Dangers of Implementation of Year 7 into the Secondary School The SevenUP Journey Mrs C Mills, Director of Teaching and Learning and Mrs Monique White, Head of Year 7 Citipointe Christian College.

Context P-12 College Distinct Primary and Secondary Schools Implications for practice

Significant Areas Communication Curriculum Logistics Pastoral Care

Communication Four focus areas: Internal transition Parents Students Staff – teachers Dangers – assumptions and ignorance

Internal Transition Transfer of relevant information to appropriate people Recognising primary teachers as ‘first line of enquiry’

Parent Communication Familiarisation but still apprehension More regular meetings especially in the first semester Topics Catering for individual difference Procedures and decision making processes Homework and assessment Emotional development and adolescence

Student Familiarisation Less stress because of context but still need orientation Anticipate and plan for fears ( getting a detention, getting to class late, not doing the ‘right thing’) Class dynamics Class placement – preconceptions and judgements

Staff Faculties as opposed to years Secondary attitudes to teaching year 7 Integration of year 7 staff into the Secondary School Building sense of team within year 7 teachers Suggestions – Secondary specialist teaching year 7 to have a year 7 teachers meeting not only faculty meetings – Year 7 staff need more time with Heads of Learning area to discuss expectations

Curriculum Planning and scope – must take into account the pace of learning of the year 7 student. This is very hard for Secondary teachers to adjust to. Organisation of curriculum taking into account the rapidly changing rate of maturity of the year 7 students (huge difference in maturity from the start to the end of the year) Less flexibility – due to timetabling constraints

Standards and Pressure Formalisation Primary trained teachers have not developed discipline based ‘ways of thinking’ thus find it difficult to develop these higher order thinking skills. Homework and assessment Students need : – very clear instructions – Help to break things down – Organisation skills Independence – needs to be developed, have to train parents to allow their students to take responsibility.

Logistics Timetabling – limited budget, requests for special classes are not always possible. Staffing – You may not be able to get the particular staff member that you want for a specific class due to competing needs. Resources – Need to plan for a year 7 area with separate lockers, designated home classes, computers and ‘play area’. Student size – Some students are physically too small to reach science benches and technology workshop benches and need special stools made so that they can access these areas safely.

Pastoral Care Head of Year – Specialist support staff Core Teachers Year 7 student counsellor Specifically designed program – including students, staff and parents.

Summary Communication – Specific and frequent – Emotional and Curriculum Curriculum – Pace – Organisational ability Logistics – Timetabling – Staffing – Resources – Student size Pastoral Care – Vital to success of the program – Targeted to involve parents, staff and students

Are We There Yet?

SevenUP RATIONALE To achieve learning excellence within a Biblical worldview To increase educational outcomes by more effective preparation for secondary schooling To respond to specific needs of the adolescent middle school student, needs which are different from those of the senior secondary students To accommodate recent trends of earlier entry points to secondary schooling To create a smoother transition to secondary schooling Prepare students more effectively for the differences between primary and secondary To provide engaging, stimulating educational experiences between Years 6 and 8

SevenUP Outcomes Students educated with balanced, well grounded, well rounded curriculum Greater student thinking, independence and love of learning Improved school academic results and standards in literacy and numeracy Better prepared students for Year 8, strengthening necessary foundational skills More effective and individual catering for adolescent needs

A highly Successful Program SevenUp, despite the dangers and difficulties mentioned, has been a fantastic journey; The students have loved the change and appreciate having a core teacher as well as exposure to other teachers. They love the greater diversity in subject offering and recognise the manner in which the program has equipped them for Secondary School The staff feel that students have gained both depth and breadth of curriculum knowledge and experience when compare to year 7 in the Primary context The expressed rationale and outcomes have been met but we need to maintain an attitude of humility before the Lord, openness and flexibility as we develop into the future