Faith-based schools in Melbourne’s growth corridors are among the fastest-growing private educators in Victoria, with school leaders attributing the boom to parents favouring schools that reflect their religious values.

Of the top 20 private schools that have recorded the biggest enrolment jumps over the past decade, more than half are faith-based – eight Islamic and five Christian – The Age’s analysis of enrolment data shows.

Al Siraat College in Epping has grown by 911 students in the past 10 years – an increase of 142 per cent.

Most of the school’s students were born in Australia, with their parents or grandparents migrating mostly from the Indian subcontinent or the Middle East. Collectively, the school’s families speak 39 languages other than English.

The expansion has brought growing pains, which deputy principal and co-founder, Rahat Arain, credits staff for managing “like a beautiful garden, growing”.

“We are bursting at the seams, and trying to have our infrastructure play catch-up with the growth,” she said.

“The pressures from the community wanting to enrol in an Islamic school have driven up the class sizes. That’s something that we then address through extra support staff in the classroom. This adds pressure to staffing to make sure that we have what’s required for a growing school population.”

At school, all students learn Arabic and participate in prayers. Islamic teachings are also incorporated into the curriculum.

“For example, when we’re looking at civics and citizenship, you can look at it from a faith-based perspective as well,” Arain said.

“What does our creator say about how we should be living a civic life? How does that compare to the opportunities we’ve got in Australia and democracy, and so forth.

“Obviously, every school brings its own flavours, but I think our parents are looking for that overlay of how does it relate to who I am as a Muslim and how can [my child] access the curriculum?”

The Australian International Academy of Education in Coburg – which opened in 1983 after a donation by then-king Khalid of Saudi Arabia and claims to be the oldest Islamic school in the country – has added 950 students in the past decade. The increase followed the opening of a new campus in Caroline Springs in 2014.

The Coburg campus, which has added 270 students in the past decade, recently opened a new multimillion-dollar building housing a prayer room and year 11 and 12 classrooms, and is nearing capacity, said campus head Michelle Shears.

“Families are increasingly choosing faith-based schools because they are seeking an education that supports not only academic achievement, but also the development of strong character, values and a clear sense of identity,” Shears said.

Many former students are now enrolling their own children at the school.

“Their decision to return with subsequent generations demonstrates a level of trust and confidence that has been built over time,” Shears said. “Alongside new families joining our community, these generational connections contribute to our continued growth.”

The demographic picture is different at Heathdale Christian College, where most families are first-generation Australians, says executive principal Ross Grace.

The school, which has campuses in Werribee and Melton, added 1151 students in the past decade – the seventh-biggest jump in enrolments statewide.

“A number of our families who are first-generation Australians, when they were kids themselves they were in a Catholic school in South Asia, and so those schools were built on the foundations of values, and they were good schools that they remember well and want the same for their children,” Grace said.

He said many families prioritised schooling ahead of other milestones such as home ownership.

“They actively look for schools that, yes, do well in things like NAPLAN reporting – which might get their initial attention – but it’s really the values the college espouses,” Grace said.

The school incorporates Christian teaching into the curriculum. “If you look at maths, there’s a pattern and order in life, and that reflects our God who is the creator because there’s a pattern and order in all of his creation,” Grace said. “So it’s not always a direct connection.”

Independent Schools Victoria chief executive Rachel Holthouse said the growth of the independent sector reflected families choosing schools that aligned with their values.

“These values may be faith-based, but not always,” she said. “Many independent schools confirm that their students do not all share the faith of the school but appreciate the core values and multiculturalism the school offers.”

The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here*. *