Each of the Australian States set their own school terms and holiday dates, and they are often at slightly different times in the different States. An example of this is the 2008/2009 Summer Holiday starts on Dec 13 in QLD, SA & NT, Dec 19 in Tasmania & WA, and Dec 20 in ACT, NSW & VIC.
Private and Independent schools often have slightly different dates, normally starting a bit earlier or ending a bit later. An example of this is in Queensland, where the summer holiday starts on Dec 13th in the State schools, some Private schools start on Dec 6th.
Starting School
Each Australian State has a different system to decide when a child starts school, although there are national discussions taking place to try to get a common system for everyone. More details on this can be found in the Common School Starting Age Report:
A common comment is that the primary education is different here in Australia when compared to the UK.
A number of people have said that children here are allowed to be children for longer, no real pressure on direct learning, but lots of encouragement in learning to learn and enjoying school.
More involvement in school and class dramas, plays etc. Learning to be social etc.
As a direct age comparison, I have read that UK children are further ahead academically, but that Australian children are more ahead in being a person.
This can change when they move to High School, and by the end of their schooling, it seems to even itself out.
One thing I do know, is that the majority of primary school kids here just love to go to school, which is very different to my school days
There are two International Education surveys carried out on a regular basis; PISA and TIMSS.
Both of these surveys provide information about different aspects of students' mathematics and science learning.
PISA assesses careful reading, logical thinking and the application of general mathematical and scientific processes and principles to everyday problems.
TIMSS assesses mastery of the factual and procedural knowledge taught in school mathematics and science curricula.
By comparing the PISA and the TIMMS results, it would seem that the following applies:
Australia and New Zealand students perform better (on average) in applying general mathematical and scientific principles and skills to everyday problems than in recalling and using curriculum-based factual and procedural knowledge.
UK students perform better (on average) in recalling and using curriculum-based factual and procedural knowledge, compared to the application of these skills in everyday situations.
Australia's performance in TIMSS 2007
A total of 36 countries at Year 4, and 49 countries at Year 8, participated in TIMSS 2007 study, with approximately 425,000 pupils involved worldwide. Most countries tested pupils with 4 years formal schooling, but England and Scotland tested year 5 pupils.
In Australia 228 schools and 4,108 students participated in year 4, with 228 schools and 4,069 students in year 8.
In Scotland 139 schools and 3,929 students participated in year 5, with 129 schools and 3,929 students in year 9 (P5).
in England 143 schools and 4,316 students participated in year 5, with 137 schools and 4,025 students in year 9.
541 England Year 5 516 Australia Year 4 494 Scotland Year 5
Primary Science
542 England Year 5 527 Australia Year 4 500 Scotland Year 5
Senior Mathematics
513 England Year 9 496 Australia Year 8 487 Scotland Year 9
Senior Science
542 England Year 9 515 Australia Year 8 496 Scotland Year 9
Year 4 mathematics Australia’s score has increased by 17 since 2003 and by 22 score points since 1995. Australia was outperformed in 2007 by England's year 5, but was higher than Scotland's year 5. Students in Year 4 who spoke a language other than English at home achieved significantly lower on average in mathematics than students who predominantly spoke English.
Year 8 science Australia’s average score has declined by 12 points since TIMSS 2003, and is relatively unchanged since 1995. Australia was outperformed by England's year 9, but came ahead of Scotland's year 9.
The proportion of students achieving the advanced benchmark was strikingly higher for students with at least one parent completing a university degree.
Australian students tend to receive less mathematics and science homework at both Year 4 and Year 8 than students in other countries.
There is a difference between the States with ages of the children participating, with the lowest year 4 average age group being 9.5 yrs (QLD) and the highest being 10.3 yrs (TAS). This is due to different school starting ages in the different States. The results for Queensland are consequently lower than most other States.
World rankings for Reading, Maths and Science in the PISA 2007 report
An article in the Daily Telegraph in December 2007 showed the rankings of 57 countries in the subjects of Reading, Maths & Science.
In Reading, the UK was position 17, with Australia at position 7
In Maths, the UK was position 24, and Australia at position 13
In Science, the UK was position 14, and Australia at position 8.
The data comes from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). There is another article also at the Daily Telegraph with more information.
More information on the UK - Australia comparisons, from the PISA 2006 Results
Education in Australia is administered by the State Governments, NOT by the Federal Government, therefore you will find that each State may have different Holidays and other rules etc etc.
(Even different styles of Handwriting to be learnt in Junior School)
Just because the children are not at school does not mean the school is closed. This may be useful to you if you arrive during school holidays, but want to check out schools for enrolling the next year etc.
An example for my school (2008/09 In QLD) is:
Last day of school for Children is Dec 4th, but the office is open until Dec 12th.
The Office opens again on Jan 5th, but the children do not go back until Jan 27th
The New South Wales and Australian Capital Territories education authorities have stated that temporary 457 visa holders, and other temporary residents, are not eligible for subsidised education in Government schools.
Consequently, fees in NSW can vary between $4,000 and $6,000. In the ACT, it is even higher at between $9,000 and $14,000.
Details of Visa numbers and related conditions applying to enrolment in a NSW Government school can be found at www.schools.nsw.edu.au
The other States: Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia and The Northern Territory do allow temporary 457 visa holders the same subsidised education that Citizens and Permanent Residents receive.
Independent & Catholic Schools - 1,063,988 - 32% of total (Independent - 403,397, Catholic - 660,591)
Government Funding to schools
Since the 1960's both the State & Federal governments have each provided funding to both State & Non-State schools across Australia.
These funding figures for 2001-2002 are about:
Federal Government provided about $ 5.4 billion
State Governments provided about $19.9 billion
Totalling $25.3 Billion, or about $7,623 per Australian student.
The State schools received $20.3 billion (79%) of this figure, an average of about $9,000 per student
The Independent/Catholic schools received $5 billion (21%), an average of about $4,700 per student
Individual Independent school funding is calculated based on the economics of the area. ie: Better off areas will receive less, per student, than deprived areas, and funding can vary immensely. Hence, school fees can vary between $600 per year, to $25/30,000 per year.
In 2005-06, government schools in Victoria received combined Australian and Victorian Government funding of $10,352 a student, while non-government schools received $5,613 a student. Source
Overseas Education
Equivalent Qualifications
A table in the following website shows an approximate Australian school-level qualification equivalent to the British A-level results or the A-level tariffs
British Council - www.britishcouncil.org - British to Australian qualification equivalents
The British Council can also provide information on sitting GCSE or A-level examinations in Australia
A Statement of Equivalent Qualification can be issued to people who have educational qualifications from overseas that are judged by the Authority to be equivalent to Year 11 or Year 12 level.