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If your child is in year 6 this year, you'll need to register your interest for them to attend a secondary school next year.
Registering your child into secondary school happens in 2 stages:
- register your interest – starts in May
- get an enrolment offer from your allocated secondary school – starts in August.
Download the starting secondary school brochure (PDF 3 MB) for things to consider before you decide which secondary school your child will attend.
Register interest to start secondary school
If your child is in year 6 at a South Australian government primary school, follow these steps to register interest at a government secondary school.
Decide which secondary school/s you want to register for
There will be a place available for your child at their local secondary school. It’s a good idea to visit your local (zoned) schools before you decide. You could go to an open day, principal’s tour or information evening. Contact the school for more details.
Families living in metropolitan Adelaide can check which is their local school.
Check your contact details with your current school before term 2
Make sure your child’s primary school has your current email address and your child’s primary home address.
If you need to update your details, contact your primary school. You'll need to give proof of residence documents to the school if your home address has changed.
Receive your unique link in late April
If your child is enrolled at a government primary school, you'll get a unique link by email or letter from your school. The link is sent to the person who has legal responsibility for the child.
Use that link to access your registration of interest form and nominate the public secondary school you want your child to attend next year. You can nominate up to 3 schools.
You can only fill in the form once.
Submit your registration form in May
Complete and submit the registration of interest form by Friday 22 May 2026.
If you can't use the internet, ask your school for help, or for a paper form.
Receive your enrolment offer in August
You'll get an enrolment offer from your allocated secondary school between 5 and 7 August 2026.
Complete the enrolment form to start secondary school shows how to accept your enrolment offer.
Starting secondary school brochure
Download the starting secondary school brochure (PDF 3 MB) for more information.
Download the starting secondary school brochure for more information about:
- things to consider before you decide
- Reception to year 12 schools
- outer metropolitan and country schools
- separated parents arrangements
- common questions
- timelines for the registration of interest and enrolment process
- how offers are allocated.
Contact your local school if you want a paper copy.
Process for students at non-government primary schools to register interest
If your child is in year 6 in 2026 at a non-government government primary school, and you want to apply for a government secondary school to start in 2027, this is what you need to do.
Choose which secondary school to register your interest with
It’s a good idea to visit your local (zoned) schools before you decide. You could go to an open day, principal’s tour or information evening.
Families living in metropolitan Adelaide can check which school they are zoned to.
If your zoned secondary school is your preferred choice, select yes in section 3 on your registration of interest form.
Complete a registration of interest
2027 registrations of interest are now closed.
If you have any questions about the statewide transition process or about your application, email the Statewide Transition team education.startingsecondaryschool@sa.gov.au or phone (08) 8226 3932 .
Provide proof of residence
As per the admission procedure (PDF 721 KB) , you must provide proof of residence.
If you own your home, you must provide both of these documents:
- a copy of the property’s contract of sale or recent council rates notice
- a recent gas or electricity bill for that property.
If you rent your home, you must provide all of the below:
- a rental agreement that covers the first 12 months at the school
- a bond receipt lodged with Consumer and Business Services showing the current place of residence
- a recent gas or electricity bill for that property.
Confirming enrolment to school, preschool or kindergarten has more details.
The information you give about your child must be true and factual. The school will ask for documentary evidence, or proof, before finalising the enrolment.
Wait for your offer of enrolment - August
Early in August you'll get an offer from the secondary school where your child has been allocated.
Complete the enrolment form to start secondary school shows how to accept your enrolment offer.
Email questions about registration of interest, enrolment, proof of residence or policy queries to education.startingsecondaryschool@sa.gov.au.
Instructions to help you fill in the form
For help on how to complete the registration of interest form, use our step-by-step guide (PDF 1 MB) .
Offers for enrolment
After the registration of interest process, you'll get an offer from the secondary school where your child has been allocated. This process starts in August.
Complete the enrolment form to start secondary school shows how to accept your enrolment offer.
How offers are allocated
Every effort is made to place students at schools in the preferred order of secondary schools from your registration of interest.
Where the student has nominated non-local schools, if the number of applications exceeds the places available at the school, students may be allocated to 1 of the other schools nominated or their zoned/local school.
If your allocated secondary school is not your first choice, the offer for enrolment will also include information about how to request a review of the decision.
