Year 7s to have special programs to ease into high school life

The daunting move to high school is happening a year earlier for thousands of SA students. Here’s how their landing will be eased.

Safe spaces will be created and mentoring systems set up for year 7s as that level enters the government school secondary system for the first time this year.

Trial intakes at three SA schools have provided insights on how to settle students into high schools.

“Families who participated in the review (of the trial) agreed their child was ready for high school, but identified some seemingly small challenges that became significant concerns,” a report from the three schools found.

“Navigating a larger school, understanding the timetable and managing expectations regarding homework and course content were early concerns that created anxiety and stress for many of the year 7 students.”

The three pilot schools – John Pirie Secondary, Mitcham Girls High and Wirreanda Secondary – recommended creating dedicated safe spaces reserved for younger children to provide “a level of reassurance for year 7 and 8 students feeling anxious about interacting with older students”.

To defuse the potential for bullying, the pilot schools established peer leadership and mentoring programs and used older students to help orientate year 7s.

“Mentorship will be a common feature among schools this year to welcome and support year 7s,” an Education Department spokesman said.

TIPS FOR PARENTS

• Each secondary school has its own mobile phone policy. In some schools, students use mobiles during lessons while in others mobiles are locked away during school time. Make sure your student knows their school’s rules.
• Stay engaged – pilot schools found parents were involved in the transition but then drifted off, particularly if working full-time. The Education Department is developing an online portal to give parents more connection to their child’s learning.
• There is no OSHC schools but many high schools allow access to the library after hours for study. Alternatively, some OSHC in primary settings will accept younger high school students.
• Encourage your child to take advantage of the greater choice of extra-curricular activities and sports.
• Know the basics – transport, school times, lunch/canteen arrangements, and so on.

Leaders at the pilot schools were surprised by how much younger students still enjoyed running around and playing games.

They recommended providing extra outdoor recreational spaces and equipment for younger students to nurture social interaction and wellbeing.

“This is an ongoing process and schools will be closely monitoring the dynamic in the first few weeks to make sure younger students are transitioning well,” the department spokesman said.

“Each school is approaching the double intake slightly differently based on their student cohorts and the layout of their site.

“We know they’ve put a lot of energy into making sure that there are spaces that cater to the way year 7s and 8s play and socialise.”

Schools have been urged to provide extra support early to help year 7s understand timetables and find their way around school.

“We weren’t used to students crying because they couldn’t find their classroom,” Mitcham Girls said.

UniSA education researcher Victoria Whitington said the change would work for some but not all students.

“Children who are in a balanced home situation with supportive parents and school environment will be fine,” Professor Whitington said.

The richer curriculum and resources would be stimulating whereas hanging around in primary could often be dull.

However, she was concerned about pastoral care for disadvantaged students.

“They need that sense of belonging and a teacher who really knows and cares about them.” she said.

“I’ve taught those year levels and often when those disadvantaged students went to high school they got lost without that teacher they saw every day and who got to know their family.

“And in SA, we do have quite a long tail of those students at risk of being left behind.”

Adelaide High School new year 7s Efia Pan and Harley Clark with year 7 learning and engagement leader Jacinta Coombe. Picture: Dean Martin

At Adelaide High, new year 7s will include Harley Clark and Efia Pan, both 12.

Harley was at Blackforest Primary and gained a place at Adelaide through the cricket program.

“I like batting and I’m looking forward to the cricket and meeting new people,” he said.

He’s a bit apprehensive about getting lost in the big school, but an orientation day last year gave him a preview of the school layout.

In regional areas, the Education Department recognised potential problems of young children needing to travel more than 20km to high school and some smaller schools becoming less financially viable with the loss of a year level.

Extra bus funding was allocated and parents at 45 regional schools could apply to keep their year 7 child at their primary school, with 33 such exemptions granted this year. The option will be also available for year 7 students for 2023 and 2024.

Four regional primary schools will retain their entire year 7 class.