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Secondary Education
States & Territories Other Information

Secondary Schooling covers the school years from 7 or 8, through to Year 12. These are the final years of school education and lead to university, college, vocational education or employment. There are often considered to be two sections, a junior secondary period and a senior secondary component which leads to the award of a final qualification. These qualifications are called by different names in each state and territory [see below].

Schools in this sector have a range of titles within single systems and across systems.


States & Territories

Australian Capital Territory

Years Covered Junior Years : Years 7 to 10
Senior Years : Years 11 and 12
Minimum Leaving Age Students will be required to remain in some form of education, training or employment until they turn 17. More detail, including options, can be found in the What You Need to Know brochure. You can also check information on the Major Changes to the Education Act 2004 [ACT] page.
Enrolling in Secondary School Information on Secondary School Enrolment can be found here. It includes PDF documents for Open Nights, a Placement Form, Appeals Process and Placement Timeline.
Major Examinations, Reports & Certificates Year 10 Certificate [ACT]
Includes High School Record.
Year 12 Certificate
Includes Tertiary Entrance Statement. There is a brochure called What Certificates Could You Obtain ? which details all aspects of this. ‘The ACT BSSS brochure What’s the ATAR ? also provides useful information about the ACT Tertiary Entrance Statement and the ATAR’.
School Types Colleges, Comprehensive, District, High, K-10, K-12.
Uniform Dress Code. Some schools have uniforms. Check with individual schools.
Fees Contribution scheme. Check with individual schools.

New South Wales

Years Covered Junior Years : Years 7 to 10
Senior Years : Years 11 and 12
Minimum Leaving Age From 1 January 2010 ‘students in NSW will be required to remain at school until the end of Year 10; and after completing Year 10, students will be required to remain in some form of education, training or employment until they turn 17.’
Further details can be found at this NSW Public Schools site.
Enrolling in Secondary School Information on High School Enrolment can be found here. It covers both enrolment into Year 7 and enrolment in other years.
Major Examinations, Reports & Certificates Selective High Schools Year 7 Placement
School Certificate [Y10]
Note that the 2011 School Certificate was the last School Certificate. A replacement credential is to be developed for use from 2012.
Higher School Certificate [Y12]
Changes to HSC Examinations and School Assessment. A number of changes are to be implemented in 2010.
School Types Agricultural, Central [K-10 & K-12], Comprehensive, Dramatic Arts, Selective, Senior College, Single Sex, Sport, Technology, Visual Arts & Design.
Special Information Selective High Schools : Year 7 placement. Provides an ‘Introduction to the selective high school placement process’, while information about the Testing Process is found here, including sample tests.
Uniform Yes. Check with individual schools for exact details.
Fees Both General and Subject fees. Check with individual schools for exact details.

Northern Territory

Years Covered Middle Years : Years 7, 8 & 9
Senior Years : Years 10, 11 & 12
Minimum Leaving Age ‘Minimum school leaving age is the age at which a child completes Year 10 or at the age of 17, whichever comes sooner. However, a child will still be of compulsory school age until age 17 even though they have completed Year 10 unless they are participating as required in one or more eligible options for a total of 25 hours per week or more’.
Enrolling in Secondary School Information for Parents
‘This information pack has been assembled for the benefit of parents whose children are to attend a school in the Northern Territory for the first time’.
Major Examinations, Reports & Certificates NT Certificate of Education [Y12]
NT Certificate of Education & Training.
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School Types Area School, College, Comprehensive, Rural College, Senior College.
Uniform Dress Code. Some have uniforms. Check with individual schools for exact details.
Fees School Levy. Check with individual schools for exact details.

Queensland

Years Covered Junior Years : Years 8 to 10 [from 2013 this will only be Years 8 and 9, joined by Year 7 in 2015]
Senior Years : Years 11 and 12

The Queensland Government has indicated that from 2015, ‘Year 7 will become the first year of high school’.
You can get a Fact Sheet on Why year 7 will be part of High School from 2015 via this link, while there are further details on This Page. This page also includes a calculator to find when your child will start high school once the change takes place. There is also a video from the Premier on the New Era of Education.
Minimum Leaving Age Students ‘have to stay in education or training until they turn 17’. Find more information about the Senior Phase of Learning including Senior Options via this site.
Major Examinations, Reports & Certificates Queensland Certificate of Education [QCE]
Queensland Core Skills
For university entry.
Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement. ‘This certificate recognises the schooling achievements of students who have impairments or difficulties in learning. Previously known as the Certificate of Post-Compulsory School Education.
School Types Academies, Aviation High, Community, Community College, Comprehensive, Secondary College, State.
Uniform Dress Code. Check with individual schools for exact details.
Fees School contribution. Check with individual schools for exact details.

