education - tas
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Children's education in Tasmania is currently organised as follows:
- Kindergartenage 4
- Preparatoryage 5
- Primary schoolages 6-11 Years 1-6
- Secondary/High schoolages 12-15 Years 7-10
- Senior Secondary schoolages 16-17 Years 11-12
The school year runs from February to December.
School is compulsory, by law, between the ages of 5 and 16, ie from Preparatory - Year 10 (inclusive).
Kindergarten and the final two years of High School (Years 11-12) are optional. (Legislation has just been passed making the
Preparatory Year compulsory as of 1 January 2004.)
Education in state schools is free, although some levies may be charged for some activities. Non-state schools are generally
fee paying.
Further information on state schools, from kindergarten onwards, is available via the organisations detailed in the
more info section at the bottom of the page.
kindergarten
Attendance in kindergarten is not compulsory, but provides an opportunity
for you to introduce your child to a school environment. Kindergarten is usually offered on a 10 hours a week basis.
Children need to be age 4 by the 1st January of the new school year to attend kindergarten. To enrol
you child, contact your local school in your district the year before your child is due to commence.
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.
preparatory level
Attendance in preparatory level is now compulsory - new legislation having been passed to make the preparatory year
compulsory for all 5 year olds from 1 January 2004. Preparatory is on a five days a week basis.
Preparatory level is for children age 5 by the 1st January of that school year. All government primary
schools in Tasmania run from Kindergarten to Year 6, so if your child is attending a state school, he/she is likely to be
attending the same campus from age 4 - 11. To enrol at state school for Preparatory Level, contact the school the year before the date of
commencement. For non-government schools, it is recommended that
you contact the individual facilities directly to request details of the enrolment policy.
primary school
Primary schools currently provide the next six years of compulsory education, from Years 1-6. Children attending Year 1 should be
6 by the 1st January in the year in which they start. Your child can be enroled at your
local state school during the year before they are due to start Year 1. For non-government schools, it is recommended that
you contact the individual facilities directly to request details of the enrolment policy.
secondary/high school & senior secondary school
Secondary schools provide a further four years of compulsory education
(Years 7-10). Senior secondary schools provide two years of post-compulsory education (Years 11-12).
special schools and/or special needs
A number of schools/education schemes are run throughout the region for children with special needs, ranging from physical
disabilities, to geographical difficulties and schools within hospitals. More information is available on the
Department of Education Tasmania website or by calling 1300 135 513.
finding a school
A full list of government schools is available via the 'schools' section of the
Department of Education Tasmania website.
The site also has directories of non government schools. The contact telephone number for the Department is
1300 135 513.
Further information about non-government schools can be obtained 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
Department of Education Tasmania
- website
- ph: 1300 135 513
Association of Independent Schools of Tasmania
- website
- ph: (03) 6224 0125
Catholic Education Tasmania
- website
- ph: (03) 6210 8888
Christian Schools Tasmania
- website
- ph: (03) 6224 8300
