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Exemption from school enrolment - Parent’s obligations and required forms

Leaving school before the end of Year 10

Section 11 of the School Education Act 1999 allows the Minister for Education through the Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Education Services to exempt a child of compulsory education age from enrolment at a non-government school.

A parent/legal guardian of a student who seeks an exemption must make application through the school to the Department of Education Services using the Application for Exemption from School Enrolment (Non-Government Schools) form.  The main grounds for granting an exemption are for the student to commence full-time employment, a traineeship or an apprenticeship.  The form requires the school principal to make a recommendation.  The form is returned to the Department of Education Services.

The exemption will be granted only until the end of Year 10 (or until the end of the year in which the student reaches 15).

The Acts Amendment (Higher School Leaving Age and Related Provisions) Act 2005 requires all young people to participate full-time in education, training or employment, or a combination of these, until the end of year they turn 17.

A parent/legal guardian must therefore complete an additional form when the student reaches the year in which he/she turns 16 (and ordinarily would be in Year 11 had they remained at school) but intends continuing in employment, a traineeship or an apprenticeship.  The required form is one of three obtainable from the Department of Education and Training which provides for acknowledgement by the Minister for Education of the student's participation in one or more education, training or employment options.

This additional form is best completed at the same time as applying for the school exemption before the end of Year 10.  The form is returned to the Department of Education Services which will hold the form and pass to the Department of Education and Training at the beginning of the year in which the student turns 16. 

The Department of Education and Training forms are:

Form A: Notice of Arrangements
Required for any young person who, at any time during the year they turn 16, wishes to engage in any full-time education or training option other than full-time schooling (e.g. for participation in an approved course).

If the young person undertakes a full-time apprenticeship/traineeship (with a completed training contract) or TAFEWA course (with a completed TAFEWA enrolment form and signed TAFEWA parent consent form), a Notice of Arrangements is not required.

Form B: Application to Participate in a Combination of Options
Required for any young person who, at any time during the year they turn 16, wishes to engage in combinations of any approved options including school, TAFEWA or private RTO training courses, university, gazetted courses, traineeships, apprenticeships and employment.  All options must add up to full-time engagement.

Form C: Application to Participate in Full-time Employment
Required for any young person who, at any time during the year they turn 16, wishes to engage in full-time employment.

Forms A, B and C and information on the new school leaving age can be downloaded from the website of the Department of Education and Training, or by following the links below:

Form A
Form B
Form C

Leaving school during Years 11 and 12 (including leaving at the end of a fully completed Year 10)

Using one of the Forms A, B or C as described above, a parent/legal guardian is required to complete and submit the relevant form on behalf of their child direct to the Department of Education and Training.  Completion of the form fulfils the parent’s legal obligation under the legislation.

The form can be downloaded from the links provided above.