The demographics of the school-age population

An appreciation of contemporary demography and impending shifts within it are needed for the efficient and equitable allocation of the limited resources available for education in Australia. The school-age population of Australia is increasing at substantially lower rates than the population as a whole. The paper examines recent trends in population growth in Australia from the perspective of their effects on the school-age population. Projected trends in population growth and age structure over the next two decades indicate that the school-age population at most will be stable and probably will decline. Shifts in levels of participation in the later years of secondary schooling are also examined. The paper then examines how the composition of the school-age population is changing and notes increasing levels of diversity and inequality. Finally some observations are made on policy influences on the future school-age population of Australia.