Primary school enrolment
Primary school consists of Prep to Year 6. Prep is the first year of schooling in Queensland. It is a full-time, school-based program and has a defined
curriculum. It is compulsory for all Queensland children to undertake Prep prior to commencing Year 1.
The only exceptions to compulsory participation in Prep are where:
- a child has undertaken education in another jurisdiction that is equivalent to Prep
- a child was registered for home education in the year prior to enrolment in a state or non-state school
- the principal is satisfied the child is ready to be enrolled in Year 1 taking into account the child's attributes.
To enrol in Prep, children must be aged 5 years by 30 June in the year of proposed attendance. You can enrol your child in Prep by contacting the school directly and you must provide proof of your child's date of birth (e.g. birth certificate, passport or visa).
Early or delayed entry to Prep are options which may be considered in specific circumstances and where it is in a child's best educational interest. These options should be discussed with the principal.
Information is available to help parents/carers support their child's
transition to school.
Preparing for the first day at school
Think about how you can best prepare your child for the first day at school.
- Have some practice runs before school starts and encourage your child to organise clean clothes, books and bag.
- Be sure your child has a balanced breakfast and pack a healthy lunch and snacks.
- Encourage your child to dress themselves. Look for clothes with easy fasteners.
- Label all belongings and find out where lost property is held at school.
- Avoid a rush. Leave home on time and allow time to say goodbye. At first, you may stay a while to ensure your child feels secure. Once your child has settled in, a short and reassuring 'goodbye' encourages independence.
- Check what time schools finishes and arrive in plenty of time to collect your child.
Secondary
Students are eligible to enter the first year of secondary school, Year 7, after completing 6 years of primary education (Prep to Year 6). You may enrol your child in the local secondary school by contacting the school directly.
For many students, their secondary school will be the closest to their homes; however, some parents choose to send their child to a different secondary school. This may be because of the curriculum that is available or because the school has a specific focus.
It's a good idea to consider your preferences early in the previous year and see if your child is eligible to attend the school of your preference.
Parents are encouraged to attend information sessions at local schools to assist them to choose a school for their child.
Transition from primary to secondary school
The transition from primary to secondary school is an exciting time for students and their parents. It is the next stage in a lifelong educational journey leading to new experiences and challenges. The more informed you are, the more likely the experience will be positive for you and your child.
After the relatively familiar surroundings of the primary school, it can be daunting to move to a secondary school where there are many more teachers, new surroundings and a different approach to scheduling.
Secondary schools have different ways of introducing primary students to their school. Most students settle in quickly in response to the carefully designed transition programs initiated by schools.
Primary and secondary schools cooperate to ease students through this transition.
Changing schools
When changing schools:
- consider the timing of the move and if the move can coincide with the change of term
- involve your children in discussions and decisions about moving—this may help allay any fears or concerns they have
- if you are moving from another state, be aware that Year 6 is the final year of primary school in Queensland
- discuss the forthcoming move with your current school and collect documentation outlining student achievement levels, education history and supports that are being provided—this will help with appropriate placement at the new school and continuity of support
- prepare a list of your children's particular needs (e.g. preferred subjects, sporting and other interests, transport needs, extracurricular activities)
- consider subject choices, transport to and from school, vocational education programs and cultural and sporting opportunities
- consider behaviour management, discipline and uniform policies.
If your child is enrolling from a non-state school to a state school (or vice versa) in Queensland, the new school can request a
transfer note (PDF, 209KB) from the previous school. There is no need for parents or carers to complete any additional forms.
If your child has moved to Queensland from interstate, the new school can request consent from you to obtain your child's information from the previous school using the
interstate student data transfer note. This system enables the new school to support the educational placements of new students.
A transfer note is not required for students transferring their enrolment from one Queensland state school to another (including primary to secondary).
For students in Years 11 and 12 transferring to a new Queensland school, there may be factors to consider regarding Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) attainment. For further information, speak with the school prior to enrolment. For further information regarding transfer students and the QCE, refer to the
Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) website.
Uniforms
School leadership teams, in conjunction with the parents and citizens' association, decide on a student dress code, which reflects the needs and circumstances of that school community.
Hours of operation
Queensland state schools are operational 5 days per week. Generally, state schools hold approximately 5 hours of classes between 8.30am and 3.30pm from Monday to Friday on school days during school term and this is considered as standard school hours. View the
term dates and school holidays.
Principals may propose to
change school hours to suit local conditions and where the school community determines it provides benefits for students and families. However, any changes to school hours must be approved by the Regional Director (or their nominated approver) and occur in consultation with the school community; continue to allow schools to meet
Prep to Year 12 (P–12) curriculum delivery requirements, the needs of all students and staff at their school; and not disadvantage any group of students.
Outside school hours care
Many schools offer outside school hours care, before and after school, as well as school holiday programs. All children who are eligible to attend the school, including those enrolled in Prep year, are eligible to be enrolled in outside school hours care subject to available places. These services are organised and operated by either parents and citizens' associations, non-profit community groups or commercial providers. Parents should contact their local school to determine if a service is available at their school.
On state school sites, outside school hours care is a separate entity to the school. It has its own philosophy, policies and procedures and is responsible for the employment of its own staff and all financial matters. It is important to remember that enrolling your child at the school does not automatically guarantee a place in outside school hours care. In areas of high demand, the local outside school hours service determines which children will be given priority.