The Australian School System
Schooling in Australia is diverse and comprehensive with many options to choose from including government schools, private schools, boarding schools, single sex schools, religious schools and alternative philosophy schools such as Steiner and Montessori.
Although there are minor variations between the ways various schools operate, most have the same core principles and scheduling. The Australian schooling system runs for 13 years starting with a Preparatory year and then Years 1-12 of school. It is compulsory for children between 5 and 15 years of age to attend school. Students are encouraged to study for the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education in Year 12, which opens doors of opportunity to University as well as vocational training colleges. Australian secondary schools also offer vocational training which allow less academic students to leave school with practical skills that enable them to enter the workforce.
There is a government directed Australian National Curriculum that acts as a cohesive guide to the education system across the country. As part of this curriculum all schools offer English, Mathematics, Studies of Society and the Environment, Science, Arts, Languages Other Than English, Technology and Personal Development, Health and Physical Education as their bedrock. At secondary level students have the opportunity to choose more varied and in-depth subjects and to gain experience in more practical subjects.
As well as academic and practical learning Australian schools also offer sporting, recreational and artistic educational opportunities and have long been recognised for their progressive use of technology. They provide extra-curricular activities particularly sporting and group past-times including camps and field trips.
Australian schools welcome immigrants and are generally very multi-cultural. Procedures are in place for assessing admission levels for children from overseas and many schools offer additional fast-track English classes for non-English speaking students to help them up to speed.
The Australian school system is one of world-class standards, offering a broad education to a high level in a safe, dynamic environment.