New school names for Dripstone, Sanderson and Nightcliff revealed

The new school names for Dripstone, Sanderson and Nightcliff have been revealed. Do you rate or hate the change? Take our poll.

These primary school students will be future students of Sanderson High School. Picture: Darcy Fitzgerald

The wait is over and the new school names for Dripstone, Nightcliff and Sanderson have been revealed.

The NT government’s secondary school reforms sparked the name change, with the middle school title no longer reflecting each school’s move to become comprehensive Year 7 to 12 secondary schools.

Education Minister Jo Hersey revealed the new names in a government gazette on Friday.

Nightcliff Middle School will become Nightcliff High School.

Dripstone Middle School will become Dripstone Secondary College.

Sanderson Middle School, which will also host an industry, trade and technical college onsite, will become Sanderson High School.

The name changes formally signal the end of the Territory’s problematic middle school project for these schools. 

The Secondary Education Review handed down to the previous Labor government in 2024 recommended a move to comprehensive schools.

In July, the new Country Liberal Party government said the move would increase secondary school finishers and give students more choice.

Education Minister Jo Hersey with future Sanderson High School students and CLP politicians on July 21, 2025. Picture: Darcy Fitzgerald

The official name of the two new Palmerston secondary schools at Roseberry and Driver has not yet been revealed.

Nor has the name of the new combined Centralian Middle and Senior schools.

From next year, Dripstone, Nightcliff, Sanderson and Palmerston (Roseberry) will begin accepting enrolments for Year 10 students.

Palmerston (Driver) will accept Year 7s as well as Years 10 to 12.

The transition for the Centralian schools will begin in 2027.

Sanderson Middle School will revert to its old name. Picture Glenn Campbell

Casuarina Senior College will continue as a senior school focused on pathways and programs to in-demand professions, such as education and health.

The unification of Darwin Middle and High School is set to begin from 2027.

The Department of Education NT said the full implementation across all urban government secondary schools will be completed by end of 2028.

Nightcliff and Sanderson are reverting to their former names before the middle school model was introduced in 2006.

But Dripstone is adopting a new title after being previously known as Dripstone High School.

Originally published as New school names for Dripstone, Sanderson and Nightcliff revealed