Starting high school
Dự đoán xổ sốThis is a guide for parents and carers who want to enrol their child in a high school in NSW. It provides information on choosing a school, understanding how to enrol your child and applying for financial support.
Dự đoán xổ sốThis is a guide for parents and carers who want to enrol their child in a high school in NSW. It provides information on choosing a school, understanding how to enrol your child and applying for financial support.
If you’re thinking of a private or independent school for your child, find out more at:
Dự đoán xổ sốIf you’re a parent or carer with a temporary resident visa and want to send your child to a high school in NSW, you may need to pay fees depending on the age of your child.
However, you may be eligible for an exemption or a refund depending on your situation.
Learn more about visa and enrolment requirements at the .
Parents or carers of overseas students wanting to enrol their child in a government school can find out what they need to do at , the international unit of the NSW Department of Education.
Depending on the age of the student there may also be English language requirements.
If your enrolment is successful, you'll receive a confirmation from DE International, which you then use to apply for a student visa.
Most NSW public high schools have a catchment zone or local enrolment area. If you live inside a school’s enrolment area, your child is guaranteed a place at that school.
Your child can go to a school outside your local enrolment area only if that school has places available.
Dự đoán xổ sốYou should only enrol in one school at any given time.
Depending on the number of schools in your local enrolment area, you may want to consider these factors before deciding on a high school for your child:
Dự đoán xổ sốThe NSW Department of Education’s online School Finder helps locate schools in your local enrolment area.
You can enter your home address or search by a school’s name. There are other filtering options available as well as guidelines on .
The School Finder lists schools within 105km of your home.
Dự đoán xổ sốIf you live further than this from your nearest public school, you can find more information for geographically isolated students at the website.
Most high schools in NSW provide a range of enrolment and support options for children with disability or additional learning needs.
There is also a number of that offer specialised levels of support.
Make an appointment with the school’s principal to find out more about what disability services, support classes and SSP placements might be available. Consider doing this at least 12 to 18 months before your child starts high school.
Dự đoán xổ sốThe Raising Children Network, which is supported by the Department of Social Services, has information on .
Applications for placement outside your local enrolment area usually require separate forms and need to be submitted by a cut-off date. Check with the school for more detail
Schools can accept enrolments from parents who live outside that school’s local enrolment area if places are available.
But there is no guarantee that your application will be successful.
Applications from parents outside a local enrolment area are usually assessed on a range of criteria, including:
Do not purchase items such as uniforms or school-specific equipment until you receive confirmation of your enrolment
Once you have decided on a high school, you’ll need to enrol your child.
Before enrolling, you’ll need to complete an expression of interest form. This is generally done in March the year before your child starts high school.
Dự đoán xổ sốYou’ll be able to indicate on this form if you want your child to attend their local school or if you’re seeking other placements, such as a specialist or non-local school.
You can list up to 3 schools in order of preference. There may be extra application requirements for placements other than in your local school. The school can let you know what these are.
For year 7 enrolments at a public school, submit the expression of interest form:
For enrolments in years 8 to 12, send the expression of interest form directly to your chosen high school.
Check at Education NSW.
Dự đoán xổ sốOnce your child has been offered a place, you’ll be sent an enrolment application form in term 2 or 3, which must be completed in English.
Dự đoán xổ sốIf you need help with English you can:
The school principal will consider the application and confirm by letter if it’s been successful.
Dự đoán xổ sốAlong with the , there are usually several supporting documents that will need to be provided, depending on your circumstances:
Dự đoán xổ sốNon-Australian citizens will also need to provide:
Temporary visa holders will also need to provide, depending on your circumstances:
Dự đoán xổ sốParents are required to provide an immunisation certificate when enrolling their child at high school.
The outlines what vaccinations parents and carers need to be up to date with for their children.
The records all your child’s vaccinations.
Some children may be exempt from vaccinations due to medical reasons or natural immunity. This will still be captured on their history statement as up to date.
If you choose not to vaccinate your child, you can still enrol them without an immunisation certificate.
Dự đoán xổ sốHowever, if there is an outbreak of a vaccine preventable disease, your child may be asked to stay at home until it is safe to return to school.
Students in Year 7 and Year 10 will be offered . Information kits are generally sent home to parents and carers early in the school year.
Dự đoán xổ sốTo consent to vaccination, parents and carers are advised to read all the information provided, complete and sign the consent form and return it to their child's school.
All government schools offer a range of classes in religious education or ethics. The actual classes available will vary between schools but will generally be a choice of:
Parents can also choose not to send their children to any religious or ethics classes. In that case, students attend other supervised activities such as reading, study or homework.
A separate form indicating your preference will be provided by the school. You’ll need to complete and submit this as part of the enrolment process.
NSW students who are geographically isolated or whose circumstances mean they’re unable to attend regular classes may be able to .
Some public high schools in NSW offer programs for international students.
There are English language requirements for entry into high school. Students who can’t show that they’ve met the minimum English levels will have to enrol in a NSW government school's Intensive English Centre (IEC).
For more information or to talk about assessment of your child's needs, call the local educational services team on 131 536
There are a range of enrolment and support options for children with disability or additional learning needs, including:
Dự đoán xổ sốParents or carers should meet with their school's principal and learning and support team to begin planning:
This can involve identifying:
Dự đoán xổ sốEnrolment for high school students with disability or additional needs is the same as for all students.
