Every young person of compulsory school age must attend school or participate in an educational programme inside or outside the school as required by the Principal under the law in Western Australia.
Compulsory school age is:
- From the beginning of the school year in which the child is aged 5 years and 6 months (Pre-Primary);
- Until the end of the school year in which the young person turns 17 and 6 months or 18 whichever happens first.
- At the age of 16 and 17, the student can be enrolled at school or training program or a combination of school, training and employment with permission of the CEO of the Department of Education.
There are some exceptions to this such as when you have obtained special approval by the CEO of the Department of Education. This may be because you are being home educated, have completed your last year of school early or are engaged in an approved course or apprenticeship.
Each school is required to keep a register of all students enrolled at the school.
Each student is required to attend school on the days the school is open.
The school is required to keep an attendance record for each student.
A parent of a child who does not ensure that the child is enrolled in an education programme for each year of the compulsory education period for that child may be prosecuted.