Enrolment
How to enrol in a NSW public school, designated enrolment areas, preschool and general enrolment for Kindergarten to Year 12, including online applications and forms.
Changes to the enrolment policy
The enrolment policy is changing for enrolments commencing from Term 1 2025. Under the changes, all temporary resident students will be entitled to enrol at their local school. Schools will also prioritise non-local enrolment applications for siblings of currently enrolled students and consider non-local enrolments for children of school staff.
Read the parent factsheet (PDF 103KB) for detailed information on whether these changes apply to your family. If these changes apply to you and you would like to enrol your child in a different school, you can submit, or resubmit, an enrolment application to the relevant school for Term 1 2025.
Applying to enrol in a NSW Government school
Enrolment application forms
In addition to the standard Application to enrol in NSW Government schools form (PDF 768.4KB) many schools also use the Department's online enrolment system.
All applications must be completed in English. However, a translated application to enrol may help you to fill out the applications in English.
Enrolment areas
Many NSW Government schools have specific local enrolment areas. The designated intake areas are determined by the Department of Education. These schools ensure that there are enough places for students who reside in their local enrolment area.
Although preferable, designated local schools may not always be the closest public school to your home. Schools work with their local community to provide advice on public transport availability.
The Enrolment of Students in NSW Government Schools policy sets out the entitlements and requirements for enrolment. The parent factsheet (PDF 103KB) is available to explain recent changes to the enrolment policy.
Use School Finder to find your local NSW Government school. The school principal can help with enrolment inquiries throughout the year.
Non-local enrolment
Schools may accept enrolments from outside their designated area if places are available. Such applications are subject to department policies.
Contact the school for further information. If the school is able to accommodate non-local enrolments, the school will advise you of any non-local enrolment selection criteria.
If the demand for local enrolment exceeds the number of places available, non-local enrolments will not be available.
The department collects information to ensure a smooth enrolment process.
Privacy statement
All public schools and personnel of the Department of Education must abide by the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW). The information you provide will be used to process your child's application for enrolment and for associated purposes such as:
- general student administration
- communication with students and parents or carers
- state and federal reporting purposes
- to ensure the health and safety of students, staff and visitors to the school
- for other matters relating to the education and welfare of the student
- for any other purpose required by law.
The information will be stored securely. You may access or correct any personal information by contacting the school. If you have a concern or complaint about the way your personal information has been collected, used, or disclosed, you may contact the school.
Health information
By law, we must ensure the health and safety of students, staff and visitors on our premises. To facilitate this, a student's health information is collected through the Application to enrol form. Please provide detailed information about any medical conditions such as allergies, including anaphylactic reactions.
The health-related information is subject to the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002. It may be used and disclosed to medical practitioners, health workers, other government departments and/or schools.
The information you provide will assist the school to communicate with you and care for your child while at school.
Parents' occupations and education information
All Australian Education Ministers have agreed on National Goals for Schooling in the Twenty-First Century which state achievement of students should not be affected by discrimination based on sex, language, culture and ethnicity, religion or disability - or by differences arising from social and economic background or geographic location.
All parents across Australia are asked to provide information about family background. We use the information to evaluate whether our policies are effective and to ensure that no group is experiencing undue disadvantage.
Providing information about your occupation and education is voluntary, but your information will help us to ensure the best educational outcomes for your child.
If the information on the 'Application to enrol' is found to be false or misleading it may affect the result of your application.
Apply to enrol online or download an Application to enrol in NSW Government schools form (PDF 768.4KB) for students from Kindergarten to Year 12.
Applications must be completed in English. However, a translated application to enrol may help you to fill out the form in English.
To learn more about the collection of information, see the collection notice (PDF 339.18KB).
Online enrolment program
We have scaled up access to the department's online enrolment system at the majority of our schools, to provide you with the convenience of applying to enrol online or to complete the Year 6 to 7 Transition process online.
Currently to apply online your child must be:
- a NSW resident
- an Australian or New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, and
- residing in the local enrolment area of the school, or
- eligible to use the out-of-area process for non-local enrolments.
We have more information for parents or to locate your local school visit school finder.
Transition to high school using Online Enrolment
The annual Year 6 to Year 7 transition process moved online in 2023.
Moving into high school is an important process managed by your child's primary school. The expression of interest process is managed by your primary school and takes place during Year 6.
Interstate Student Data Transfer Note
The Interstate Student Data Transfer Note and Protocol is a joint initiative between the Australian Government, State and Territory Education Departments, and the independent and Catholic education sectors.
The national system is based on using a common protocol to support new students by providing consistent and accurate information from the previous school.
The Transition to High School Scout report
CESE has released the Transition to High School Scout report to help schools support continuity of learning and wellbeing as students transition to Year 7.
Available to high school principals, deputy principals and head teachers, the report provides a range of student data and information in one place to help schools plan for their incoming Year 7 students. Student data is populated as student enrolments are risk assessed and/or validated by your school.
For more information, refer to Transition to High School (Staff only)
