Getting Ready for Secondary School Information for primary school parents and school communities

What is Junior Secondary? Getting Ready for Secondary School, which includes the Junior Secondary Agenda, is all about improving student outcomes. Image by Lime Photography

What is Junior Secondary? Key strategies include: -Year 7 will becoming the first year of secondary schooling from smoother transition between primary and secondary settings -introduction of Junior Secondary to include Years 7–9 -a focus on teaching and learning that meets the needs of early adolescents in Years 7–9. Image by Lime Photography

Why the move to Junior Secondary? Improve the ‘what’ Improve the ‘how’ Understand the ‘who’

Learning responding to student needs Getting Ready for School (including pre-Prep) Early Years (P– 3) Upper Primary (Years 4– 6) Junior Secondary (Years 7–9 ) Senior Secondary (Years 10– 12) P-12 Postsecondary study

Junior Secondary students and the stages of adolescence Early stage adolescence Physical changes Anxiety about body Same sex friends Breaking childhood ties Developing adult thinking processes Middle stage adolescence Peer focused Identify with music & icons Risk-taking behaviours Seeking individualisation Late stage adolescence Facing up to reality Staying at home longer Episode 2 - A crash course in the developmental psychology of young people Images by Lime Photography

Junior Secondary students and teenage brain development Unused connections discarded Connections strengthened Development occurs inside out and front to back New connections developed During adolescence, the brain undergoes significant reorganisation, impacting on how students engage/ disengage from learning environments. Image by Lime Photography

What does this mean for my child? 21st Century learning spaces - creative solutions!

Junior Secondary – guiding principles Considerations for schools Distinct identity Quality teaching Student wellbeing Parent and community involvement Leadership Local decision- making Image by Lime Photography

Junior Secondary Principles Principle 1: Distinct identity Junior Secondary students will have their own group identity. Principle 2: Quality teaching Teachers will have the skills to support young teens through the early high school years. Principle 3: Student wellbeing Schools will support the social and emotional needs of Year 7–9 students.

Junior Secondary Principles Principle 4: Parent and community involvement Parents will stay connected with their child’s learning when they enter high school. Principle 5: leadership Schools have leadership roles for students and staff focused on Years 7–9. Principle 6: Local decision-making Community needs will influence how Junior Secondary looks.

Why is parent involvement so important? Parent participation can lead to: -improved grades, increased enrolment in higher level programs, higher graduation rates, and a greater likelihood of participation in postsecondary education -more regular school attendance, better social skills, improved behaviour, and a greater sense of personal interest in learning. Dr Lance Emerson, Josh Fear, Dr Stacey Fox, Emma Sanders, Parental engagement in learning and schooling: Lessons from research, Family-School & Community Partnerships Bureau (2012)

Parent involvement in the Junior Secondary years Dr George Otero, QLD Principals’ Conference, 2013

Why Junior Secondary – what does the data tell us? Yr 7 in Primary Attendance data P–12

Why Junior Secondary – what does the data tell us? Sample NAPLAN data for reading

Parent involvement in the Junior Secondary years Moving from primary school to high school presents many challenges for students and families. This progression through the schooling years can be made easier if parents continue to actively participate in their children’s education. Parents have an important role as motivators, and can continue to be engaged in learning in a supportive capacity.

Parent involvement in the Junior Secondary years The nature of effective parental engagement changes as children move through the schooling years. Parental engagement during the high school years needs to take account of adolescents’ desire for independence and improved abilities.

So what might parent involvement look like in Junior Secondary? Communication -Set high expectations -Talk about learning -Talk about school -Use online communication -Know who to contact and how Engagement -Visit the school for events and activities -Assist with homework -Attend parent–teacher meetings -Discuss learning goals/results -Join the P&C of the school Learning -Attend celebrations and showcases of student work -Participate in workshops about student learning -Create an environment at home to support learning and study -Encourage participation in homework clubs etc. Parenting -Encourage your child’s involvement in events and activities -Talk about the future, e.g. subject choices, occupations

Supporting transition into Junior Secondary How can I support my child? When should I start? What should I do? What should I say?

For more information about Junior Secondary

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