Children are welcome to attend kindergarten before starting full-time school. Kindergarten provides a world of carefully constructed play that helps develop children's abilities and prepares them for future learning. Children must turn four years old by 30 June in the year they attend kindergarten. For more information about kindergartens in Queensland visit the Office of Early Childhood Education and Care website.
Prep is recognised as the first year of school in Queensland and with the introduction of the Australian Curriculum, full-time attendance in Prep gives students the foundation they need for successful learning in Year 1. To be eligible for Prep, a child must turn five years old by 30 June in the year they start Prep.
For details visit the Flying Start 
website.
Children from Prep to Year 7 attend primary school. Years 1-7 are compulsory. From 2015, Year 7 will become part of high school in Queensland. Students in these years follow a common curriculum that covers a broad range of subjects with a focus on literacy and numeracy. Teachers adapt the curriculum to suit local and individual needs. Primary learning includes whole-class, small group and individual activities designed to develop inquiring minds and establish the foundation for future learning.
Secondary schools provide educational programs for students from Years 8-12 (students are required to attend school until they are 16 or have completed Year 10). From 2015, Year 7 will become part of high school in Queensland. Students are offered a broad range of academic and vocational subjects enabling them to pursue a course of study that will further their educational and career goals.
To ensure a smooth transition, the Queensland Government is taking a number of practical steps to prepare for the move, including piloting Year 7 in 20 state schools before 2015.
P-10/12 schools provide education to students from Prep to Year 10 or Year 12. Traditionally, P-10 schools have developed in more rural and remote locations and P-12 schools have been established in urban areas. Generally, P-10/12 schools provide students with a seamless transition across the phases of learning, and many are very innovative in the way they offer the curriculum.
The Queensland academies aim to accelerate learning opportunities for Queensland's best and brightest students in Years 10, 11 and 12. The Queensland Academy for Creative Industries at Kelvin Grove operates in partnership with the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) . The Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology at Toowong operates in partnership with the University of Queensland. The Queensland Academy for Health Sciences operates on the Gold Coast in partnership with Griffith University.
The educational program offered by the academies is the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. This program is a world-recognised pre-university qualification and features accelerated studies, extension and enrichment work with universities, industry experience and personal and social development. More information can be found at the Queensland academies website.
There are more than 70 state schools that engage with industry partners and/or training institutes and universities to create career and educational pathways for students. These gateway schools are part of six networks that offer specialist educational opportunities.
The Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy works with 25 gateway state schools to offer pathways to careers in the resources sector. There are 13 aerospace gateway state schools working with Aviation High to provide pathways for students seeking careers in aviation or aerospace. Aviation High focuses on education related to aerospace and works with major aviation and aerospace.
There are also many 'centres of excellence' schools specialising in different academic, creative or sporting endeavours such as:
Many state schools have formed partnerships with universities to allow students to study university subjects while still at school.
Queensland continues to lead the country in implementing school-based traineeships or apprenticeships. Almost 6000 students commence school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SATs) annually.
Special schools provide highly specialised and individual programs in many locations for students with intellectual and other disabilities. A range of staff is employed including teachers, speech therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and nurses. Educational programs for students with disabilities are also provided in primary and secondary schools, sometimes within special education units and classes.
Students from Prep to Year 12, who are unable to attend a traditional school setting due to geographic isolation, illness or other special circumstances can attend schools of distance education.
Schools of distance education also provide services to families who choose home-based learning, adults who are completing their schooling, and students living overseas. School-based students who are unable to access desired subjects locally and students attending alternative education settings are also provided with educational programs.
There is an increasing emphasis in schools of distance education on the use of information and communication technologies and digital learning resources to maximise learning opportunities and improve teacher and student interaction.
A fee may be payable for distance education however exemptions and waivers are available to students in specified categories.
Continuing centres for secondary education provide similar education programs to state high schools with vocational and academic subjects available to all mature-age students. There are four centres specifically set up to provide day and evening classes for adult students.
In addition, many mainstream schools also provide flexible programs with part-time or full-time options suitable for adult students.
Schools of Distance Education also offer tuition for adult students. The schools in Brisbane, Cairns, Charters Towers and Rockhampton can provide tuition up to Year 12, including studying for a Queensland Certificate of Education. The Charleville School of Distance Education can assist students wishing to complete Year 10.
Adult students should approach the principal of the school to discuss their enrolment, curriculum and attendance schedule.
Summer schools are run to help students not currently meeting the national minimum standards. The schools are designed to assist students in Years 5, 6 and 7 improve their literacy and numeracy skills.
Outdoor and environmental education centres develop and deliver outdoor and environmental education programs for schools and the community, and provide professional development for teachers. Programs are linked to the school curriculum and student leadership objectives. These centres provide information about local environmental issues and serve as venues for school excursions and camps. Many are available for hire on weekends and school holidays. The centres offer specialised learning programs such as archaeology and heritage interpretation, environmental arts, urban renewal, and water watch investigations.
All state school students have the opportunity to learn an instrument at a low cost. The instrumental music program , established in 1971, now boasts approximately 400 teachers and more than 50,000 students.
Talented students can extend their learning through our Fanfare festival of bands and the C-Gen Excellence Awards in Instrumental Music (MOST) programs.
Each year talented performers from Queensland state schools come together to work with professional artists and perform in the state 's largest performing arts event. More than 1200 students perform in Creative Generation.
After completing secondary school students can continue with further studies to obtain higher education qualifications.
Students who obtain an Overall Position (OP) at the end of secondary schooling can apply through the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) for a place at one of the nine universities and some of the 27 non-university higher education providers in the state. Queensland students can also apply to other universities within Australia and overseas.
Through student support services, Year 12 students are provided with career advice and counselling to help them choose their university courses and prepare for higher education.
Click here for a full list of Queensland universities and non-university higher education providers is available from the departmental website.
Education Queensland welcomes the participation of international students in Queensland state schools. Education Queensland International (EQI) manages a range of programs to assist international students to enrol and participate in educational programs.
International students are offered a choice of long-term and short-term programs in state primary and secondary schools from the Prep Year to Year 12. International students may also undertake an intensive English-language preparation through the High School Preparation Program before commencing mainstream schooling in Queensland.
The Study Tour Program provides groups of international students and teachers with tailored education and tourism programs that include visits to state schools, homestay, recreational activities and/or professional training.
EQI also manages offshore programs in the People's Republic of China. Students in the Year 10 offshore programs undertake subjects taught by Queensland registered teachers. Students finishing the Year 10 programs then attend a Queensland state secondary school to complete Years 11 and 12. EQI also delivers a quality University Foundation program. Students completing the program can gain entry into diploma and degree studies at one of the 27 Australian universities recognising the program.
For further information on any of these international education programs visit the Education Queensland International website .
Higher education for international students is available at all nine universities in Queensland. These universities are engaged in both teaching and research, and offer undergraduate and postgraduate studies, study abroad and English language courses.
Further information is available on the Study Queensland website .
This page was last reviewed on 30 Jul 2012
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