Primary and Secondary School

Discover a range of world-class primary and secondary schools in Perth that provide a safe, encouraging education environment where your child can thrive.

Perth’s School System

Western Australia hosts international students aged six and over, including children of international students studying at a tertiary level. Perth is a leader in education excellence, with high-quality primary and secondary schools, including government and private schools.

International students can attend primary school from Grade 1 (ages 6 to 7) to Grade 6 (ages 11 to 12). They then move on to high school from Grade 7 (ages 12 to 13) to Grade 12 (ages 17 to 18).

The school year starts in late January or early February each year and consists of four terms, each lasting 9-11 weeks, with holidays in between.

School days are Monday to Friday, usually from 9 am to 3 pm, but will vary between schools.

Perth primary and secondary schools provide a nurturing and inclusive environment where students can reach their full potential. They often feature state-of-the-art facilities, modern teaching methods, and highly qualified educators passionate about inspiring young minds.

Did you know that if you hold a certain visa, you could have the school fees for your children waived?

You will still be required to pay certain contributions, charges and fees and the tuition fee waiver only applies during your study period.

Learn more

Perth offers a variety of public and private primary schools that provide a strong educational foundation for young learners and ensure that every student receives the attention and support they need to thrive.

Western Australia hosts international students from age five. Students usually have one teacher for most of the school day and specialist teachers for music, art, drama, and religious studies.

The curriculum is designed to foster a love for learning, encouraging students to explore various subjects and develop critical thinking skills.

The primary school curriculum offers eight learning areas:

English/Literacy

Mathematics/Numeracy

Science

Humanities and Social Sciences

The Arts

Health and physical education

Information Technology

Languages

View Perth Primary Schools

For students, secondary school (known as high school) starts in Year 7 and runs through to Year 12. During their high school years, students will build on learning areas offered in primary school and can elect to study subjects that will prepare them for future study or their chosen career.

With state-of-the-art facilities and industry-leading teachers, Perth high schools equip students with the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities necessary for success later in life.

The curriculum fosters critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills, preparing students for a rapidly changing world.

View Perth Secondary Schools

Western Australia’s Year 12 qualification is the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE). It is awarded to students who have completed their high school studies and achieved the required standard. It is recognised by universities, higher education institutions, and vocational training providers across Australia and often internationally.

Once they complete Year 12, all students receive a Western Australian Statement of Student Achievement (WASSA). The WASSA formally records a student’s achievement in every course, qualification, and program completed in senior secondary school.

WACE requirements

To achieve a WACE Certificate, students must complete:

At least four Year 12 ATAR courses,

At least five Year 12 general courses and/or ATAR courses or

Complete a Certificate II or higher VET qualification in combination with ATAR, general or foundation courses.

ATAR

ATAR stands for Australian Tertiary Admission Rank. Students who complete at least four Year 12 ATAR courses will receive an ATAR score. The ATAR score indicates the ranking of a student’s academic results in relation to others in their year group across Australia. This score is then used to gain entry into universities and other higher education institutions.

Visit the WACE website for more information.

The Western Australian schooling system is a comprehensive and highly regarded educational framework that focuses on academic achievement and personal development.

Western Australian schools are world-class and known for their inclusive and supportive learning environments, where teachers foster a culture of collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity.

The Western Australian schooling system consists of:

Government primary and secondary schools
Private primary and secondary schools
Co-educational and boys-only/girls-only schools
Private schools with on-campus boarding facilities

The application process

To enrol your child in a Perth primary or secondary school, they must meet the following requirements:

Hold a student visa.

Have current Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of their student visa.

Be enrolling for a minimum of 2 school terms.

Meet certain English requirements. Students in the early stages of learning English can access Intensive English Programs to help them settle into their new country and school.

A confirmed welfare arrangement is in place, meaning they must have accommodation and a local guardian while studying at school.

The application process for children who will hold a student visa is as follows:

Choose four preferred schools.

Prepare your documents, including:

- Previous education results and transcripts (latest copies in English)
- A copy of the child’s passport

Apply online

Accept your offer and pay

Apply for a student visa

Receive student visa and make travel arrangements

Find out more about the application process here.

Student stories

Listen to what students from all over the world love most about living and studying in Perth.

Daisy

"The people in Perth are really friendly, and the smiles of strangers always make my day better."

Anahita

"There's always something new to explore here in Perth."

Hannah

"In Perth, you can always enjoy the moment."

FAQ's

To be eligible to enrol in a Perth primary or secondary school as an international student, the student must hold a valid Australian student visa, demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency, have Overseas Student Health Cover, and have a confirmed welfare arrangement in place.

Find out more about applying to study at a public school in Western Australia here.

The cost of sending your child to primary or secondary school will depend on your visa and the school you choose – for example, private schools will have higher fees than public schools. Depending on the type of visa you have when entering Western Australia, your dependent children may be eligible for a waiver of school fees. Eligible children can access government schooling at the same fee levels applied to local students.

You can find the tuition fees for international students here.

No, primary school is not free for international students in Western Australia. Fees will depend on the student’s visa and the school. Depending on the type of visa you have when entering Western Australia, your dependent children may be eligible for a waiver of school fees. Eligible children can access government schooling at the same fee levels applied to local students.

StudyPerth provides free support services for international students in Perth, including wellbeing support, legal advice, careers advice, and our international student hub, just to name a few. Find out more about our support services here.

If your child needs extra support in learning English, talk to the Principal at their school. Many primary and secondary schools offer English as an additional language (EAL) support staff, and some government schools may be eligible for extra help.

WACE stands for Western Australian Certificate of Education. It is the certificate of completion students receive upon completing their high school studies. It is recognised by universities, higher education institutions, and vocational training providers across Australia and often internationally.

A WACE certificate can be obtained by completing:

At least 4 Year 12 ATAR courses,

At least 5 Year 12 general courses, or

A Certificate II or higher VET qualification in combination with ATAR or general courses.

Learn more about WACE.

ATAR stands for Australian Tertiary Admission Rank. When completing year 11 and year 12, students sit for exams and upon completion, receive a WACE certificate and an ATAR score. The ATAR score indicates the ranking of a student’s academic results in relation to others in their year group across Australia. This score is then used to gain entry into universities and other higher education institutions. Find out more about ATAR.

To obtain an ATAR ranking, students must complete at least four Year 12 ATAR courses and sit the exams. The results from their course and exams will contribute to their ranking score.

WACE stands for Western Australian Certificate of Education and is the certificate of completion that students receive upon completing their high school studies.

ATAR stands for Australian Tertiary Admission Rank and indicates the ranking of a student’s academic results in relation to others in their year group nationally. It is used to gain entry into universities and other higher education institutions.

The difference between them is that WACE is a certificate indicating the student’s completion of high school, and ATAR is the number ranking that they will use to get into their desired higher education course.

School students who wish to gain entry into a university or higher education institution once they complete high school should obtain an ATAR ranking. This ranking provides the simplest way to obtain entry into university. Without one, students can still gain entry into university, but the application process becomes more complicated, and the student may need to undertake a bridging course first.

Education Providers

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