Glossary · Australia
Homeschool glossary
The words you'll meet when you start homeschooling in Australia, explained in plain English, with links to our full guides.
- Australian Curriculum
- The national curriculum developed by ACARA, describing what students learn from Foundation to Year 10. Home educators can use it as a reference. Learn more →
- Charlotte Mason
- An approach based on the ideas of the 19th-century British educator Charlotte Mason: short lessons, "living books", narration, nature study and the arts. Learn more →
- Classical education
- An approach built around three stages — grammar, logic and rhetoric — with a strong emphasis on history, literature and writing. Learn more →
- Co-op
- A group of homeschooling families who share teaching, classes, activities or costs, often meeting weekly. Learn more →
- Deschooling
- A settling-in period after leaving school, when families slow down and let a child adjust before starting structured learning at home.
- Eclectic homeschooling
- Mixing methods and resources — for example a structured maths program with interest-led projects — to suit each child. Learn more →
- Foundation
- The first year of school in the Australian Curriculum, called Kindergarten, Prep, Pre-primary, Reception or Transition depending on the state or territory. Learn more →
- Home education registration
- The process, run separately by each state and territory, through which parents are authorised to educate a child of compulsory school age at home. Learn more →
- Learning plan
- A written outline of what a child will learn and how, which several states and territories ask for when you register or renew. Learn more →
- Montessori
- A child-led, hands-on approach based on the work of Maria Montessori, most often used in the early and primary years. Learn more →
- Portfolio
- A collection of dated work samples, photos and notes that shows a child's learning and progress over time. Learn more →
- Senior secondary certificate
- A state or territory certificate such as the HSC, VCE or QCE, generally earned through enrolment with a school or registered provider rather than home education alone. Learn more →
- STAT
- The Special Tertiary Admissions Test, used by some universities to assess applicants without a standard Year 12 result. Learn more →
- Unit study
- Teaching several subjects through one theme, such as the ocean or a historical period; popular with families teaching several ages together. Learn more →
- Unschooling
- Interest-led learning that follows the child's curiosity and everyday life rather than a set curriculum. Learn more →
- Working with Children Check
- A screening check for people who work or volunteer with children; each state and territory runs its own scheme and name for it. Learn more →