New South Wales · government schools · checked 22 October 2026
Kindergarten 2028 and Year 7 2028 in NSW
NSW public schools guarantee a place to children who live in the school's local enrolment area. Kindergarten enrolments are taken by each school; the Year 7 expression of interest is generally done in March of Year 6. Below are the official rules and what they mean for 2028.
Jump to: Kindergarten 2028 · Year 7 2028 · check your zone · out of zone
Kindergarten 2028
Enrol with your local public school during 2027. Each school sets its own dates for enrolment and orientation.
Who starts in 2028. Children who turn 5 on or before 31 July 2028 can start Kindergarten at the beginning of 2028. By law, every child must be enrolled in school by their 6th birthday. [1]
How Kindergarten enrolment works
- The year before Find your local public school with School Finder and apply online or at the school. [2]
- When you apply Bring your child's birth certificate or identity documents, an immunisation history statement and any relevant court orders. [1]
NSW does not publish one statewide Kindergarten application date. Ask your local school when it takes Kindergarten 2028 enrolments and runs orientation. The official 2028 dates were not published when we checked on 22 October 2026; check the department site before you rely on any date.
Year 7 2028
Fill in the expression of interest through your child's primary school, generally in March of Year 6 (March 2027 for Year 7 2028).
Who starts in 2028. Children in Year 6 in 2027 start Year 7 in 2028. [3]
How the Year 6 to 7 move works
- Generally March, the year before Complete the expression of interest online through the "moving to high school" section of your child's primary school. Say whether you want the local school or another placement. [3]
- Same form You can list up to 3 schools in order of preference. Placements outside your local school can have extra requirements. [3]
- Not at a NSW public primary school? Submit the expression of interest directly to the high school you want. [3]
- Selective schools A separate application, usually made at the end of Year 5 or start of Year 6, and a placement test sat in Year 6. [4]
The Department publishes the selective school key dates for each intake on its selective high schools site. Check there for the Year 7 2028 dates. The official 2028 dates were not published when we checked on 22 October 2026; check the department site before you rely on any date.
Check your zone: which Kindergarten and Year 7 school is your address zoned to?
Type a street address in Victoria, NSW or Queensland. We show the government primary and secondary school zones it is in, from the official zone maps.
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Confirm with NSW School Finder or the school before you enrol.
What if you are out of zone?
Checklist
- Check which local enrolment area your address is in.
- Collect a birth certificate, immunisation history statement and proof of address.
- Ask your local school when it takes enrolments for 2028.
- For Year 7, watch for the expression of interest from the primary school early in Year 6.
- For a selective school, check the key dates on the Department's selective high schools site.
School zones by council in New South Wales
The suburbs each government zone covers, with house prices and rents.
- Albury
- Armidale
- Ballina
- Balranald
- Bathurst
- Bayside
- Bega Valley
- Bellingen
- Berrigan
- Blacktown
- Bland
- Blayney
- Blue Mountains
- Bogan
- Bourke
- Brewarrina
- Broken Hill
- Burwood
- Byron
- Cabonne
- Camden
- Campbelltown
- Canada Bay
- Canterbury-Bankstown
- Carrathool
- Central Coast
- Central Darling
- Cessnock
- Clarence Valley
- Cobar
- Coffs Harbour
- Coolamon
- Coonamble
- Cootamundra-Gundagai
- Cowra
- Cumberland
- Dubbo
- Dungog
- Edward River
- Eurobodalla
- Fairfield
- Federation
- Forbes
- Georges River
- Gilgandra
- Glen Innes Severn
- Goulburn Mulwaree
- Greater Hume
- Griffith
- Gunnedah
- Gwydir
- Hawkesbury
- Hay
- Hilltops
- Hornsby
- Hunters Hill
- Inner West
- Inverell
- Junee
- Kempsey
- Kiama
- Ku-ring-gai
- Kyogle
- Lachlan
- Lake Macquarie
- Lane Cove
- Leeton
- Lismore
- Lithgow
- Liverpool
- Liverpool Plains
- Lockhart
- Maitland
- Mid-Coast
- Mid-Western
- Moree Plains
- Mosman
- Murray River
- Murrumbidgee
- Muswellbrook
- Nambucca Valley
- Narrabri
- Narrandera
- Narromine
- Newcastle
- North Sydney
- Northern Beaches
- Oberon
- Orange
- Parkes
- Parramatta
- Penrith
- Port Macquarie-Hastings
- Port Stephens
- Queanbeyan-Palerang
- Randwick
- Richmond Valley
- Ryde
- Shellharbour
- Shoalhaven
- Singleton
- Snowy Monaro
- Snowy Valleys
- Strathfield
- Sutherland
- Sydney
- Tamworth
- Temora
- Tenterfield
- The Hills
- Tweed
- Upper Hunter
- Upper Lachlan
- Uralla
- Wagga Wagga
- Walcha
- Walgett
- Warren
- Warrumbungle
- Waverley
- Weddin
- Wentworth
- Willoughby
- Wingecarribee
- Wollondilly
- Wollongong
- Woollahra
- Yass Valley
Can my child start Kindergarten in 2028?
Yes, if they turn 5 on or before 31 July 2028. Every child must be enrolled in school by their 6th birthday.
When is the Year 7 2028 expression of interest in NSW?
The NSW Government says it is generally done in March the year before your child starts high school, so March 2027 for Year 7 2028. Your child's primary school sends the details (checked 22 October 2026).
What if I live outside the local area?
A school can take non-local students when it has places. If local demand fills the school, it cannot.
Sources
- NSW Government, Starting primary school in NSW
- NSW Department of Education, Enrolment
- NSW Government, Enrol your child in high school
- NSW Department of Education, Selective high schools (Year 7)
Read on 22 October 2026. Rules and dates are set by the department and can change; check the department site and your school before you rely on them. Independent and Catholic schools run their own enrolment, often earlier.
Other states: Victoria · Queensland · school zone finder