The New South Wales Education System

The Education System in New South Wales Australia is regulated by the Board of Studies. The NSW Board of Studies was established in 1990 to serve government and non-government schools in the development of school education.

School Education in New South Wales incorporates Kindergarten to Year 12. The average age to begin school at Kindergarten is 5 years, and if continuing to Year 12, students will exit the NSW school system at about 18.

After Kindergarten - a preparatory year, students begin Primary School which extends from years 1 to 6.
Following Primary School, students progress to Secondary School. Secondary Schools may offer Years 7 to 10 only, Years 7 to 12 inclusive, or Years 11 and 12 only.

Students can leave school after completing Year 10, sitting the first state exam - The School Certificate - at the end of it.

Years 11 and 12 are the senior and two final years of school education in NSW. This two-year course is completed by a final state exam, The Higher School Certificate.
Having satisfied the Board of Studies requirements, Higher School Certificate students can opt to receive a UAI (University Admissions Index), a score used by Universities and Tertiary Education Institutions for tertiary admissions.

St Paul's International College is a Senior College providing a focussed environment for Australian citizens, Permanent Residents of Australia or Overseas students choosing to sit the Higher School Certificate. However, St Paul's International College also offers a preparatory ELICOS year and a University Foundation Programme tailored for overseas students. The College offers both boarding and day options.

Further Information about the New South Wales Board of Studies and state education is available at: www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au.