education - act
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Children's education in the ACT is currently organised as follows:
- Pre-schoolage 4
- Primary schoolages 5-12 Kindergarten - Year 6
- High schoolages 12-16 Years 7-10
- Collegesages 16-18 Years 11-12
The school year runs from late January/early February to December.
School is compulsory, by law, between the ages of 5 and 16, ie from Kindy-Year 10 (inclusive).
Pre-school, and College (Years 11-12) are optional, but recommended.
Education in state schools is free. Non-state schools are generally fee paying.
Further information on state schools, from pre-school onwards, is available from the organisations detailed in the
more info section at the bottom of the page
pre-school
Attendance in pre-school is not compulsory, but provides an opportunity for you to introduce your child to a
school environment on a part-time basis with children attending for 10½ hours per week. This will change to 12 hours in 2006.
Children attend pre-school when they are 4 or turning 4 before 30 April of that year. Attendance at state
pre-schools is free. Non government pre-schools are fee paying. To register your child for a government
pre-school, contact the school before the beginning of September the year before your required start. For non-government schools, it is recommended that you contact the
individual facilities directly to request details of the enrolment policy. Some will take names for the waiting list from birth.
Some require a fee to be paid before your child is added to their waiting list.
Additional information about preschools is available from Childrens Services on (02) 6205 9355.
More detailed information on facilities for children below pre-school age, such as
child care, is contained within the child care page of this website and the
nannies & babysitters page.
primary school
Primary schools provide the first six years of compulsory education, starting with Kindergarten at age 5, through
to Year 6 at age 11.
Your child can be enroled at your local state school at the beginning the year when they are 5 or will be
turning 5 before 30 April that year. For non-government schools, it is recommended that you contact the
individual facilities directly to request details of the enrolment policy.
high school & college
High schools provide a further four years of compulsory education (Years 7-10). Colleges provide a further
two years of post-compulsory education (Years 11-12). A number of independent schools provide education in
the same school right through to the end of Year 12 with the 'college' section being located on the same campus.
special schools and/or special needs
Schools are available for children with special needs, such as disabilities or English language difficulties. For more
information contact the Special Education Section of the ACT Department of Education, Youth and Family
Services on ph: (02) 6205 9365.
finding a school
A full list of government schools is available via the 'schools' section of the
ACT Department of Education, Youth & Family Services website.
Directories are available for preschools, high schools, colleges and special schools/education centres. The site also has directories of non government schools. The contact telephone number for the Department is
(02) 6207 5111.
Further information about independent, private schools is available from the organisations detailed in the
more info section at the bottom of the page.
It is recommended that you contact any non-government facilities directly to
request details of the enrolment policy. Some will take names for the waiting list from birth.
Some require a fee to be paid before your child is added to their waiting list.
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more information
ACT Department of Education, Youth & Family Services
- website
- preschool locations
- General Enquiries - ph: (02) 6207 5111
- Preschool Information - ph: (02) 6205 9355
- Special Education Section - ph: (02) 6205 9365
Association of Independent Schools of the ACT
- website
- ph: (02) 6260 4955
Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn Catholic Education Office
- website
- ph: (02) 6234 5455
