique boarding experience where around 350 of the 600 students reside on campus. The school is committed to fostering a safe and supportive environment, ensuring that both boarding and day students receive comprehensive welfare support. Promoting values such as respect, loyalty, trust, and responsibility is paramount to the school ethos.
Curriculum and Extracurricular Activities
Farrer provides a broad curriculum that extends beyond agriculture, encompassing subjects such as STEM, arts, and languages. This diverse offering encourages students to explore their interests, ensuring engagement and a well-rounded education. The school actively recognises student effort, commitment, and achievement through extensive monitoring and mentoring programs tailored to individual learning needs.
Commitment to Wellbeing
Central to the mission of Farrer is the focus on student wellbeing. An experienced wellbeing team operates a 24/7 health centre, ensuring students have access to support whenever needed. Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School is dedicated to developing confident, character-driven young men who embody community values and engage actively within their school and the wider society. The friendships formed here often last a lifetime, reinforcing a sense of belonging and community spirit.
Mission
Farrer is proud of its reputation for developing respectful young men with career ready work ethics and meaningful pathways to employment or further education.
Location & Catchment Area
- Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School
Nearby or Connected Schools
- A Nemingha Public School 2.7 km
- B Tintinhull Public School 6.5 km
- C Parry School 6.6 km
- D Bullimbal School 6.7 km
Profile (2025)
- Total enrolments
- 606
- Enrolments (FTE) What does this mean?
- 606
- ICSEA What does this mean?
- 1025 (percentile 58)
- SEA quarters What does this mean?
- 17% / 33% / 31% / 19%
- FOEI What does this mean?
- 65
- Indigenous students
- 13%
- LBOTE What does this mean?
- 2%
- Teaching staff (FTE) What does this mean?
- 50.4
- Non-teaching staff (FTE) What does this mean?
- 13.9
Enrolments by grade (2025)
| Grade | Headcount |
|---|---|
| Year 7 | 111 |
| Year 8 | 110 |
| Year 9 | 113 |
| Year 10 | 108 |
| Year 11 | 81 |
| Year 12 | 83 |
| Total | 606 |
Year by year
Attendance data for 2020 is unavailable — NSW schools were disrupted by COVID-19 and the Department of Education did not publish figures for that year.
| Year | Enrolments | Attendance % | ICSEA | Teaching staff (FTE) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 606 | - | 1025 | 50.4 |
| 2024 | 607 | 88.8 | 1023 | 51.7 |
| 2023 | 600 | 89.5 | 1018 | 51.2 |
| 2022 | 604 | 85.3 | 1014 | 52 |
| 2021 | 616 | 91.6 | 1018 | 52 |
| 2020 | 613 | - | 1009 | 51 |
| 2019 | 593 | 93.2 | 1004 | 49.5 |
| 2018 | 584 | 93.7 | 995 | 48.9 |
| 2017 | 594 | 94.2 | 988 | 49.6 |
| 2016 | 594 | 94.5 | 980 | 48.3 |
| 2015 | 560 | 94.1 | 993 | 49.5 |
| 2014 | 578 | 94.5 | 996 | 49.4 |
| 2013 | 576 | 90.8 | 1005 | 49.2 |
| 2012 | 575 | 92.4 | 1002 | 48.7 |
| 2011 | 584 | 92.4 | 1011 | 49.4 |
| 2010 | 577 | - | 1010 | 49.1 |
| 2009 | 586 | - | 1098 | 49.5 |
| 2008 | 590 | - | 1098 | 50.3 |
Attendance data for 2020 is unavailable — NSW schools were disrupted by COVID-19 and the Department of Education did not publish figures for that year.