Perth - Schools

The education system in Australia, no matter which ‘system’ you end up choosing, is of a very high standard. Whether you are looking for academic extension programs, special needs support, extra curricular sporting activities, or before and after school care, there are very good choices available. Below outlines a few key factors when making your decision about schooling for your children in Perth.

Firstly, there are government or ‘public’ schools, private schools, independent schools, and boarding schools. Public schools are obliged to take students who live within their catchment zone. Private schools have no catchment zone, their enrolments are based on interviews, fee payment, and a set of criteria, eg being Catholic. Independent schools are not governed by the WA government, having successfully gone through an audit process to accredit them competent to run independently.

Then, similar to the world over, school is divided into Primary School (Pre Primary to Year 6) and Secondary (Year 7 to Year 12). Kindergarten is the year before Pre Primary, and is not compulsory in WA. School is compulsory from Pre Primary onwards.

The starting school year in WA is based on a June 30 cut off. Children must turn 5 before June 30, to start in that school year. Students born July-December will commence school the following year.

Our school year in Perth runs from February to December, split across 4 terms. Holidays around April, July and end September, are for 2 weeks each. Our big end of year holidays coincide with summer, with schools having approx 6 weeks off from mid December to beginning of February.

For international families relocating from the northern hemisphere, children will normally have to repeat the curriculum they have just completed.

Always check your obligation on fee payment for public schools, which vary based on the visa you are on. If you are on a temporary visa, you are required to pay full international fees in WA, which is $4000 per family, per year. Whilst public schools are ‘free’ for residents, they are not necessarily free for migrants.