Catholic education system to shift Year 7 into high schools after decision by SA Commission for Catholic Schools
THE Catholic education system will move Year 7s into high school and expand preschool and childcare programs across the state, after its policy-making body approved a wide ranging blueprint for change.
THE Catholic education system will move Year 7s into high school and expand preschool and childcare programs across the state, after its policy-making body approved a wide-ranging blueprint for change.
The SA Commission for Catholic Schools has backed the plan that will also modernise middle schooling and broaden vocational educational options.
Year 7s are likely to shift to secondary schools in 2019 and 2020, as revealed by The Advertiser in March when the commission released a discussion paper on the proposed changes.
Commission chairman Professor Denis Ralph said early childhood services, including infant childcare and preschools, would be added to “as many (school) sites as possible”, helping balance the loss of Year 7 enrolment from primary schools.
Prof Ralph said the full strategy would be rolled out over five to 10 years, with costings dependent on the speed and extent of the transition. Schools will collaborate more and large ones will offer services such as business management to surrounding smaller ones.
The strategy would be partly funded by a significant reduction of employees in the Catholic Education Office, with some staff to fill vacancies as they arise in schools. No forced redundancies are planned.
“There is only a finite amount of funding available and if we want new initiatives in our schools we have to maximise funds at the school level, while recognising there are needs for expertise at the centre (office) and we need to get the balance right,” Prof Ralph said.
Close to half of Year 7s in Catholic schools are already in middle school settings, often within R-12 schools. The commission wants to complete the shift to align with other states and the structure of the Australian Curriculum, and attract at least $7 million more in government funding by classifying Year 7s as secondary students.
The commission made its decision after extensive consultation with school communities.
Prof Ralph said the transition had to be managed carefully to ensure no-one was disadvantaged.
Catholic Education SA director Helen O’Brien said there would be exemptions to the Year 7 move, including where it was not practical in country towns.
Federation of Catholic School Parent Communities SA executive director Ann Bliss said a federation survey found a majority supported moving Year 7s.
The federation backed the blueprint as a means of broadening access to Catholic educational pathways from early childhood through to Year 12.
Ms O’Brien and Prof Ralph will meet with principals on Friday. Schools will then send information on the changes to parents.
The Opposition wants Year 7s moved into public high schools and says it can be done for $150 million, but the State Government maintains any benefits would not justify the cost.