Background
Following the Secondary Education Review, the Northern Territory Government announced Building Better Schools in February 2005 – a $42 million investment to improve secondary education over four years.
Part of that investment was an initiative to develop a policy and strategy to better focus on improving outcomes for students in the Middle Years. This is supported by research that indicates that improving student engagement in the middle years of schooling will improve student retention and outcomes in the senior years of schooling.
In September 2005, the Minister for Employment Education and Training launched Making the Most of the Middle Years, a two-staged community consultation process.
Public relations firm Socom conducted an extensive Territory wide discussion process to determine the views of the community. This process engaged principals, teachers, students, parents and other interested stakeholders. Remote and distance education schools were included in the process.
In December 2005, the Middle Years Principles and Policy Framework was developed and endorsed by Government following the first stage of the consultation. Years 7 to 9 were identified as a distinct Middle Years group. Year 10 was seen as a transition year into the Senior Years.
Stage Two of the process commenced in January 2006 and explored how this framework could be implemented across the Northern Territory. Consideration was given to the practical implications of implementation, such as school structure and resourcing. The consultation process concluded on 24 March 2006, and the report recommending options for Government’s consideration was submitted in April.
Government has decided to implement the Middle Years Principles and Policy Framework in government schools over a two-year period.
Implementing the middle years approach will provide Year 7 to 9 students with the best chance to succeed in their learning and to prepare them for their senior secondary pathway.
More information regarding the Making the Most of the Middle Years community consultation can be found on the Building Better Schools website.
