Up to 46 country schools could retain some Year 7s until 2024

Several country schools could be allowed to offer Year 7 for an extra three years until 2024.

• Teachers’ strike on Monday to close almost 260 schools

Close to 50 regional public primary schools could be allowed to offer Year 7 for an extra three years until 2024.

While all public high schools will teach Year 7 by 2022, the State Government has launched a consultation on giving families the choice of keeping Year 7s in primary schools if they are 20km or more from the nearest high or area school.

Western Australia took a similar approach when it shifted Year 7 into high schools.

The 46 primary schools include Andamooka, Blanchetown, Goolwa, Mallala, Pinnaroo, Rapid Bay and Tailem Bend.

Small Schools Association of SA vice-president Wade Branford.

Small Schools Association of SA vice-president Wade Branford, the principal at Lake Wangary School, said shifting Year 7s was the right thing to do because students were “older than they have ever been” and “more pubescent”.

“However, it comes at a big cost to all small schools,” he said. “We lose funding so we can't afford as many teachers and resources to run a school.”

Mr Branford, pictured, said the loss of Year 7s compounded the problems of shrinking farming communities hurting school enrolments. His own school stands to lose nine of 60 students, so he welcomed the possibility of being able to retain some Year 7s for another few years.

“We would support any family that would say ‘we would like to keep our child in your school for Year 7’,” he said, though he stressed the decision would be for parents to make.

However, in the event of all bar one Year 7 leaving, he would advise the parents of the remaining child to follow so they could stay with their friendship group.

Education Minister John Gardner said most of the primary schools already had very small numbers of Year 7s, as by then many children had moved to area schools or the private system. Up to 300 students could be affected overall.

“For kids more than 20km from a high school, parents want more time to adjust,” he said.

Education Department Year 7 to high school project director Caroline Croser-Barlow said: “We know that some regional families travel considerable distances getting their children to school.

“We’re keen to hear from regional communities about our proposal.”

Community forums will be held around the state from July 22. Submissions to the yoursay.sa.gov.au website close September 3. The Government will receive a report by the end of the year.