Talks on end of Middle schools in NT: How parents can join in

The Territory is shifting away from the middle school model and consultation with school councils is about to kick off across the Territory. Find out how you can be part of it.

Darwin Middle School

Consultation with school councils kicks off across the Territory this week about plans for a shift away from the middle schools.

Minister for Education and Training Jo Hersey has urged parents and families to attend the planned school meetings.

A phased transition to a new secondary education model will start next year.

Ms Hersey said a dedicated Secondary Reform Program has been developed to ensure thorough consultation occurs this year with all stakeholders including students, families, educators, school communities and peak bodies.

Principal of Darwin Middle School, Ben McCasker (left), Minister for Education and Training Jo Hersey (middle) and Department of Education and training rep Sandy Evans for the Back To School vouchers.

“We want to get the transition away from middle schools right,” she said.

“I encourage all parents who are interested in learning more about the move away from middle schools to attend their School Council meeting in March.

“Changing our decades old secondary education structure won’t happen overnight and the move away from middle schools will take time and careful planning.

“This year will be dedicated to that planning and consultation with no changes to our middle school model in 2025.”

The move away from middle schools was a key recommendation of the former Labor government’s Review of Secondary Education, released in 2023, and supported by the CLP prior to the election last year.

The government believes secondary reform will help boost attendance rates across the Territory.

“A shift away from middle schools will ensure our student pathways are more aligned to the Territory’s skills needs and importantly help our students remain engaged throughout their secondary education,” she said.

“Planning this month will focus on our urban areas and what the future state of comprehensive high schools (years 7-12) will look like in these areas, with remote engagement occurring next term. This engagement will help develop tailored delivery models bespoke to each region.”

Over the next four weeks briefings will be held at affected urban schools across the Territory including in Darwin at Casuarina Senior College, Darwin High School and Middle School, Dripstone Middle School, Nightcliff Middle School and Sanderson Middle School and in Alice Springs at Centralian Middle School and Centralian Senior College.

For more information visit www.education.nt.gov.au/secondary-education

Originally published as Talks on end of Middle schools in NT: How parents can join in