As term 4 gets underway, new Department for Education attendance data shows a third consecutive improvement in student attendance at public schools in 2025.

The data shows an attendance rate of 87.6% at the end of term 2, compared with 85.9% in term 2 2024 - a positive indication that wellbeing investments and more opportunities to study VET in schools to keep students engaged are having an impact.

These results come on top of South Australia’s attendance rate in 2024 being higher than the national average for the first time since COVID.

With term 4 being an important time for students of all ages, but particularly for SACE students, support and wellbeing continue to be a focus as our teachers work tirelessly to prepare their students for exams.

There are two stages of final exams this term with languages starting this week with Auslan on 16 October.

Japanese, Italian and French are the most popular languages this year, with 1145 students enrolled in a Stage 2 language subject in total – up 9% from the 1040 students who completed a SACE Stage 2 language subject in 2024.

Amid the excitement of the final term, road safety remains a focus with everyone urged to pay attention and do the right thing on the roads and footpaths.

Students using a scooter or bike to get to school always need to wear a helmet and obey the traffic signals, while motorists are reminded to pay attention and watch out for more students and pedestrians in school zones.

SA Police recommend that to avoid stress on the roads, drivers should make sure they:

• Allow extra time and leave home early.
• Be patient and don’t rush.
• Use an alternative drop off/pick up point nearby, if practicable.

As of term 3, department enrolment data shows there were 13,679 children enrolled in public preschools and 176,204 students enrolled in public schools around the state.

The final school term is nine weeks long, formally ending for public school students on Friday 12 December.

Read more about term dates for South Australian public schools.