Queensland School Year Levels and Starting Age: Prep to Year 12
Last updated
March 12, 2026
Start with Australian School Year Levels by State if you are comparing states. Use Australian School Levels & Ages if your main question is cohort fit rather than terminology.
Queensland in one minute
- Queensland's first year of formal school is Prep.
- According to the Queensland Department of Education, children must be five by 30 June in the year they start Prep.
- Queensland guidance also explains early and delayed entry to Prep for specific circumstances.
- Primary school usually runs from Prep to Year 6, then secondary school from Years 7 to 12.
Queensland year levels at a glance
| Stage | What families see | Typical age during the year |
|---|---|---|
| First year of school | Prep | 5 to 6 |
| Primary school | Years 1 to 6 | 6 to 12 |
| Secondary school | Years 7 to 10 | 12 to 16 |
| Senior secondary | Years 11 to 12 | 16 to 18 |
Queensland families usually have less terminology confusion than Victorian or NSW families because Prep is the everyday term as well as the term used on most official material.
What the 30 June rule means in practice
Queensland sits between Victoria's earlier cut-off and NSW's later one.
- A child who turns five in May or June may still be eligible for Prep that year in Queensland.
- That same child may need to wait in Victoria.
- A child who turns five in July will usually wait until the following year in Queensland.
This is why Queensland often becomes the state parents compare against when they are moving north or leaving the state.
Early and delayed entry in Queensland
Queensland is one of the states where parents regularly ask about flexibility. The official guidance makes two things clear:
- Early entry is possible only in specific circumstances and with school-level approval.
- Delayed entry can also be appropriate when a family believes the child is not ready to start school.
That does not mean every close-to-cut-off child should be accelerated or delayed. It means Queensland expects families to take the decision seriously and keep the child's best interests at the centre.
If that sounds like your situation, combine this guide with School Readiness Comprehensive Guide.
How Queensland compares with other states
Queensland lines up closely with Western Australia on the 30 June cut-off, but the first-year naming is different:
- Queensland: Prep
- Western Australia: Pre-primary
If you are comparing a move or weighing interstate options, the best companion reads are Western Australia School Year Levels Guide and Victoria School Year Levels Guide.
Moving into or out of Queensland
Parents moving into Queensland should ask two questions before enrolment:
- Is my child eligible for Prep or Year 1 under Queensland rules?
- Has my child already completed the equivalent of Prep elsewhere?
That second question matters because Queensland expects children to complete Prep before Year 1, with only limited exceptions. Use Moving Schools Between States if you need the transfer checklist as well.
Ready to shortlist schools?
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Once Prep timing is clear, use the School Finder to compare Queensland schools near you.
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Questions to ask a Queensland school
- How do you support children entering Prep close to the 30 June cut-off?
- What orientation sessions run before Term 1?
- How do you handle a family that has moved from another state where the structure is different?
- If we are considering delayed entry, what support information should we gather first?
Once you know where your child sits relative to the 30 June rule, the Queensland school search becomes much clearer.
