Completing Year 10 equivalent at TAFE
Find out how young people registered for home schooling may undertake the equivalent of Year 10 at TAFE NSW. This page explains who can apply, the steps to follow, and how the approval process works.
Undertaking the equivalent of Year 10 at TAFE NSW
This pathway for completing Year 10 of secondary education comes under 21B(5)(b) of the Education Act 1990.
The information below is a summary of the relevant section of the Guidelines for Equivalent and Alternative Courses of Study (PDF 377.35KB). For full details please refer to Section 2 of the Guidelines.
Eligibility requirements
To be eligible:
- the young person must be currently registered for home schooling
- the young person must have completed Year 9 of secondary education
- the young person must be at least 15 years of age
- written evidence of the appropriateness of this pathway needs to be provided by the young person (Part A of application)
- written evidence of how the young person meets the criteria for this pathway needs to be provided by the parent or caregiver (Part B of application)
- written approval from a Department of Education Authorised Person acting in lieu of a school principal will be required
- final written approval from the TAFE Director or his/her nominee will be required.
What you need before you start
You will need:
- the application form for the equivalent of Year 10 of secondary education at TAFE NSW (Contact TAFE NSW for the application form)
- any other relevant documentation to support the application.
Steps to apply
Step 1
Contact the TAFE you wish to enrol in to discuss the available Certificate II and III courses for the Year 10 Equivalent pathway.
You will need to contact TAFE directly to discuss course availability.
Contact:
For general advice, contact the Department of Education Home Schooling directorate via homeschooling@det.nsw.edu.au or 02 9367 8149.
Step 2
Complete the TAFE application form titled 'Approval to undertake the equivalent of Year 10 of secondary education at TAFE NSW’.
- Application front page (please note that you do not complete the ‘School Principal’ or ‘Institute Director’ sections)
- Young person's name
- Date of birth
- Current school year level.
- Section A: Student section to be completed (handwritten) by the young person and parent or caregiver to sign the permission block.
- Young person's career goals
- Young person's strengths/challenges
- Reasons for wanting to complete the TAFE course.
- Section B: School section to be completed by the parent or caregiver who takes on the role of the school.
- Name of vocational Certificate II or III TAFE course
- Name of TAFE college/campus
- TAFE contact person details
- Evidence of young person’s ability to function in an adult learning environment
- Evidence of the young person's suitability to the particular TAFE course being suggested
- Evidence of young person's core language, literacy and numeracy skills
- Other evidence supporting the young person's application.
Step 3
Parent or caregiver to forward application form to the Department of Education Home Schooling directorate (Section C will be completed by TAFE).
Applications can be submitted by email to homeschooling@det.nsw.edu.au
Step 4
A Department of Education Authorised Person will contact the parent or caregiver to discuss the application.
Information needed:
- Front cover and Sections A and B of application.
Step 5
If approved, the Authorised Person will sign in lieu of a school principal and forward completed application form to TAFE.
Information needed:
- Completed application form (except for 'Section C: TAFE NSW section')
- Front page signed by Authorised Person.
Contact:
- Department of Education Authorised Person.
Step 6
TAFE Director or their nominee makes final decision on application and notifies the Authorised Person of the outcome.
Information needed:
- 'Section C: TAFE NSW section' of application form.
Step 7
TAFE will inform the parent or caregiver of the final decision on the application.