You must be 12 years old or older to enrol.

In Australia, similar to the UK, there are co-educational and segregated schools (girls’ schools and boys’ schools). In boarding schools (boarding schools), as opposed to the same in England, live mostly foreign students, Australians prefer that their children live at home. For this reason almost all schools in Australia combine boarding with day school. There are also purely day schools, where students only live with their families, but they are few.
The recommended schools for tuition are

Coed day school St Paul’s School, Brisbane

St. Paul’s School, Brisbane St Paul’s is a long established day school. The motto of the school is “Fide et Literis”, Latin for “By Faith and Learning”. Founded in 1961, it is situated on the northern edge of Brisbane, 30 minutes by train from the city center. There are currently 1,500 students enrolled at the school. St. Paul’s offers a full academic programme for both juniors (5-12 years) and seniors (13-18 years).

The International Center, which is located on the St. Paul’s campus, offers a preparatory program for entering high school (ELICOS). The primary focus of the program is to develop English language skills necessary for academic purposes. St Paul’s also offers vacation programs and educational trips for individuals and groups to Brisbane (Australia’s most vibrant and dynamic city) and the surrounding coastal regions.

The school has worked with international students for over 40 years and has built an excellent reputation in the area. It offers students a wonderful learning environment in one of the most picturesque corners of the world, with friendly and hospitable people.

Coed day school The Pittwater House Schools, Sydney

Pittwater House School is a co-educational secondary school for boys and girls founded in 1962. The school is a 35-minute drive from the center of the northern part of Sydney, in Northern Beaches, a picturesque area with a healthy microclimate. All of the school’s departments (Preparatory School, Pittwater House Girls’ College and Pittwater House Grammar School) are located on the same campus, allowing you to take advantage of the benefits of separate instruction.

The small class sizes ensure that each student is treated individually and create an atmosphere that is conducive to the best possible absorption of the material they have learned. There are presently 800 students in the school.

The school is open to international students and gives them the opportunity to receive a high school education in Australia that meets international standards. Boys and girls from Europe, South Africa, Brazil and a number of Asian countries study here.

The school has good working links with the University of New South Wales, one of Australia’s best and most prestigious institutions of higher learning, and offers preparatory courses that provide students with direct entry to relevant departments and accelerated completion of the BA degree.

The school has classrooms equipped for applied science studies, modern science laboratories, libraries, art, music and computer rooms. Students stay with Australian host families in private rooms. Meals are half board Monday to Friday, full board Saturday and Sunday or full board during the week (family provides packed lunches).

The school has a swimming pool, basketball and rugby courts, and tennis courts. Pittwater House Schools has its own sports camps in the vicinity of Cairns and Brisbane, where students have the opportunity to spend school vacations.

The school offers unlimited recreational opportunities for students. The activities plan is designed for the future and includes exciting trips, visits to local attractions and unique natural parks.

John Paul International College co-ed day school, Logan

John Paul International College is a relatively new school, established in 1982, and is one of Australia’s most recognized modern co-educational schools. At present 2,500 students study here; it is the biggest school in the state of Queensland. The Australian newspaper named it one of the 10 best schools in the country in 2002-2003.

The school is a 20-minute drive south of Brisbane and covers 30 acres. There’s a main school building with modern classrooms, science labs, computer lab, art studio and a gymnasium. Students may play different sports: cricket, basketball, golf, field-hockey, netball, rugby, American soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball, and swimming.

The school offers a full set of compulsory subjects in accordance with the state educational program. After lessons the students may attend different groups to develop their creative abilities: drawing, painting, drama, dancing, and ballet class. There are several musical groups at the school: singing, string orchestra, instrumental orchestra, teaching playing various musical instruments, and there is also a special program for gifted musicians and athletes.

This school supports family values and beliefs, and to that end the staff strives to provide communication with parents and mentors, taking into consideration every aspect of the student’s education and life. All of the school’s teachers are highly qualified and committed to improving their professionalism.

The school is notable for its strict discipline, high level of teaching, its inner philosophy, special approach and attention to every student’s personality, and individual learning. Modern technologies are widely used in the educational process, each student has a personal notebook.

At the initial stage pupils are always taught in English as a foreign language. 75% of our graduates go on to higher education, and 98% of our graduates continue their studies or find a job just three months after graduation.

Prince Alfred College Day & Boarding School for Boys, Adelaide

The College is located on spacious grounds close to Adelaide’s city center, near to the city’s parks. Adelaide is the political, economic and cultural capital of South Australia. It is a cosmopolitan city with a population of about 1 million people. It is known for its high standard of living, clean air and mild climate. Adelaide is a very safe, quiet and easily accessible place with an excellent public transport system. The city center is surrounded on all sides by parks and gardens. To the west, Adelaide is surrounded by sandy beaches, perfect for swimming. Adelaide has three internationally recognized universities and is an important research center.

Prince Alfred College, one of Australia’s finest institutions for boys, was founded in 1869. Today it has almost 1000 boys aged from 4 to 18 years. The college is famous for achievements in various subjects, athletic achievements, success in music, chess, development of artistic skills and education in Christian traditions, and also for great care and attention to students. Great attention is paid to the development of creative thinking and stimulation of research activities.

For the last two years the college has offered two programs to prepare students for entry into colleges and universities, including the International Baccalaureate program. Prince Alfred College is an institution authorized to award International Baccalaureate Diplomas. The IB Diploma is highly regarded in universities in Australia and around the world and enables you to enter the world’s most prestigious universities.