South Australia

Years Covered Junior Years : Years 7 to 10
Senior Years : Years 11 and 12
Minimum Leaving Age 17 years of age unless they are in paid employment prior to this, i.e., earning or learning. See Learning, Make It Work For You for further details.
Enrolling in Secondary School Information on the Year 7-8 Transition can be found here. It includes access to Enrolment Packs, Application Forms, details about submission of these and Visiting Dates and Times.
Major Examinations, Reports & Certificates South Australian Certificate of Education [Y12]. Includes Tertiary Entrance Rank.
Special Provisions. ‘Special provisions are special arrangements in assessment for students who may be in a situation where an illness, impairment, learning difficulty or unforeseen incident has made this difficult’. This is the Students & Families presentation. There is a related presentation for Teachers & Schools.
South Australian Matriculation Program
School Types High School, Secondary School, Comprehensive, Specialist [subject area and Gifted], Rural, District.
Uniform Some schools have uniforms. Check with individual schools for exact details.
Fees Annual compulsory School Charge & Voluntary Contribution. Check with individual schools for exact details.

Tasmania

Years Covered Junior Years : Years 7 to 10
Senior Years : Years 11 and 12
Minimum Leaving Age 17 years of age, or with full time employment. See specific FAQs answered here
Major Examinations, Reports & Certificates Assessment and Reporting. Information including FAQs.
Senior Secondary Equivalent Qualifications. These provide equivalence for qualifications from other states, territories and countries. There is a fee for this service.
Tasmanian Certificate of Education. On leaving - from Y10 on. This page provides descriptions and a range of downloadable documents in Word, PDF or Excel formats.
School Types Comprehensive, District, Secondary Colleges : 7 to 10, 11 to 12. The Tasmanian Academy.
Uniform Check with individual schools for details.
Fees School Levy. Check with individual schools for exact details.

Victoria

Years Covered Junior Years : Years 7 to 10
Senior Years : Years 11 and 12
Minimum Leaving Age Students must complete Year 10 and then be at school, in approved education or training or full-time paid employment until they turn 17. This is in effect from 2010. Further information at Minimum School Leaving Age.
Enrolling in Secondary School Information on Enrolling in Secondary Schools can be found here. It covers both when and how, plus provides access to a Parent’s Guide, including in PDF format.
Major Examinations, Reports & Certificates Selective Entry for Gifted Students
Victorian Certificate of Education [Y12]
Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning. ‘The Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning [VCAL] is a hands-on option for students in Years 11 and 12. The VCAL gives you practical work-related experience, as well as literacy and numeracy skills and the opportunity to build personal skills that are important for life and work. Like the Victorian Certificate of Education [VCE], VCAL is an accredited secondary certificate.’
School Types Comprehensive, Selective Entry High Schools, Technical.
Uniform Dress Code applies in all schools. Some have uniforms. Check with individual schools for exact details.
Fees General and Subject fees. Check with individual schools for exact details.

Western Australia

Years Covered Junior Years : Years 8 to 10
Senior Years : Years 11 and 12
Minimum Leaving Age The end of the school year in which they turn 17 years of age.
‘Young people must be in school, training, an apprenticeship or a traineeship, or approved full-time employment - or combinations of part-time education/training and employment.’ Information on Participation & Engagement Programs can be found here.
Enrolling in Secondary School Information on Enrolling in Schools can be found here. It covers all levels of schooling and a general section about secondary schools.
Major Examinations, Reports & Certificates Supplementary Provision. Includes process for High Academic Achievers.
WA Certificate of Education [Y12]. Includes Statement of Results. Note changes in requirements for 2010-15.
School Types College, Community College, District, Senior Campus, Selective High School [Perth Modern School], Senior High, State High.
Uniform Dress Code. Check with individual schools for exact details.
Special Information Country Residential Colleges. ‘The Country High School Hostels Authority continues to provide a high-quality and reliable boarding service for Western Australian secondary school students who do not live close to a secondary school’.
Fees School Charge : Years 8, 9, 10.
Upper Secondary School Charge : Senior Years.

Other Information

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