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education in the northern territory
Children's education in the Northern Territory is currently organised as follows:
- Pre-schoolage 4
- Primary schoolages 5-12 Transition - Year 7
- Secondary/High schoolages 12-15 Years 8-10
ages 15-17 Years 11-12
In Alice Springs, secondary school starts in Year 7.
The school year runs from January to December (based on 4 terms).
School is compulsory, by law, between the ages of 6 and 15. Schooling prior to the age of 6 and the final two years of
Secondary School (Years 11-12) are optional.
Government schools do not charge tuition fees, however, a non compulsory annual levy is often requested by schools.
Non-government schools are generally fee paying.
Further information on government schools, from pre-schools onwards, is available from the organisations detailed in the
more info section at the bottom of the page.
pre-school
Pre-school is not compulsory, but is highly recommended and provides an opportunity
for you to introduce your child to a school environment. Most government schools in urban centres have their own pre-schools.
Children can start pre-school at the start of the term in which they turn 4 (except in remote localities where children may start
pre-school when they are 3½). Details of enrolment are available at both the pre-school and it's associated primary school.
Independent, private pre-schools are run by the Association of Independent Schools of
Northern Territory and Catholic Education NT Diocese of Darwin. Contact details for these organisations are shown at the bottom of the page.
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.
More detailed information on other facilities for children below school age, such as
child care and family day care is contained within
the child care page of this website and
nannies & babysitters page.
primary school
Primary schools currently provide for education from Transition to Year 7 (Year 6 in Alice Springs).
When children turn 5, they may be enrolled in a primary school to enter Transition in the next intake. Children remain in Transition for
upto 12 months, progressing to Year 1 when the school and parents feel they are ready. Primary school continues until the end
of Year 7 (except in Alice Springs, where primary school finishes with Year 6).
secondary/high school
Secondary schools provide a further three years of compulsory education
(Years 8-10) and two years of post-compulsory education (Years 11-12). In Alice Springs, secondary school starts in Year 7.
special needs
A number of support services are available for children with special needs, ranging from physical
disabilities to geographical difficulties. More information is available from the Department of Employment, Education and Training
by calling (08) 8924 4452.
finding a school
A full list of government schools is available via the 'schools' section of the
Northern Territory Government, Department of Employment, Education and Training
website. The site also has directories of non government schools.
The contact telephone number for the Department is (08) 8924 4452.
Further information about non-government schools can be obtained from the organisations detailed in the
more info section at the bottom of the page
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more information
Northern Territory Government, Department of Employment, Education and Training
- website
- ph: (08) 8924 4452
Association of Independent Schools of Northern Territory
- ph: (08) 8981 8668
Catholic Education NT Diocese of Darwin
- website
- ph: (08) 8984 3833