If you enrolled your child at a high school outside your local enrolment area and were not offered a place at your first choice school:
If no place is available, you may be placed on the waiting list or your child will be placed in your local school that was listed in the expression of interest form.
You can appeal the decision. Check with the school to find out what their process is, but it generally requires you to write a letter to the principal outlining the reasons why you’re appealing the decision.
If you’re not satisfied by the outcome of that letter, the matter can then be referred to a local principals network or similar independent body to make a final decision.
Dự đoán xổ sốMany high schools offer activities to help prepare new students, including:
Check with your local school for details.
If you haven’t already done so, it’s important to talk to your new school if your child has:
Dự đoán xổ sốPractical preparations ahead of the first day of school can also help make starting high school easier and calm any nerves, including:
Dự đoán xổ sốChildren new to a school area will need to become familiar with:
They should be aware of the dangers of being distracted when using or crossing the road, including:
The On the Move secondary school road safety education program offers resources that help students identify and reduce road safety risks to become safer pedestrians, passengers and drivers.
Changing schools partway through a year can be challenging, whether it’s a move to a new suburb, city, state or country.
Dự đoán xổ sốChallenges can include:
There are 4 terms in the school year. Check school terms dates for all NSW schools at Education NSW.
The Education Standards Authority provides a range of resources to help parents know more about the syllabus for years , and .
Dự đoán xổ sốCheck with your school for more information on the best public transport option for your child.
There is a range of free or reduced cost transport services available to help children get to and from school.
Special eligibility conditions may apply depending on your child’s age and the distance you live from the school.
Transport NSW provides several options for eligible students as part of the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS), including the:
Dự đoán xổ sốStarting high school is a new experience that can involve many changes for students, including:
Dự đoán xổ sốBecoming part of the school community can make the adjustment to high school easier for your child.
Becoming part of your school’s community can help you connect with your child as well as with other parents and school staff.
Ways you can participate include:
Your child will be expected to do more homework and independent study when they start high school, including:
Dự đoán xổ sốDeveloping a routine and having a set place to do homework can reduce distractions and help reinforce work done in class.
Find more information about parenting and studying at high school at:
A family will not be discriminated against or suffer embarrassment because of an inability to contribute financially
Dự đoán xổ sốWhile public education is free, most schools request voluntary contributions to help cover the costs of:
Dự đoán xổ sốThe cost of school supplies like uniforms, textbooks, equipment and stationery are generally covered by parents and will need to be planned for in your budget.
Dự đoán xổ sốSchools will usually provide a checklist of what they provide, and what parents or carers are expected to supply.
Dự đoán xổ sốIf you’re unable to pay because of financial hardship, you may be eligible for exemptions or financial help from the school.
Dự đoán xổ sốContact the school to find out more or to discuss your situation.
There are federal and state government payments you or your child may be eligible for that can help cover the cost of sending your child to school, including:
If your child attends high school, you may be able to get help with the costs of care before and after school hours as part of the . Your child must be:
Dự đoán xổ sốIf you get the child care subsidy and meet certain criteria, you may also be able to get the .
Children with disability or additional needs have the same rights to education as all other children.
The NDIS can fund reasonable and necessary costs that helps a child with disability go to school, including:
There are a range of scholarships available to students in public high schools. Who can apply will depend on the particular scholarship.
This is a one-off payment to eligible parents and carers of up to $100 per calendar year.
The voucher can be used with a registered provider to pay for a range of activities, including:
There is a range of free or reduced cost transport services available to help children get to and from school.
Special eligibility conditions may apply depending on your child’s age and the distance you live from the school.
Dự đoán xổ sốCheck with your school for more information on the best public transport option for your child.
Dự đoán xổ sốTransport NSW provides several options for eligible students as part of the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS), including the:
Families who have a child with disability may be eligible for help through the .
Children living in remote areas may be able to get the from Services Australia.
Starting high school can be both exciting and stressful for children and parents or carers.
There’s a range of support services available that can help encourage a healthy and productive learning environment.
Most schools have a range of programs designed to help support students’ social and emotional learning as well as their physical wellbeing, including:
Adolescence can also be a time where increased consumption of soft and energy drinks as well as sugary foods could have adverse effects on your child's teeth and gums.
Dự đoán xổ số has information and resources for parents to address any oral health concerns they might have for their children.
Additionally, the Raising Children Network, which is supported by the Department of Social Services, has a number of .
There are also specific for:
Dự đoán xổ sốStarting high school can mean a lot of changes for your child.
The challenges of new routines, making new friends and academic expectations can affect their emotional and mental wellbeing.
You and your child can get help at:
Kids Helpline has . You can also call on 1300 1300 52 talk to a qualified counsellor
Dự đoán xổ sốA child starting high school can mean major changes to your family’s life, routines and relationships.
Education NSW's is an alphabetical list of common topics covering a wide range of subjects, from attendance to wellbeing.
You can also find support material and practical help for parents and carers at Education NSW, including:
Dự đoán xổ sốMany people, not only parents or carers, can contribute to supporting students with disability and additional learning needs.
Dự đoán xổ sốThis uses a range of teaching and learning professionals to help make sure every student receives an education.
If you have concerns about your child’s development or progress at school, it’s important to discuss these as soon as practical with the relevant people, including:
There are also interpreter services and Aboriginal education assistants available to parents and carers.