It varies from state to state, RF.

In NSW compulsory schooling ends at the end of year 10 (16 years old, usually). They sit an external exam and get their School Certificate. Maths, English, Science and something that I can never remember the name of that encompasses history, geography and "civics and citizenship" are compulsory. They are starting to include a compulsory computing part of it now, but I don't know much about it beyond the maths part of things. They have verious electives which must be studied for a certain number of hours as well.

Year 11 and 12 are not compulsory, English is the only compulsory subject, but there are rules about how many subjects you can have from two separate key learning areas. The final Higher School Certificate exams are geared towards university entrance (you get your HSC and a UAI, if you've done the right number of units in the right areas). It's possible to do various VET courses at this point, which link in with TAFE studies, but it's not an area I know a lot about. It's possible to get your HSC without getting a UAI (universities admissions index).

The problem is that a lot of apprenticeships are now requiring students to have completed their HSC, when there's really nothing that is gained by it except a lot of frustration. The entire system of the final two years is focussed towards university entrance, and while there are some changes, there's not enough! The outside world is starting to demand the HSC more and more often, when there's nothing really to be gained by doing it for many careers and trades.

Clear as mud?

BW