Australian curriculum: A parent's guide

Curriculum guide

Australian curriculum

Australian international schools follow the Australian Curriculum from Foundation through Year 10, then state-specific senior secondary qualifications (HSC, VCE, QCE) at Years 11–12 leading to an ATAR — Australia's university entrance rank. Common at international schools serving Australian-expat families and in countries with strong Australia-bound university pipelines.

Foundation – Year 6

Primary

Foundation to Year 6 follows the national Australian Curriculum, covering English, maths, science, HASS, arts, technologies, health and PE, and languages.

Years 7–10

Junior Secondary

Continues the national curriculum across the eight learning areas. Assessment is a blend of coursework and school-based exams; some jurisdictions include NAPLAN benchmarks.

Years 11–12

Senior Secondary (ATAR)

State-specific senior qualifications — VCE (Victoria), QCE (Queensland), HSC (NSW) and equivalents — culminate in an ATAR rank from 0.00 to 99.95, used for Australian university entry.

Australian

How ATAR works

ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) is a percentile rank based on senior secondary results. Most Australian universities admit on ATAR, sometimes adjusted for specific subject prerequisites. International universities, including UK and Singapore, treat strong ATARs as equivalent to strong A-Levels.

Is Australian right for your child?

It tends to suit families who…

•Are planning a move to Australia
•Are applying to Australian universities
•Are already following the Australian system elsewhere
•Value a broad senior curriculum with practical subjects

It may be less ideal if…

•Your family is unlikely to touch Australia or NZ
•The state-by-state senior variance is confusing
•You'd prefer a globally standardised qualification like IB

Common questions

FAQs about the Australian curriculum

Is ATAR accepted by UK universities? +

Yes. Most UK universities including Russell Group institutions accept ATAR, typically with cutoffs around 90+ for competitive courses.

Can my child switch from Australian curriculum to IB or British? +

Switching is easiest before Year 11 — the senior secondary phase is harder to interrupt because it's tied to a specific state's qualification. Speak to admissions about transition timing.

Understanding international school curricula