How to Choose the Right School for Your Child in Australia
State schools are schools run by the government., You local state school must accept your child if they are of school age unless they have a disability which the school does not have a facilities to support or have been previously expelled from the...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: State schools are schools run by the government.
Every child has a right to a free education at a state school.
State schools are usually divided into primary school (for kids from 4 or 5 to about 12) and secondary or High schools (for kids from about 12
-17 or 18).
Some state schools offer a seamless education from 4 or 5 years old right up to 17 or
18.
State schools are usually coeducational, in all but a few exceptions. -
Step 2: You local state school must accept your child if they are of school age unless they have a disability which the school does not have a facilities to support or have been previously expelled from the school.
, Australians may send their child to any state school.
Any state school that is not reaching capacity must accept any school age student unless they have a disability or have been previously expelled from that school. , Not all state schools are equal.
Some are very large and others very small, some are more competitive others more laid back, many will offer different subjects, some are strict others are not.
State schools will vary depending on the area the school is in, the size of the school, the special programs offered by the school, the principal and the teachers. ,,,, Catholic schools offer an education to students in a similar way to state schools but with a Catholic education.
Many Catholic schools have a catholic church on campus. ,, Fees are usually between $1000-$3000 per year. ,, They accept catholic students first and foremost but will accept non catholic students if extra places exist. , Private schools may be Primary or secondary schools or a combination of both.
They are fee paying schools and can be expensive.
Fees for private schools range from $3000-$12000 per year.
They may be coeducational or single sex. , Some private schools exist that do not have a religious affiliation but these are less common, , Private schools are usually selective with students and have high expectations for behavior.
Scholarships are usually available , All boarding schools in Australia are also private schools so they are quite expensive.
Boarding fees are usually $9000-$12000 per year and this must be paid as well in addition to the tuition fees at the school. , Boarding school is a more popular option for families who live in rural areas and could not access a school in their local area, or those who are out of the country for work.
Boarding school is also popular for parents who want the boarding experience and supervised study at night. ,, The school of distance education allows students to attend school at home.
The school sends schoolwork and offers radio lessons as well as phone and computer access to their teachers.
Distance education is offered to those who live too far from a regular school, whose parents are overseas for a long period of time, whose parents need to travel frequently for work, who have a medical reason for not attending school, whose parents choose to home school them or who have another approved reason. , Get together and social days are frequently organized. , Home school is different to distance education.
Home school parents are their children's teachers and they set their own curriculum. ,,, Those with moderate disabilities, attend these units while doing some regular classes. , -
Step 3: You do not have to send your child to the local state school.
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Step 4: Because you can send your child to any state school it is a good idea to check out all schools that your child can easily access.
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Step 5: State schools offer a free education
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Step 6: but you will be expected to pay for school uniforms which are compulsory at most state schools
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Step 7: excursions and extra curricular activities.
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Step 8: All state schools must meet minimum standards and offer lessons in English
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Step 9: Science
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Step 10: Studies of society and environment
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Step 11: health and physical education
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Step 12: computers and technology studies.
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Step 13: Sate schools are also required to teach swimming to students from years 1-4
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Step 14: Languages other than English to students from Year 5 and religious education once a week in primary school parents may choose to opt out of religious education.
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Step 15: The second most common type of school in Australia (after state schools) are Catholic schools.
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Step 16: There are many Catholic schools in Australia and most Australians live within walking distance of a Catholic school.
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Step 17: Catholic schools charge tuition fees but they are the cheapest of all private schools in Australia.
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Step 18: Some catholic schools are coeducational and others are single sex
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Step 19: usually single sex schools don't start until at least Year 5.
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Step 20: Catholic schools will never turn away a Catholic student on the basis that they can't pay fees.
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Step 21: The third common type of school in Australia are private schools.
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Step 22: Most Private schools have some sort of religious affiliation such as Uniting church
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Step 23: Anglican
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Step 24: Lutheran
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Step 25: Adventist or most commonly non denominational general Christian education.
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Step 26: Private schools usually offer an excellent education with smaller classes
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Step 27: more specialty subjects than a non private school.
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Step 28: Boarding school is another option in Australia.
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Step 29: Many Private schools offer boarding fro students from years 5-12.
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Step 30: Many boarding schools offer the option of weekly boarding where students can board from Monday morning-Friday evening and spend the weekends at home.
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Step 31: The school of distance education is also a choice for students.
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Step 32: Distance education students are officially enrolled in a school and have teachers
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Step 33: they just don't see them every day.
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Step 34: Home school is also an option.
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Step 35: If your child has a disability such as a physical impairment
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Step 36: and intellectual impairment
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Step 37: a visual impairment
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Step 38: a hearing impairment
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Step 39: and speech/language disorder or an autism spectrum disorder are entitled to special education.
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Step 40: Students with mild disabilities usually attend a regular school and receive some classroom support.
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Step 41: Most regular schools have a special education unit that caters for a particular type of disability.
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Step 42: Students with severe disabilities may attend a special school.
Detailed Guide
Every child has a right to a free education at a state school.
State schools are usually divided into primary school (for kids from 4 or 5 to about 12) and secondary or High schools (for kids from about 12
-17 or 18).
Some state schools offer a seamless education from 4 or 5 years old right up to 17 or
18.
State schools are usually coeducational, in all but a few exceptions.
, Australians may send their child to any state school.
Any state school that is not reaching capacity must accept any school age student unless they have a disability or have been previously expelled from that school. , Not all state schools are equal.
Some are very large and others very small, some are more competitive others more laid back, many will offer different subjects, some are strict others are not.
State schools will vary depending on the area the school is in, the size of the school, the special programs offered by the school, the principal and the teachers. ,,,, Catholic schools offer an education to students in a similar way to state schools but with a Catholic education.
Many Catholic schools have a catholic church on campus. ,, Fees are usually between $1000-$3000 per year. ,, They accept catholic students first and foremost but will accept non catholic students if extra places exist. , Private schools may be Primary or secondary schools or a combination of both.
They are fee paying schools and can be expensive.
Fees for private schools range from $3000-$12000 per year.
They may be coeducational or single sex. , Some private schools exist that do not have a religious affiliation but these are less common, , Private schools are usually selective with students and have high expectations for behavior.
Scholarships are usually available , All boarding schools in Australia are also private schools so they are quite expensive.
Boarding fees are usually $9000-$12000 per year and this must be paid as well in addition to the tuition fees at the school. , Boarding school is a more popular option for families who live in rural areas and could not access a school in their local area, or those who are out of the country for work.
Boarding school is also popular for parents who want the boarding experience and supervised study at night. ,, The school of distance education allows students to attend school at home.
The school sends schoolwork and offers radio lessons as well as phone and computer access to their teachers.
Distance education is offered to those who live too far from a regular school, whose parents are overseas for a long period of time, whose parents need to travel frequently for work, who have a medical reason for not attending school, whose parents choose to home school them or who have another approved reason. , Get together and social days are frequently organized. , Home school is different to distance education.
Home school parents are their children's teachers and they set their own curriculum. ,,, Those with moderate disabilities, attend these units while doing some regular classes. ,
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Theresa Hart
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