Resource: Understanding school transition
What do adults need to do?
How do I know if my young person needs to change schools?
Will your young person change school for secondary education?
- If your young person is at a primary school that finishes at Year 6 (or similar), they will need to move to a secondary school.
- If your young person is at a school that continues to Year 12, they may stay at their current school.
- Or, you or your child might want or need to change schools for other reasons.
If you have decided you want or need to change schools, you need to start asking questions.
Ask these questions as soon as you can – some schools have very long waiting lists, or you might have to enrol before a certain date.
What questions do I need to ask?
Where can my child go for secondary school? Do I have a choice?
Ask your primary school:
- Where are the local secondary schools?
- What does the primary school recommend?
- What do you have to do to enrol in a new school?
Ask other parents and carers at your primary school:
- Do most students transfer to one main secondary school?
- Do students from your primary school go to many different schools?
- Where will your child’s friends be going? Why?
Ask your young person:
- What are their interests?
- What do they need and want from secondary school?
- Which schools do they think will be best for them?
Look at school websites:
- The ACARA school list will help find schools near you.
- What do other schools offer?
- Are there any specialist schools your child might be suited for?
- Are there scholarship programs that your child might be interested in?
- When are the school open days or information sessions? Can you tour schools you are interested in?