Education and Schools in Sydney

Sydney offers a good selection of private and public schools and tertiary institutions, and a high standard of education all around. The national school curriculum promotes tolerance and cultural diversity and the medium of instruction is English. Expatriate students who do not have English as their first language will have to attend extra English Language Programs.

The school year runs from January to December and is divided into four academic terms with short holidays between. The longest holiday is over the December to January period, which is also the Australian summer holiday season.

Expatriates who do not have permanent residence can enrol their children in public schools but will have to pay tuition fees. Public schools are only free to permanent residents.

School hours vary from one school to the next but generally they are between 9am and 3.30pm.