Education in Australia


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Enrolments

Primary
Kindergarten (QLD) 3-4 year olds
Pre-school / Kindergarten / Prep (ACT, NT, NSW and SA/ TAS, VIC and WA / QLD): 4-5 year olds
Kindergarten / Preparatory / Pre-Primary / Reception / Transition (ACT and NSW / TAS, VIC and QLD / WA / SA / NT): 5-6 year olds
Year 1: 6-7 year olds
Year 2: 7-8 year olds
Year 3: 8-9 year olds
Year 4: 9-10 year olds
Year 5: 10-11 year olds
Year 6: 11-12 year olds
Year 7: 12-13 year olds (QLD, SA, WA)

Secondary
Year 7: 12-13 year olds (ACT, NSW, TAS, VIC) (Middle School NT)
Year 8: 13-14 year olds
Year 9: 14-15 year olds
Year 10: 15-16 year olds (High School NT)
Year 11: 16-17 year olds ("College" ACT)
Year 12: 17-19 year olds

Enrolment Information

Education System

Generally, education in Australia follows the three-tier model which includes primary education (primary schools), followed by secondary education (secondary schools/high schools) and tertiary education (universities or TAFE Colleges).

There are two broad categories of schools in Australia: public schools (also known as 'Government' or 'State' schools because they are run by state governments) and private schools including Independent schools and Catholic schools. Unlike Catholic schools, independent schools are not affiliated with any church or other agency. In Australia, the independent school sector makes up about a third of the private school sector. The Catholic school sector makes up the remaining two thirds.

Education within public schools is largely free. However, most public schools do require a small voluntary annual fee to be paid and parents usually have to purchase uniforms and pay for excursions and some instances items such as textbooks. Most public schools are co-educational, meaning both sexes are present within a class. Since private schools receive less funding from government, private schools charge tuition fees. The fees vary a lot ($1,000 - $20,000+) depending on the student's year level and the school's size. Larger independent schools charge higher tuition fees. Private school uniforms tend to be more expensive than those for public schools, and more strictly enforced. Regardless of whether a school is government or private, it is regulated by the same curriculum standards framework.

Government schools can be divided into two categories: open and selective school. The open schools accept all students from their government-defined catchment areas. Many open government schools have selective classes or accelerated learning programs. These schools cater for high achieving, academically talented students by providing an educationally enriched environment. They have high entrance requirements and cater to a much larger area. Entrance to selective schools is very competitive. See Selective Schools, Select Entry Test Format, NSW Select High School Entry Scores.

In Victoria, a number of government high schools offer programs for very able students which accelerate them through high school and reduce secondary schooling from six years to five years. Entrance is by examination, interview and teacher reference. See Acceleration Class.

Education export is Australia's third-biggest earner ($13 billion) after iron ore and coal and potentially it's the biggest if the resources boom goes bust. Of the 80,000 international students welcomed each year from all over the world – the third highest intake after the UK and USA – 12,000 come for secondary school education.

Education in Australia is compulsory between the ages of six and fifteen to seventeen, depending on the state or territory, and date of birth:

Best Primary Schools

VIC | NSW | QLD | ACT | WA | SA | TAS | NT | National

University pathways and high school programs in Australia / New Zealand | Taylors College

Best Secondary/High Schools

VIC | NSW | ACT | QLD | WA | SA | TAS | NT | National

School Rankings and Ratings

School Ranking Home
Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) school ranking: VCE | HSC | ACT | OP | WACE | SACE | TCE | NTCE
Secondary school rating: VIC | NSW | ACT | QLD | WA | SA | TAS | NT
Primary school rating: VIC | NSW | QLD | ACT | WA | SA | TAS | NT
Up-to-date School Rankings Based on Academic Results

Australian Qualifications Framework

International Students

Study in Australia
International Student Fees and Accommodation Costs in Australia
International Student Fees - NSW Government Schools

Enrolments

Education System

Best Primary Schools

Best Secondary/High Schools

School Rankings and Ratings

Exams

Selective Schools and Scholarship Tests

Universities

TAFE / Colleges

Australian Qualifications Framework

International Students