Kingston High School’s extension to years 11 and 12 encourages students to extend their studies

Year 10 student Oliver James says he always planned to follow the generations of Kingston High School students before him in furthering his studies at Hobart College.

Kingston High School principal Dr Libby Robinson with Year 10 students Oliver James, 15, Brodie Nicolson, 15, and Wesley King, 16. Kingston High School has expanded to years 11 and 12 this year with the focus of a sports and well being pathway for future students. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

YEAR 10 student Oliver James always planned to follow the well-worn path of Kingston High School students before him in furthering his studies at Hobart College.

But he said his plans shifted after his school rolled out its expansion to years 11 and 12 this year, bringing with it greater opportunities for him to achieve his sporting goals.

Oliver, who studies the Big Picture curriculum – an alternative approach to learning, with its own school leadership and student enrolment guidelines – said Kingston High’s access to sporting facilities was the main reason he wanted to continue at Kingston High for years 11 and 12.

“Hobart College was probably the main school I was thinking about studying at, as its Kingston’s feeder school,” he said.

“But Kingston is great because we’ve got the soccer and AFL fields and all the sports you can think of at the Kingston Sports Centre next door.

“I’m looking at becoming a professional soccer player, and my second focus is on coaching, so two days a week I get to go out and do work experience around that, which fits really well for me.”

Kingston High School is one of four Tasmanian schools to expand into years 11 and 12 this year, joining Ogilvie, New Town and King Island District High.

These schools join 43 others around Tasmania, which have already extended to years 11 and 12, while seven others will expand next year.

Based on enrolment figures from February 2019, a total of 853 full-time Year 11 and 12 students were enrolled in extension schools – an increase of 163 students in these schools since 2018.

Oliver Jones 15, Brodie Nicolson, 15, and Wesley King, 16, are in Year 10 at Kingston High School and ready to take advantage of expanded years 11 and 12 classes. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Kingston High currently has three full-time year 11 students on campus who have carried their studies into a fifth year at the school. But this is expected to expand considerably in coming years.

Kingston High principal Libby Robinson said the school was working closely with its neighbouring association schools to “explore a range of pathways for students”.

“It’s about how we, as a collection of schools, can offer a number of programs and the possibilities of dual-enrolments,” she said.

“For example, Hobart College is well known for its academic and VET pathways so it doesn’t make sense for us to duplicate what other schools are doing well.

“But what Kingston has is we’re sharing a community sporting facility and the planning for the Kingston Sports Precinct allows us to dovetail our vision of year 11 and 12 extension along a sports, health and wellbeing pathway. That’s our strength area.”

Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff said high school extensions to years 11 and 12 in recent years had resulted in greater student enrolments.

“Through our Plan, the Tasmanian Certificate of Education attainment has improved by 10 per cent since we came to Government,” he said.

“As more schools begin to extend, we expect enrolment figures in extension schools to continue to increase.

“Through education our young Tasmanians have the very best chance of getting a job and living a fulfilling life, as well as playing a crucial role in unlocking the state’s economic potential.”

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