Equivalent and alternative courses of study and home schooling

Important information

The advice and information on this page applies ONLY to parents of children who are currently registered for home schooling in NSW.

Parents of children who are enrolled in a school should contact TAFE NSW (phone 131 601), their school principal or careers advisor. Parents of children who are not registered for home schooling and not enrolled in a school, please contact the principal at the local or most recent school attended to discuss available options to support your child. 

Education pathways and home schooling 

The most appropriate pathway for the majority of students is to remain at school to complete Year 10. However, a very small number of students experience exceptional circumstances that require them to access other options. Students registered for home schooling wanting to complete an equivalent or alternative course of study should refer to the relevant section of the Department of Education's  Guidelines for Equivalent and Alternative Courses of Study. The Guidelines describe how various provisions in the Education Act 1990 (NSW) (the Act) relate to courses of study for a child of compulsory school age. They contain the responsibilities and functions of the Home Schooling Directorate (HSD) in regard to equivalent and alternative courses of study. These responsibilities were delegated in response to amendments to the Act relating to the raising of the school leaving age.