Mini vic.gov.au

This is a low bandwidth version of vic.gov.au. Contents may not be up to date. © Copyright State Government of Victoria

Repeating a year level

Repeating a year may be the best option for your child, but only in exceptional circumstances.

On this page

Progressing to the next year level of school

Repeating a school year is sometimes thought of as a way for children or young people who are not performing as well as their peers to catch up or mature over an extra 12 months.

However, research and evidence show that, in most cases, repeating a year usually does not benefit children, and is not an effective intervention for them to catch up in their education. A child or young person who repeats a year is more likely to:

Supporting students to progress

Instead of recommending students repeat a year level, schools use teaching strategies that draw on the best evidence available to help students close any learning gaps and meet their learning needs.

In Term 4, schools will make sure that they identify student levels of attainment, assessing whether they have made greater than expected progress, the expected amount of progress, or have fallen behind.

For students who need to catch up, our school program is designed to support them both in Term 4 and in the following year.

If you have concerns about your child’s progress at school, you should contact your child’s teacher or school principal to discuss how the school will support your child to be ready to progress to the next year level.

Our policy for repeating a year level

The Department of Education and Training’s policy on repeating a year says that:

For more information, read the repeating a year level policy(opens in a new window)

Principals make the final decision about progression or repeating a year level. Where the principal determines that repeating a year level is required for the long-term benefit of the student, the principal will ask for you to consent to your child repeating the year level.

Complaints from parents, carers and guardians

If you have requested for your child to repeat a year level and are not satisfied with the principal’s reasoning, the evidence they have provided or their decision, you can lodge a complaint following your school’s complaints policy.

Download this information in different languages

‘Repeating a year level’ information is available to download in different languages.

Download this information in Easy English

‘Repeating a year level’ information is available to download in an Easy English format.

Education & trainingParents & carers

Updated 26 March 2026

About the VIC Government

Grants and programs

Jobs and careers

Arts, culture and heritage

Business and the workplace

Communities

Education and training

Environment, water and energy

Finance and economy

Health and social support

Housing and property

Law and justice

Safety and emergencies

Science and technology

Sport and recreation

Traffic and transport

Working in the Victorian Government