Full-time students
What is a full-time student
A full-time student is a person who satisfies the student definition and undertakes a workload equivalent to, or greater than, that usually undertaken by a student of that year. This definition relates to workload and not to enrolment. A full-time student has a Full Time Equivalent (FTE) of 1.0.
A full-time student can be included if the student:
- is formally enrolled at the school; and
- is acknowledged by the school as having attended the school for at least 11 days of the program or course of study for which the student is enrolled between the first day of the school year and Census Day (the 'relevant period' ['RP']).
A full-time student is also taken to have attended the school during the RP if:
- the student attended the school for less than 11 days because of the student's absence from the school; and
- the student's absence was for a reason that was beyond the control of the student's parent or guardian, or the student (if living independently).
Enrolment and attendance records, and all associated documentation used in determining eligibility for students to be counted on the Census form, must be retained by the school/governing body for a period of five years from Census Day, and in a way that ensures the integrity and security of the data and documents.
A full-time student must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or person with appropriate resident status.
Where a full-time student has attended the school for less than 11 days and been included in the Census form, there must be documented evidence confirming the reasons preventing the student from attending the school during this period. All students who have not met minimum attendance requirements and are included in the Census, are to be listed in the Full-time students who did not attend the school during the relevant period for the school for at least 11 days of the program or course of study for which the students are enrolled section of the Census form.
Full-time students on individual learning plans
One of the ways schools may cater for individual students' needs is by implementing a more flexible approach through an individual learning plan with the goal to improve the educational outcomes for the student. This could mean that a particular student may not be required to attend the school on certain days. The student may, for example, participate in other timetabled activities away from the school, if the school sees these activities as contributing to the social and/or emotional welfare of the student and/or the student's engagement with education. It is up to the school to demonstrate the educational reason(s) for the approach and that the student is undertaking a full-time workload modified according to the student's needs.
The school must ensure that the student's individual learning plan is fulfilling all curriculum, assessment and reporting requirements as per the school’s written educational program. This program must comply with section 9 of the Education (Accreditation of Non-State Schools) Regulation 2017.
The school must have appropriate documentation about the arrangement in place for the day(s) a student is away from the school. The documentation may include, but is not limited to:
- how the plan will improve the educational outcomes for the student / educational reason(s)
- the place where the student is learning
- what days the student is away from the school
- the school’s expectations of the student’s activities for the day
- how the school assures itself that the student is fulfilling expectations
- contact made by the school with the student on the day
Documentation substantiating these arrangements must be kept for a period of five years from Census Day in a way that ensures the integrity and security of the data and documents.
Refer to Appendix 2 for further guidance on attendance.
Schools need to ensure they are not providing a part-time distance education program to students learning away from school, except where a student is undertaking one or more subjects at a non-State school accredited for Distance Education or a state School of Distance Education and a fee is generally paid to the School of Distance Education for the service (refer to Appendix 1 for further guidance on what constitutes distance education).
Dual or split enrolment may apply to a student enrolled at multiple schools in Queensland. Students should be recorded as part-time students at each school according to their FTE at the school with the expectation that total attendance would not be more than one FTE.
Students accessing one or more subjects at a School of Distance Education
Students who are enrolled full-time in a non-State school can undertake one or more subjects at a non-State school accredited for Distance Education or a state School of Distance Education if:
- the subject is not offered by the non-State school; or
- the subject is offered by the non-State school, but the student is unable to access it due to a timetable clash or other special circumstance.
The non-State school generally pays the fee for the provision of distance education to the School of Distance Education and provides computer, internet and telephone access at school for the school based studies.
Secondary students undertaking TAFE / tertiary studies or school–based apprenticeship or traineeship
In addition to school subjects that are accredited by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) as contributing to a Year 12 (or equivalent) certificate, students undertaking any of the following should be included as full‑time students:
- TAFE;
- tertiary studies;
- school-based apprenticeships or traineeships;
- work placements;
- VET in schools or a combination of such alternative pathways; and/or
- any combination of the above.
Students to be excluded
- students who are not formally enrolled at the school;
- full-time students who have attended less than 11 days from the first day of the school year up to Census Day. Students may be included, however, if the absence was beyond the control of the student's parent or guardian, or student (if living independently);
- part-time students;
- students who are registered, or provisionally registered, in Queensland for home education;
- children who are prohibited from engaging in studies as a condition of a visa;
- overseas students (refer to Overseas students in these Instructions);
- students on visitor visas, bridging visas with study limitations or no visa (refer to Students on visitor visas, bridging visas with study limitations or no visa in these Instructions);
- underage Prep Year students, unless the student is enrolled under the provisions outlined in section 17 of the Education (General Provisions) Regulation 2017;
- students who attended the school for specialist or sporting activities, but are not formally enrolled at the school; and
- students who have left the school (for example, have ceased education or changed schools). Schools must keep verifiable information on the date the student exited the school, that is, the student’s last day of attendance.
>> Completing the full-time students page
Last updated 13 January, 2023