Enrolling your child in secondary school
Secondary School Transition Information
Most secondary schools have recently conducted information sessions regarding enrolment for 2026 in both the government and independant sectors. The following supports explain the enrolment process and if you have any questions please touch base with your child's teacher or the administration team:
Moving from primary to secondary school is an important step in a child’s education. In Victoria, students normally start secondary school when they reach Year 7.
Steps to enrol your child in secondary school
Moving from a government primary school to a government secondary school
If your child is seeking a place in Year 7 at a secondary school next year, you will need to:
- Download the Parent Information Pack . The pack includes the application form. Surfside PS will provide you with a copy of the application form.
- use Find my School to locate your local secondary school or preferred school, and read about School zones and Enrolling in school.
- complete the application form and return it to your child's primary school by Friday 9 May 2025.
Year 7 placement is decided by secondary schools using the Department’s Placement Policy. However, all communication about your child's placement must be with Surfside Primary School until the placement is confirmed.
You will receive notification of your child's Year 7 placement offer on Tuesday 1 July 2025.
All government secondary schools will host a Year 7 Orientation Day (for Year 6 students) on Tuesday 9 December 2025.
Moving to a non-government secondary school or registering for home schooling
Contact the secondary school to find out their enrolment process.
Visit Catholic Education Commission of Victoria(opens in a new window) and Independent Schools Victoria(opens in a new window) to find Catholic and independent schools.
Once your child is enrolled
Read our tips for starting secondary school to learn how you can support your child through the move.
Additional supporting materials
A factsheet summarising the Year 7 placement process is available to complement the Year 6 to 7 Placement Information Pack for Parents and Carers.
The factsheet includes key dates in the 2026 enrolment process and Frequently Asked Questions.
Appealing a Year 7 enrolment
If a school decides not to accept your enrolment, you can appeal. This situation can happen if you request to enrol at a school outside of your school zone, and the school does not have enough places.
You can lodge a written appeal to the school. The timeline for appeals to the school is detailed in the 'Year 6 to 7 Placement Information Pack for Parents and Carers'.
Appeals are considered by the school's placement committee and/or principal. They will check the priority order of placement(opens in a new window) and confirm your address. They will also consider appeals on compassionate grounds on a case-by-case basis.
If your appeal to the school is unsuccessful and you're not satisfied with the outcome, you can escalate the appeal to your local regional office. The timeline for appeals to the regional office is detailed in the 'Year 6 to 7 Placement Information Pack for Parents and Carers'.
Appeals to the regional office are considered by a panel of senior department staff.