Part-time students
What is a part-time student?
A part-time student satisfies the student definition but undertakes a workload less than what a full-time student (as determined by the school) would usually undertake for that year. A part-time student has an FTE of less than 1.0.
You can include a part-time student if they:
- are formally enrolled at the school; and
- are acknowledged by the school as having attended the school for at least the Minimum Period Part-time ('MPP')* of the program or course of study for which the student is enrolled during the relevant period. Remember that the relevant period is the number of days between the first day of the school year and Census Day.
You can also confirm that a part-time student has attended the school if:
- they attended the school for less than the MPP because they were absent from the school; and
- their absence was for a reason that was beyond the control of the student’s parent or guardian, or the student (if they are 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 part-time student must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or person with appropriate resident status.
In each case where a student has attended the school for less than the MPP and you have included them in the Census form, you must have documented evidence confirming the reasons preventing the student from attending the school during this period. List any students who have not met minimum attendance requirements in the section of the Census form called Part-time students who did not attend the school during the relevant period for at least the Minimum Period Part-time (MPP) of the program or course of study in which they are enrolled.
Students to exclude
- students who are not formally enrolled at the school
- part-time students who have attended for less than the MPP from the first day of the school year up to Census Day and the absence was beyond the control of the student’s parent or guardian, or the student (if living independently)
- part-time distance education students
- full-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
- students who have left the school. Schools must keep verifiable information on the date the student exited the school, that is, the student’s last day of attendance.
Further information is available in Appendix 2.
>> Completing the part-time students page
Last updated 31 January, 2025