High school students take: English language and English literature; a second language (French, Chinese or Spanish); one of the humanities (economics, geography, history or information technology); one of the experimental sciences (biology, chemistry or physics); mathematics (variable length of electives); drama, music, visual arts, or other subjects.

College graduates also receive the South Australian Certificate of Secondary Education (SACE). This credential opens doors to careers, further study, and employment opportunities. Prince Alfred College has strong links with Flinders University of South Australia in Adelaide. The college therefore offers a special study pathway programme to help you gain entry to this university. The Study Path Program gives students from other countries a good start for a career in business or information technology.

Prince Alfred College offers its students the most modern and home-like boarding school in Australia. The building is located on spacious grounds and accommodates 107 boys, 20% of whom are international students. The boys live in rooms designed for one or two students. They have excellent kitchens at their disposal and a wide range of meals are on offer in the canteen.

The college has an excellent sports tradition, and sports are an integral part of the school curriculum. Children of all ages participate in sports. Among the main sports in summer are cricket, tennis, rowing, badminton, water sports; during the rest of the year – basketball, Australian soccer, field hockey, soccer, chess.

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Schooling in America promotes self-discipline, responsibility, independent thinking, and leadership. Teachers help students develop analytical skills, teach them to make decisions for themselves, defend their views, and apply their knowledge to real life. The spirit of freedom is one of the great hallmarks of American schools.

In an American school children study for 12 years – from 5-6 to 17-18. The enrollment age for international students is determined by each school. In some cases, children are accepted from age 7, but few parents are willing to send a child abroad at that age. Therefore, as a rule, children of middle (13-14 years) or high (16 years) school age arrive.

Structure of secondary education in the United States

School year:

1st Tuesday in September through June 24.

Workload:

5 days a week, 6-8 hours with a lunch break

Vacation:

• 4 days in November for Thanksgiving
• December 24th to January 3rd for Christmas
• 3rd week of February
• 1st week of April
• 2 months in summer

The American school system has three main levels. Each level is a completely separate institution housed in a separate building. Children study compulsory subjects in the elementary grades, but secondary school students add a few electives. In high school, kids can choose the disciplines they need when applying to university. There is no classroom instructor in America, just as there is no class, but each student is assigned a faculty advisor who advises students on classes, schedules, career guidance, and placement in universities.

Elementary School

Years 5-11 (grades 0-5)

Elementary schools are divided into 5 or 6 grades, depending on the state. Pre-Kindergarten (kindergarten) is for children 5 years old. Students from other countries may enroll in elementary school if the child lives in the United States with a parent or guardian.

In the first two years of American elementary school, there is no strict discipline or academic rigor: children can walk around the classroom, sit on the floor, read colorful books, and talk in a circle on the floor. Tasks are offered in a free form. For example, after a walk, toddlers are asked to draw what they saw green; older children can write a mini essay about a bug that crawled up a tree in the schoolyard. By fifth grade, children are moved to single-seat desks, and lessons become more structured.

In elementary school, one teacher teaches the core academic subjects – writing, reading, basic math, and the world around us – while other teachers pick up the kids for creative, music, and sports lessons.

Middle School

11-14 years old (Grades 6-8)

In America, middle school students have their own teachers for each subject, and students have some freedom in choosing which subjects to study.

The core subjects are math, English, science (physics, chemistry, biology, geology, astronomy – science), history, physical education, and creative arts. Students choose one or two subjects of their choice. Most often these are computer technology, cooking, a foreign language or art.

Also in middle school there is an opportunity to choose a more challenging subject program. To do this, you need to get an excellent grade in it in the previous year. From the 7th grade you can take an advanced level of mathematics and English. In the 8th grade – also natural and social sciences. The advanced classes have a more intensive program with challenging assignments and more information for independent study.

In addition, a system of credits is introduced in high school. For the study of 1 subject for 1 year is given 5 credits, and for the disciplines that last for 1 semester – 2.5 credits. These credits count toward a university entrance requirement.

High School

14-18 years old (grades 9-12)

In high school, students are given greater freedom to choose subjects and levels of study.

Compulsory units:

• 2 years of math;
• 4 years of English;
• 2 years of science (with laboratory work);
• 3 years of social studies;
• 1 year of physical education;
• 1 year of art course.

Each discipline includes a number of sub-disciplines that a student can take individually or as a whole: for example, mathematics includes courses in geometry, algebra, trigonometry, the beginnings of analysis, statistics, and other sections; the social sciences group includes U.S. history, world history, political science, psychology, sociology, etc.

The kids also choose elective classes:

• music;
• foreign languages;
• Basics of Healthy Lifestyle;
• business fundamentals;
• Public speaking, and others.

In high school students take the SAT or ACT, tests that test general knowledge in math, language, logic, and critical thinking.

Advanced Placement (AP)

Beginning in 9th grade some subjects may be studied in more depth at the AP level. More often than not, students choose courses they wish to major in at university.

There are 38 subjects taught at the AP level in the United States. Among them are:

• art history;
• macroeconomics;
• Microeconomics;
• psychology;
• music theory;
• Latin;
• programming;
• Eastern and European cultures.

AP scores give you an advantage for admission to 90% of universities in the USA, Canada, and more than 50 other countries. However, to qualify, scores on exams in selected AP subjects must be higher than 3.5 out of 5.

In 2014, there is a new program with an emphasis on research, AP Capstone. It consists of two courses: seminars (AP Seminar) and research (AP Research).

The most prestigious universities do not consider certificates with a grade point average below 4.25, and that grade cannot be obtained without AP Advanced Placement courses.

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