An elementary school dating from 1880 in which school enrolment was mainly for Aboriginal children.

Most Aboriginal schools were provisional schools and staffed until the 1940s and 1950s by untrained teachers. In 1968, the few remaining Aboriginal schools were converted into ordinary public schools.

A school containing both primary and secondary departments, and seeks to provide secondary education for children both from nearby primary schools as well as from its own primary section.

The term central school has been used since 1944. Whilst such schools were classified as central schools in 1944, many continue to be known by the name of the specific secondary course offered (for example, intermediate high school, junior technical school). Central schools have become characteristic of regional districts where the population is too small to support a single high school.

Originating in 1913, it was a department designed to offer both a post-primary education and vocational training for boys intent on a business career. From 1925 some girls were also enrolled.

Specific commercial subjects like business principles and book-keeping were taught. Commercial courses were taught in superior public schools, super-primary schools and in evening continuation schools. No separate commercial schools existed. Instead, commercial departments were closer in character to the general and academic streams of secondary education, and many were converted to intermediate high schools or made redundant by the establishment of separate secondary schools. There were no commercial departments after 1948, although a commercial course was available in some schools after that date.

A school providing primary and secondary education by correspondence lessons. Established in 1916, only students unable to attend school because of distance were enrolled.

From 1923 students were also enrolled on medical grounds. Later, students were also enrolled who wished to study a subject not taught at the school they attended daily. Distance education centres now provide educational programs to students who are isolated or whose special circumstances prevent them from attending regular schools. In 1993 the Open Training and Education Network (OTEN) was formed to provide and develop training and distance education facilities for students.

Distance education centres were established in 1991 in strategic locations throughout the state to deliver education to those students who were isolated or whose special circumstances prevent them from attending regular schools.

Some distance education centres operate from within regular government schools and are not identified in this database. See also reference to the Open Training and Education Network (OTEN) under
correspondence school.

A school department or a separate school combining post-primary education with home science and commercial training for girls. The home science course (known as domestic science until 1942) included subjects like cookery, home management and hygiene; but girls could also take a commercial course with subjects like economics, shorthand and typing.

From 1923 separate schools, generally known as central domestic science schools were established. They provided a three-year course for girls who had completed their primary education at schools in the surrounding district. However, changing attitudes to the education of girls in the late 1950s resulted in the rapid abandonment of home science courses  and the conversion of home science high schools and central home science schools into comprehensive girls high schools and junior high schools.

A basic elementary school known as national schools from 1848 to 1866, and as public schools since 1867. Originally the attendance of 30 children were required for the establishment of a school, but this was reduced to 25 in 1867 and 20 in 1880. In 1957 when provisional schools were converted to public schools, and the minimum figure was reduced to nine.

Until 1875 parents had to pay one-third of the cost of buildings, but the Council of Education and the Department have since met the total costs. Until the 1880s there were no government secondary schools, and no official post-primary courses in public schools. After 1913 many public schools incorporated one or more distinct secondary departments or ‘schools’. The modern development of high schools has meant that, with some exceptions like the central schools, most public schools now offer only primary courses.

Is a school for children with special needs who require hospitalisation or have physical, intellectual or psychological disabilities. Some of these schools do not have regular enrolment, with the children instead being regarded as temporarily absent from their ordinary school.

There have been many variations in the naming and classification of these schools, especially those conducted in centres run by voluntary organisations. Older titles such as 'School for Crippled Children' or 'School for Sub-Normal Children' have not been used in the database with most of the schools being identified simply with SSP or Hospital SSP. Community care schools are also classified 'SSP' by the department. In 1985 the department adopted a policy of integration of children with disabilities into regular schools.

See college.

In 1947 teachers were appointed to certain national fitness camps, which were then renamed sport and recreation centres in the 1970s. There are no regular enrolment at these centres, but they are visited by groups of children with the teachers in the centres working in conjunction with the class teacher concerned.

Until the early 1970s the emphasis was predominantly on physical education and recreational activities, whereas nowadays pupils’ social development and environmental education are the main priorities. In 1971, the administration of sport and recreation centres was taken over by the NSW Department of Sport, Recreation and Racing, although the Department of Education continued to provide teachers up until 1990.

A public school officially recognised from 1881 as providing both primary and post-primary education. From 1913 superior public schools were re-organised, being restricted to offering two-year vocational courses – commercial, home science or junior technical. An individual school could provide one or more of these.

By 1925 there was a less rigid vocational emphasis, and courses had been extended to three years and students could sit for the Intermediate Certificate examination. After 1931 the term superior public school was abandoned, super-primary schools being known only be the names of the courses offered.