In Tasmania, primary school runs from Prep to Year 6, and high school starts in Year 7. Government high schools teach Years 7 to 10, and many now go on to Years 11 and 12 as well.[4] In some country areas, a district school teaches everyone from Kindergarten to Year 10 or 12 on one campus.
Your primary school decides your high school
This catches out families who've moved from interstate. Tasmanian government high schools don't have their own geographic intake areas. Instead, each government primary school feeds one or two intake high schools.[1][2]
If your child finishes Year 6 at a government primary school, they're guaranteed a place at its intake high school.[1] So the high school question is really answered when you choose a primary school.
If your child is at a Catholic or independent primary, find the government primary school for your home address on the department's intake map, then look up that school's intake high school.[1]
Out-of-area places
You can apply for a government high school that isn't your intake school. The principal decides using the department's criteria, and a school with no room can say no even if you meet them.[3] For the next school year, families hear by letter in Week 8 of Term 3.[3]
No selective schools
There's no selective government high school in Tasmania, and no entry test.[5] Every child moves up to their intake high school. Schools support gifted students in their own ways, so ask each high school what extension it offers.
Many Catholic and independent schools enrol from Year 5 or Year 7, often well ahead, and some award academic scholarships through a test. Our guide to scholarship tests in Tasmania covers those.
A simple timeline
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Year 5 | Check which high school your primary feeds. Visit open days if you're weighing up other options, and note any scholarship test dates. |
| Term 1 of Year 6 | Many independent school scholarship tests are sat around now. Applications usually close a few weeks before. |
| Mid Year 6 | Apply for an out-of-area place if you want one; ask the school for its closing date. Decisions arrive by letter in Week 8 of Term 3. |
| Term 4 of Year 6 | Transition visits to the new high school. |
Dates move from year to year. Treat this as a rough guide and check with the schools.
Getting ready for the work
Year 7 means several teachers, a timetable and more homework all arriving together. Children who settle in quickest usually bring solid Year 5 and 6 maths and can read a long text without losing the thread. Fractions, decimals, percentages and writing a clear paragraph all carry straight into Year 7.
Ready for Year 7
Study Compass finds the Year 5 and 6 gaps that make high school maths and English harder, then plans short daily lessons to close them.
Start freeSources
- Department for Education, Children and Young People, Frequently asked questions about local school areas. https://decyp.tas.gov.au/learning/find-your-local-school/frequently-asked-questions-about-local-school-areas (accessed 23 October 2026).
- Department for Education, Children and Young People, Find your local high school. https://www.decyp.tas.gov.au/parents-carers/parent-fact-sheets/intake-areas-tasmanian-government-schools/find-your-local-high-school/ (accessed 23 October 2026).
- Department for Education, Children and Young People, Out-of-area enrolment FAQs. https://decyp.tas.gov.au/learning/find-your-local-school/faqs-out-of-area-enrolment (accessed 23 October 2026).
- Study Tasmania, Junior high school (Years 7 to 10). https://study.tas.gov.au/study/government-schools/high-school-7-12/junior-high-school-7-10 (accessed 23 October 2026).
- SBS, Australia's selective entry school admissions explained. https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/australia-s-selective-entry-school-admissions-explained (accessed 23 October 2026).
Curriculum documents get updated. Always check the official source before making a decision. Study Compass isn't affiliated with or endorsed by ACARA, ACER, Edutest, any school, or the Tasmanian Department for Education, Children and Young People.