NSW school system

The NSW Department of Education has been educating students in NSW government schools for over 150 years. The NSW government schools network spans over more than 2,000 schools across Sydney and the rest of New South Wales.

NSW government schools offer education to students studying in both primary and secondary school.

All primary schools and most high schools (secondary) are co-educational (boys and girls), while a small number of high schools are single sex (boys only or girls only).

High school students can choose from a range of comprehensive schools including specialist schools in performing arts, creative arts, sports, languages and technology.

Students who successfully complete Years 11 and 12 in NSW are awarded a Higher School Certificate (HSC), an internationally recognised qualification that allows students to apply for university study both in Australia and abroad.

Education pathways

Calendar

Our academic school year runs from January to December and is divided into four terms.

20252026
Term 131 January  - 11 April27 January - 2 April
Term 228 April - 4 July20 April - 3 July
Term 321 July - 26 September20 July - 25 September
Term 413 October - 19 December12 October - 17 December
School development days

School development days take place at the start of each term. Students do not attend on school development days, although supervision is available when no other arrangements can be made.

 

2025 school development days

2026 school development days

Term 1

Friday 31 January to Wednesday 5 February

Tuesday 27 January to Friday 30 January

Term 2

Monday 28 April and Tuesday 29 April

Monday 20 April and Tuesday 21 April
Term 3

Monday 21 July

Monday 20 July
Term 4

Monday 13 October

Monday 12 October

School enrolment dates:

Primary school students can enrol from Term 1 to Term 4.

High school students in Years 7-10 can enrol from Term 1 to Term 4.

High school students in Year 11 must enrol in Term 1 or at the beginning of Term 2.

Students in the Temporary Residents Program can enrol at anytime during the school year.