There are 785 schools in South Australia, with about 440 schools in Adelaide. The majority of Adelaide schools are government schools.
Adelaide Catholic schools are the next largest group, followed by Adelaide Independent schools.
The majority of South Australian and Adelaide schools are co-educational, with a small number of South Australian or Adelaide schools either boys’ schools or girls’ schools.
Government schools in Adelaide and South Australia are non denominational and among non-government schools there are Catholic schools and Independent schools representing a range of religious faiths or no denomination.
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MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SCHOOLING IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA
The three main education providers are the State Government (605 schools), Catholic Education (106 schools) and the Independent sector (94 schools). Government schools are often called State Schools or Public Schools. Non-government schools are often called Private Schools.
Religion
Most Private schools have a religious affiliation, but some are non-denominational. All South Australian State schools are non-denominational.
Gender
In the Private sector there are co-educational and single-sex schools at Primary and at Secondary level. Government schools are all co-educational, with the exception of two girls’ Government Secondary schools.
Schooling Levels
South Australian schools have one year in Reception; followed by seven years in Primary school; and five years in Secondary school. Not many Government schools have Primary and Secondary schools on the same campus (combined), but some Catholic schools have combined levels, and most Private schools.
Starting and Finishing Age
Contact the Education Department in your State for details.
Junior Primary Schools
Junior Primary Schools are Primary schools that only cater for Reception to Year 2.
Area Schools
This is a term for some schools that are mainly found in country regions, and cater to students from surrounding country areas.
Curriculum
The South Australian school curriculum is organized around eight Learning Areas from Reception to Year 12: English, Health and Physical Education, Languages, Mathematics, Science, Society and the Environment, Design and Technology and the Arts. Individual schools offer a broad range of core and specialised subjects within these Learning Areas. The Early Years, the Junior Years, Middle Years and Senior Years each have educational goals and guidelines.
The South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE)
The SACE is awarded to students who successfully complete their senior secondary education. Students usually complete their SACE over 2 years, but it may take longer.
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
VET subjects are industry or work-related, such as hospitality or IT. VET units can be credited towards the SACE.
Special Needs Schools
There are Special Needs Schools for children with disabilities in both the Government and Private sector in South Australia. Some general schools also have programs for Special Needs students on their campuses.
Alternative Schools
There are several schools in South Australia which have an alternative philosophical approach to education, such as Steiner or Montessori. Some are Private and some are Government schools.
Specialist Schools and Programs
Some South Australian schools provide special interest programs for students with talents in particular areas, such as Music, Languages, Agriculture and Sport. There are also schools for Students with High Potential (SHIP).
Scholarships
Many Independent and Catholic schools offer scholarships to students for academic excellence and some may offer scholarships for talents in other areas.
Distance Education
The South Australian government provides Distance education for students in remote areas or those unable to attend school.
Boarding Schools
There are Boarding schools in the Private school sector at Primary and Secondary level. The State Government also provides funding for the South Australian Rural Student Accommodation Project (SARSAP) which provides hostel style accommodation to students from remote areas.
International Students
International students can study in a variety of schools in South Australia.
School Uniforms
Most schools expect students to wear uniforms. Uniforms are usually unique to the school.
School Term Dates
The school year usually runs from late January to mid December. It is divided into two semesters, with two terms in each and vacation breaks for Easter, winter, spring and summer. All Government schools follow a set of annually determined term dates. Private school term dates can vary a little from the Government schools and from one another.