All you need to know on schools in NSW

 

Planning a move and need Sydney school information? Finding the right school is one of the most important decisions families make when choosing where to live in Sydney. Whether you are relocating from overseas, moving interstate or switching suburbs, this guide to NSW public, independent and Catholic schools will help you navigate your options with confidence.

In NSW, there are three different types of schools:

  • Government (public)
  • Catholic System (private)
  • Independent (private)






Government schools account for approximately 66% of total student enrolments in NSW and are owned and operated by the NSW Government. The Catholic sector comprises 11 separate diocesan school systems and enrolls approximately 18% of students in NSW. The independent sector accounts for slightly more than 15% of student enrolments.


NSW has the youngest minimum school starting age of any state or territory in Australia at 4.5 years. Other states and territories have older minimum starting ages. A recent report by the Australian Review of Public Affairs shows that in NSW 32% of children are held back from kindergarten, the highest holding back rate in the country. Depending where you are attending school in NSW, this holding back rate can be significantly higher. For example, schools on the lower north shore have a higher percentage of children who are held back before starting kindergarten.


My School is a government website and is an excellent resource for researching and comparing Australian schools. It allows you to search 10,000 Australian schools, both public and private, and gauge a school’s performance on a number of different factors such as staffing, resources and academic performance.




 


Our Sydney Public and Private School Guides


We’ve put together detailed school guides for the areas we know best. Whether you’re weighing up private or public schooling, or trying to understand catchment zones before you buy, these pages will give you a solid starting point.


 


North Shore



 


Eastern Suburbs





 


Sydney Public School Catchment Zone Map










 




 


 


NSW SCHOOL FAQ


How old must my child be when they go to primary school in NSW?


Your child must be 5 by July 31 in the year they enroll in Kindergarten.


Does this mean that I must send my child to school when they are 4.5 years, if for example they have a June birthday?


No, you are allowed to hold your child back for a year. However, by law, all children must be enrolled in school by their sixth birthday.


What are other parents doing with children whose birthdays fall after January?


As discussed above, 32% of parents overall in NSW hold their children back, however this figure can be significantly higher in certain areas. The decision obviously depends upon the child, their date of birth and also where you are sending them to school. It would be helpful to talk to the school you are enrolling in and find out the ages of other children in the class and talk to other local parents.








Useful links for school information


NSW Public Schools (government schools) Resource and Directory: www.schools.nsw.edu.au


Association of Independent Schools (non-government private schools) Directory: www.aisnsw.edu.au


Private School Directory: www.privateschoolsdirectory.com.au


Catholic Schools in NSW & ACT: www.catholicschools.nsw.edu.au


Jewish Schools Australia: www.jewishaustralia.com


Steiner Schools in Australia: www.steiner-australia.org


Montessori Australia: www.montessori.org.au


NSW Public Schools with Special Needs Programs: www.schools.nsw.edu.au






Preschools


NSW government subsidized preschools: www.preschoolsnsw.org.au


List of preschools by location: www.careforkids.com.au


 


At Premier Home Finders, we understand that for many families — whether relocating from overseas, moving interstate or switching suburbs — the schools question and the property question are one and the same. Get in touch to find out how we can help.