Overview for Parents and Carers
Preparing students and teachers
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Schools in the Northern Territory will give priority enrolment to students who live in the local area. All enrolments are considered, however schools can only accommodate enrolments from outside their local areas if they have sufficient space. For more information about priority enrolment read the Priority Enrolment Policy.
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The implementation of Middle Years and Senior Years is designed to allow students and staff to relocate as seamlessly as possible – recognising that the start of a new school year is already a time when most students and teachers expect to experience change.
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Students and parents can access further information through schools, or by phoning the hotline 1800 722 030 (there is a separate hotline for school staff).
Government's Decision
The Northern Territory Government has announced its three year plan to implement the Middle Years in government schools across the Territory. Middle Years is central to Government’s plan to reform secondary education and improve the engagement, retention and outcomes of Northern Territory students.
Secondary education in the Northern Territory comprises:
• The Middle Years – Years 7 to 9
• The Senior Years – Years 10 to 12
For details on changes to individual schools, refer to the Your School section of this website.
The Middle Years – Years 7 to 9
Students in the Middle Years have particular social, academic and emotional needs. While ‘traditional’ forms of teaching and learning have been successful for some students, others lose interest in learning because they feel that what they learn at school during these years is not relevant to their lives. As a group, these students are at high risk of dropping out of school.
To improve student results, we need to find better ways of teaching and learning that will keep these students interested and engaged in school during this challenging stage. With the Middle Years approach, students will find the ‘way they learn’ and ‘what they learn’ at school more interesting and relevant as they will have more opportunities for hands-on learning. Meeting individual student needs and a stronger focus on literacy and numeracy are also key elements of the Middle Years approach.
The Senior Years – Years 10 to 12
Year 10 is an important year for senior students to prepare for the Northern Territory Certificate of Education (NTCE). It is also an important year for students to begin making informed choices about their learning and future careers.
Grouping Year 10 students with students in Years 11 and 12 will generally give students greater access to subject choices, resources and expertise, as well as more opportunities to learn with other senior students. Year 10 students need teachers who have a strong understanding of the demands of the Senior Years to guide and prepare them for the range and depth of learning in these years.
