There are two categories of schools in Australia - public (government funded) and private schools. Schooling in Australia begins with a preparatory year followed by 12 years of primary and secondary school.
All schools provide subjects in the eight Key Learning Areas: English, Mathematics, Studies of Society and the Environment, Science, Arts, Languages Other Than English, Technology and Personal Development, Health and Physical Education.
Many students use senior secondary study to gain university entry qualifications.
| Secondary School Certificate of Education (SSCE). |
| 2 years full time, after year 10 of secondary school (age: 16 -18 years old). |
SSCE is essentially a stepping-stone for candidates aspiring to enter universities and Vocational Education and Training (VET) institutes, as well as a pathway for direct entry into jobs which do not require any further education.
There are also a variety of Australian secondary schools that also offer vocational education programs in addition to the standard school curriculum.
Often schools employ international student advisers who assist parents to make an informed decision about what level their child should enter the Australian school system.
International Baccalaureate
There are 24 government and non-government schools in Australia offering the International Baccalaureate (IB). Only schools officially approved by the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) are authorised to offer the two-year pre-university curriculum for students aged between 16 and 19 years of age.
Academic year
The school year is divided into four terms and runs from late January/early February until late November/early December. There is usually a two week holiday between terms and a two month summer holiday in December and January.
Students attend school from Monday to Friday each week. School hours vary slightly across Australia but are generally from 9.00 am to 3.30 pm each school day.
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