You may just think about primary and secondary schools when thinking about Queensland state (public) schools. You may be surprised about the range of unique and innovative learning environments where our teachers work and make a difference every day.
Kindergarten
Kindergarten, known as kindy, is an early childhood education program for children in the year before school. Attending a kindy program supports children to learn through play, make friends and prepare for the transition to school.
State Delivered Kindergarten programs, offered in some primary schools, ensure all children have access to a kindergarten program no matter where they live.
Primary schools
Primary schools provide students with 7 years of compulsory learning from Prep to Year 6. Prep is the first year of schooling in Queensland. Students develop the skills and knowledge they need now and for their future, including learning across the
8 key areas of the Australian Curriculum and developing their understanding of other cultures and technology.
Secondary schools
Secondary schools, or high schools, provide educational programs for students from years 7 to 12. Students study a broad range of academic and vocational subjects, aligned to the Australian Curriculum. This provides students with the essential knowledge, understanding and skills that all young Australians need to learn, contribute to and shape their world, now and in the future.
In senior secondary (Years 11 and 12), Queensland schools are required to select curriculum from a range of subject options available through the
Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA). The QCAA senior syllabuses build on the expectations of the Prep to Year 10 Australian Curriculum and support continuity of student learning.
P–10/12 schools
P–10/12 schools, often referred to as combined schools, provide education to students from Prep to Year 10 or 12, depending on the school's location. Generally, P–10/12 schools provide students with a seamless transition across the stages of schooling and many are very innovative in the way they offer the curriculum. Selected P–10/12 schools also offer a kindergarten program under the State Delivered Kindergarten program.
Special schools
Special schools provide highly specialised and individual programs for students with significant support needs and who have an intellectual impairment. Teachers in our special schools work collaboratively with speech-language pathologists, guidance officers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and registered nurses to support students. Educational programs for students with disability are also provided in primary and secondary schools, sometimes within special education units and classes.
Partnership Initiative schools
The Partnership Initiative (PI) is a system response to improving learning and life outcomes for children and students living in Queensland’s most socio-educationally disadvantaged communities. We have more than 40 PI schools that ensure students have strong foundations for future success through locally responsive, flexible and tailored approaches that are developed with the community. PI schools provide additional opportunities for beginning and experienced teachers to make a difference, with many located in
regional, rural and remote locations.
Schools of distance education
Schools of distance education provide educational programs for students from Prep to Year 12 who cannot attend a school in a traditional setting due to geographic location, illness or other special circumstances. These schools also provide services to families who choose or require home-based learning, adults who are completing their schooling, students living overseas, school-based students who are unable to access desired subjects locally and students attending alternative education settings.
The distance education context places increased emphasis on the use of information and communication technologies and digital learning resources to maximise learning opportunities and improve teacher and student interaction.
Queensland Academies
The three
Queensland Academies aim to accelerate learning opportunities for Queensland's best and brightest students in Years 10, 11 and 12. Each academy has a specific focus – Creative Industries, Science, Maths and Technology, and Health Sciences - and works in partnership with a local Queensland university.
The educational programs offered by the academies is the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. This program is a world-recognised pre-university qualification and characterised by accelerated studies, extension and enrichment work with universities, industry experience and personal and social development.
Hospital schools
Hospital schools provide either classroom or ward-based specialised educational programs for students from prep to year 12. A student can be an admitted patient, a sibling of a patient or a child of a patient. Hospital school teaching staff, in liaison with medical staff, provide a warm, supportive and flexible educational environment for students during their hospital stay.
Centres for continuing secondary education
Centres for continuing secondary education offer similar educational programs to state high schools, with vocational and academic subjects available to post-compulsory-age (adult) students. There are four centres across Queensland that are specifically set up to provide day and evening classes for adult students. In addition, many mainstream schools also offer flexible programs with part-time or full-time options suitable for adult students.
Outdoor and environmental education centres
Outdoor and environmental education centres develop and deliver outdoor and environmental education programs for schools and the community, and provide professional development for teachers. These centres also serve as venues for school excursions and camps.
The programs offered by these centres are linked to the school curriculum and student leadership objectives, and can include archaeology and heritage interpretation, environmental arts, urban renewal and water watch investigations.
Youth education and training centres
Youth education and training centres operate within Queensland’s youth detention centres, and support young people in detention to participate in education and training programs. Teachers, guidance officers, speech and language pathologists, occupational therapists and centre staff collaborate to design and deliver programs that meet each child’s individual learning needs and work towards their rehabilitation and re-entry into the community.
Specialist and innovative schools
More than 70 Queensland state schools engage with industry partners and/or training institutes and universities to create specialist career and educational pathways for students.
The Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy and Aviation High support a network of other schools that offer specialist educational opportunities and pathway to careers in resources, aviation and aerospace sectors.
Some of our secondary schools also offer centres of excellence programs, specialising in different academic, creative or sporting endeavours such as country music (Gympie State High School), dance (Kelvin Grove State College), marine studies (Coorparoo Secondary College) and surfing (Sunshine Beach State High School).
For more information about the range of state school settings and locations visit the
Schools Directory.