School admission and progression age: since 1875
| Key years | Typical age of admission (years) | Age of compulsory attendance | Typical class organization | Recommended completion times for preschool or primary school (years) | Explanatory notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1875 | 4-5 | 6-12 | Prep Class Classes 1-5 |
Nil | 1875 Act set primary school admission at not less than six years of age. A Regulation of the time indicated that no children under 5 years should be admitted to normal primary schools and no children under 4 years to infant schools which provided an extra preparatory year. An additional year (Class 6) was added in 1892. |
| 1893 | 6 | 6-12 | Classes 1-6 | 10 | From July 1893, 'no new pupils under 6 years of age' to be admitted into any school. Preparatory classes discontinued. Classes 1 and 6 spanned 2 years each and other classes spanned 1.5 years each. |
| 1897 | 5 | 6-12 | Classes 1-6 | 9.5 | Minimum age of entry was reduced and the recommended duration of Class 6 was reduced to 1.5 years. This pattern applied until 1930 when major syllabus revision was accompanied by changes to class structure in schools. |
| 1907 | Introduction of voluntary kindergarten schools for pre-primary children by the 'Creche and Kindergarten Association'. | ||||
| 1912 | 6-14 | Compulsory attendance age raised to 14 years. | |||
| 1930 | 4.5-5 | 6-14 | Preparatory Grade (Prep.1,2,3,4) Grades 1-7 |
8.5 | Age of admission was retained with some flexibility. A formal Preparatory Grade was introduced, followed by Grades 1-7. The Prep. Grade and Grade 1 spanned a total of two and a half years. Other Grades spanned one year each. Most children commenced the Prep. Grade in July. |
| 1938 | 4.5-5 | 6-14 | Preparatory Grade (Prep 1,2,3,4) Grades 1-7 |
9 | Preparatory Grade changed to span 2 years. Most children commenced in January. |
| 1952 | 4.5-5 | 6-14 | Preparatory Grade Grades 1-8 |
9 | Preparatory Grade reduced to 1 year and Grade 8 introduced. |
| 1953 | Preparatory Grade abolished. | ||||
| 1964 | 5.5-6 | 6-15 | Grades 1-7 | 7 | Compulsory attendance age raised to 15 years. |
| 1965 | 5-6 | 6-15 | Grades 1-7 | 7 | Year 8 moved to secondary school. |
| 1971 | 5-5.5 | 6-15 | Grades 1-7 | 7 | Minimum age of admission changed to 5 years of age by last day in February. |
| 1973 | 4-5.5 | 6-15 | Preschool Grades 1-7 |
1 7 |
Introduction of the State preschool system. Attendance was voluntary. |
| 1984-1985 | 4 years 11 months - 5 years 11 months | 6-15 | Grades 1-7 | 7 | Minimum age of admission to primary school was 5 years provided the child turned 5 on or before the last day in February in that year. |
| 1985 | 4 | Preschool attendance voluntary | Preschool | 1 | Minimum age of admission to preschool was 4 years provided the child turned 4 on or before 31 January in that year. |
| 1986 | 4 | Preschool attendance voluntary | Preschool | 1 | Minimum age of admission to preschool was 4 years provided the child turned 4 on or before 31 December in the previous year. |
| 1986 | 5 | 6-15 | Years 1-7 | 7 | Minimum age of admission to primary school became 5 years provided the child turned 5 on or before 31 January in that year. |
| 1987 | 5 | 6-15 | Years 1-7 | 7 | Minimum age of admission to primary school became 5 years provided the child turned 5 on or before 31 December in the previous year. |
| 1989 | 5 | 6-15 | Years 1-7 | 7 | Minimum age of admission at a State primary school confirmed as 5 years provided the child turned 5 on or before 31 December in the previous year. The principal of a State primary school could enrol a child who was less than 5 years, where it was demonstrated that the child had been enrolled in a formal education program in another State or country and the regional director was satisfied that the child would be educationally disadvantaged by not being enrolled in a State primary school. |
| 1989 | 4 | Attendance voluntary | Preschool | 1 | Minimum age of admission to a State preschool centre was confirmed as 4 years, provided the child turned 4 on or before 31 December in the previous year. The teacher-in-charge of a State preschool centre could enrol a child who was less than 4 years where it was demonstrated that the child had been enrolled in a formal education program in another State or country and the regional director was satisfied that the child would be disadvantaged educationally by not being enrolled in a State preschool centre. |
| 2000 | 4-5 5-6 |
6-15 | Preschool Primary Years 1-7 |
1 7 |
Minimum age of admission at a State preschool centre was confirmed as 4 years. The principal could enrol a child who was less than 4 years on 31 December of the previous year if the child had been enrolled in a formal education program in another State or country and the principal's supervisor was satisfied the child would be educationally disadvantaged by not being enrolled in a State preschool centre. |
| 2006 | 4-5 5-6 |
6 to completion of year 10 or 16 years of age | Preschool Primary Years 1-7 Secondary Years 8-12 |
1 7 |
Part time preschool ceased at the end of 2006. In January 2006, elements of the Youth Participation in Education and Training Act 2003 came into effect. This raised the compulsory school age to 16 years or completion of year 10. The Act divided education into two phases:
The Compulsory participation phase started when the young person stopped being of compulsory school age and ended when they:
|
| 2007 | 4.5-5 | 6 to less than 16 years or completion of year 10 (see Explanatory Notes 2006) | Preparatory Year |
1 7 |
All Queensland children of eligible age were able to attend a full-time Preparatory Year before starting Year 1. Preparatory Year was not compulsory and was offered at schools offering primary education. |
| 2008 | 4.5-5 | 6 to less than 16 years or completion of year 10 | Preparatory Year (non compulsory) |
1 7 |
Children must be five years by 30 June in the year they enrol in Prep. Special consideration may be given to children from interstate or overseas who meet legislated criteria. The compulsory participation phase starts when a young person stops being of compulsory school age and ends when the young person:
|