Government says phasing out middle schools will increase school completers and give students choice

Choice for students and families and an increase in school completers are the reasons behind the biggest overhaul to NT education in decades. Read the details.

Students from the primary schools Manunda Terrace, Wulagi, Malak, Anula, Karama and Sanderson Middle School will all attend the new comprehensive school. Picture: Darcy Fitzgerald

Choice and an increase in secondary school continuers are at the heart of the biggest education overhaul the Territory has seen in decades.

The NT government, education department, students and teachers kicked off the campaign to end middle schools at a press conference at Sanderson Middle School on Monday.

Sanderson will transition to a comprehensive Year 7 to 12 school from next year, joining three other schools in Darwin and another two in Palmerston, with Alice Springs schools joining in 2027.

These changes were recommended by the Secondary Education Review handed down to the Labor government in February, 2024 and carried on by the current Country Liberal government.

Education Minister Jo Hersey said her government was “excited” about the move away from middle schools. Picture: Darcy Fitzgerald

Department of Education NT chief executive Susan Bowden said the review recommended the move to comprehensive schools to reduce “transition points”.

“In that key transition point between Year 9 and Year 10 we were starting to lose students,” Ms Bowden said.

“So the notion of going back to comprehensive secondary schools decreases the number of transition points for our young people.

“It means that young people can build strong relationships with their teachers, and continue to have those relationships into senior secondary.”

In 2022, 41.6 per cent of potential Year 12 completers attained their high school certificate in the NT, 35 points below the average and nearly half that of South Australia.

Ms Hersey spoke with students from all the feeder school to Sanderson. Picture: Darcy Fitzgerald

With four senior secondary school options for Territory kids concentrated in Darwin’s northern suburbs, Education Minister Jo Hersey and Ms Bowden said students would have a choice where they went.

Sanderson was therefore a fitting setting to launch the campaign as it will merge with a new specialist trade and technical college, while nearby Casuarina Secondary College is set to become a “Higher Education-Focused College” for Years 10 to 12.

“Families and students will have a choice where they go,” Ms Hersey said.

“If for example there is a student that wants to take a vocational pathway, as offered here at Sanderson, they will be able to choose that,” Ms Bowden said.

Sanderson will have a trade focus for senior students. Picture: Darcy Fitzgerald

This choice will come as early as January, 2026 for students in Darwin and Palmerston as existing middle schools begin introducing Year 10 cohorts and Palmerston Secondary College begins introducing Year 7.

In 2027, Centralian Middle School will begin introducing Year 10 students while the secondary school will become a new regional industry, trade and flexible education school for Years 10-12.

Teachers are generally supportive of the move, with 85 per cent of respondents to a department survey indicating support.

But some teachers talking on condition of anonymity say they felt “left in the dark” about the massive changes to their workload and expectations. 

“The general attitude among staff is we support the move, but we need more details and consultation,” one teacher said.

Students were eager to share the work they had been doing in the woodwork studio. Picture: Darcy Fitzgerald

“We have been told we will be consulted every step of the way, but I feel we have not been truly offered that opportunity.”

Another teacher said students were asking them simple questions about subjects offered next year, or whether the school’s uniform or name would change.

“We don’t know if or when it will happen — it just feels like a standstill,” they said.

“I am glad we have been updated today, but we only have 18 weeks of school left before these massive changes come in.

“I feel like it’s a bit too rushed and I’d rather it was done properly.”

Australian Education Union NT president Michelle Ayres said her members were generally supportive of the proposed changes, but with some caveats.

Australian Education Union NT president Michelle Ayres.

“We still have major questions about workload and infrastructure,” she said.

“At the moment this is something the department is doing to teachers rather than with teachers.

“If they want this to work they have to change their approach.”

Students said they were excited about the changes.

For Year 6 Anula Primary School student Isaac Phillips, he was looking forward to more time spent with friends.

Isaac Phillips was looking forward to his new school’s trade focus. Picture: Darcy Fitzgerald

“I get to stay with my friends until Year 12,” Isaac said.

“I also will just have to change schools once.”

Year 9 Sanderson student Madeline Milford was looking forward to choice.

“Moving schools is certainly hard, but I’m also excited to start pursuing a career in teaching,” she said.

The peak NT parent body NTCOGSO supported the phasing out of middle schools.

“The government’s endorsement of the recommendation to phase out middle schools in favour of comprehensive high schools (Years 7 to 12) is a step forward in creating consistent and connected learning pathways,” NTCOGSO president Ruth Mirams said.

“NTCOGSO supports changes that ensure smoother transitions through secondary school and contribute to better student outcomes.”

More details about the proposed changes can be found at education.nt.gov.au/statistics-research-and-strategies/secondary-reform-program.

Originally published as Government says phasing out middle schools will increase school completers and give students choice