WA School Age Calculator
Find out what year your child may start Kindergarten, Pre-primary, Year 1 and Year 7 in Western Australia based on their year of birth.
- WA Kindergarten is usually for children who are 4 years old by 30 June.
- Pre-primary is the first year of compulsory schooling in Western Australia.
- The calculator uses birth year only, so it shows possible outcomes by birthday range.
WA school age calculator
Choose your child’s birth year and select Western Australia to estimate Kindergarten, Pre-primary, Year 1 and Year 7.
What age does a child start school in Western Australia?
In Western Australia, children can usually start Kindergarten if they are 4 years old by 30 June. Pre-primary is the first year of compulsory schooling and applies when children are 5 years old by 30 June.
WA Kindergarten, Pre-primary, Year 1 and Year 7 guide
The table below gives a simple guide to the Western Australian school age pathway.
| Stage | WA name | General age rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before compulsory school | Kindergarten | Children can usually start Kindergarten if they are 4 years old by 30 June. | Kindergarten is an early learning year and is not the first compulsory year of school. |
| First compulsory school year | Pre-primary | Children usually start Pre-primary if they are 5 years old by 30 June. | Pre-primary is the first year of compulsory schooling in Western Australia. |
| Second compulsory school year | Year 1 | Usually the year after Pre-primary. | The calculator estimates this from the Pre-primary start year. |
| Secondary school transition | Year 7 | Year 7 is the first year of secondary schooling. | The calculator gives a guide to the likely Year 7 start year. |
Common WA school age questions
These are the questions parents often search when trying to work out when their child starts Kindergarten, Pre-primary, Year 1 or secondary school in Western Australia.
What year will my child start Kindergarten in WA?
Your child can usually start Kindergarten in Western Australia in the year they turn 4 by 30 June. If they turn 4 after 30 June, they usually start the following year.
What year will my child start Pre-primary in WA?
Your child usually starts Pre-primary in Western Australia in the year they turn 5 by 30 June. Pre-primary is the first compulsory school year.
What year will my child be in Year 1?
In Western Australia, Year 1 usually comes directly after Pre-primary. Once you know the Pre-primary year, the Year 1 estimate is usually the following year.
How WA’s 30 June cut-off affects school start years
Because Western Australia uses a 30 June cut-off for Kindergarten and Pre-primary, children born from January to June may have a different school start year from children born from July to December in the same birth year.
Born January to June
Children born from January to June usually meet the 30 June cut-off for Kindergarten and Pre-primary in the earlier eligible school year.
Born July to December
Children born from July to December usually miss the 30 June cut-off and start Kindergarten and Pre-primary the following year.
Why the calculator shows two options
Since the calculator only asks for birth year, it shows both possible birthday ranges instead of asking for a full date of birth.
Is WA Kindergarten the same as Pre-primary?
No. This is one of the biggest points of confusion for parents comparing WA with other Australian states.
Kindergarten in WA
Kindergarten is usually the year before Pre-primary. It is an early learning year and is not the first compulsory school year.
Pre-primary in WA
Pre-primary is the first compulsory year of schooling in Western Australia. It is usually the year before Year 1.
Year 1 in WA
Year 1 usually follows Pre-primary. The calculator estimates Year 1 based on the child’s likely Pre-primary start year.
WA school age calculator FAQs
Quick answers for Western Australian parents working out Kindergarten, Pre-primary, Year 1 and Year 7.
What age does Kindergarten start in WA?
Children can usually start Kindergarten in Western Australia if they are 4 years old by 30 June in that school year.
What age does Pre-primary start in WA?
Children usually start Pre-primary in Western Australia if they are 5 years old by 30 June. Pre-primary is the first year of compulsory schooling.
Is Kindergarten compulsory in Western Australia?
Kindergarten is not the first compulsory year of school in Western Australia. Pre-primary is the first year of compulsory schooling.
What happens if my child turns 5 after 30 June?
If your child turns 5 after 30 June, they usually start Pre-primary the following school year.
Is WA Pre-primary the same as Prep?
WA uses Pre-primary as the first compulsory year of school. Queensland uses Prep for a similar first formal school year. The names differ between states.
What year will my child be in Year 1 in WA?
Year 1 usually comes after Pre-primary. The calculator estimates Year 1 based on the child’s likely Pre-primary start year.
What year will my child start Year 7 in WA?
Year 7 is the first year of secondary schooling in Western Australia. The calculator estimates Year 7 from the likely Pre-primary start year.
Calculate your child’s WA school starting year
Use the calculator to estimate your child’s likely Kindergarten, Pre-primary, Year 1 and Year 7 years in Western Australia.
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