Year 7 to High School in regional SA

From July to September 2019, communities were invited to have their say on how Year 7 will move to high school through a series of forums in regional South Australia, and through this website.

Over 250 individuals were involved in regional sessions and 25 written contributions were received, including 4 from peak representative groups.

The community feedback captures the contributions made throughout the consultation process.

Following community consultation, the state government has decided on the following transitional arrangements for country primary schools located more than 20km from their local area or high school (‘eligible schools’):

• By default, all Year 7s will go to high school or area school from 2022.
• Parents won’t be asked to make a choice about whether to keep their child in primary school or send them to high school – it’s assumed all year 7s will go.
• For a transition period (2022 to 2024), parents at eligible primary schools can seek a ‘by exception’ exemption from their principal to keep their year 7 student in primary school, where special circumstances exist.
• For a transition period (2022 to 2024), where the departure of the year 7 cohort causes an eligible primary school to ‘drop a class’ from the number of classes offered in 2021, that school will be able to apply for a grant to maintain the number of classes in their school.

For more information about how this will work, and the other supports being given to country primary schools, visit www.education.sa.gov.au/

Now Closed

This online engagement was hosted on YourSAy from 25 June 2019 to 13 September 2019. Find out more about the consultation process. Below is a record of this engagement.

These community forums will be your opportunity to come along and hear more about the proposed transition of year 7 to high schools for eligible families in regional South Australia.

Murray Bridge - Monday 29 July (4.00pm)

Berri - Tuesday 30 July (4.00pm)

Waikerie - Wednesday 31 July (4.00pm)

Kongorong - Monday 5 August (4.00pm)

Nangwarry - Tuesday 6 August (4.00pm)

Beachport - Tuesday 6 August (7.30pm)

Minlaton - Thursday 8 August (4.00pm)

Bute - Friday 9 August (4.00pm) - Cancelled due to lack of demand

Keyneton - Monday 12 August (4.00pm)

Bordertown - Wednesday 14 August (4.00pm)

Padthaway - Thursday 15 August (4.00pm)

Port Neill - Monday 19 August (4.00pm)

Wangary - Tuesday 20 August (4.00pm)

Gawler - Wednesday 21 August (4.00pm) - Cancelled due to lack of demand

Kapunda - Thursday 22 August (4.00pm)

Wilmington - Monday 26 August (4.00pm)

Lameroo - Thursday 29 August (4.00pm)

Rapid Bay - Tuesday 3 September (6.15pm)

Riverton - Wednesday 4 September (4.00pm)

Clare - Thursday 5 September (4.00pm)

* Far North - Sessions will be scheduled in the Far North according to demand

Now Closed

This online engagement was hosted on YourSAy from 25 June 2019 to 13 September 2019. Below is a record of this engagement.

*If you would prefer to submit a hardcopy, download the Year 7 to High School Regional Consultation form

Year 7 to High School Regional Consultation

Drawing on interstate experience, we are testing the possibility of providing eligible families with a choice to keep their year 7 child in primary school, if their primary school is located more than 20 kilometres by road from its nearest area or high school, for a transitional period of 3 years.

The Government is committed to providing all year 7 students with the benefits of the move of Year 7 to High School, however this approach will support those parents concerned about the increased travel distance for younger students to their schooling.

Under the proposed approach, some regional primary schools would continue to offer year 7, while all regional high schools would introduce year 7 (so that year 7 is offered concurrently in both settings).

This option would be made available to families for a limited period of 3 years (2022 to 2024) in order to smooth the system changeover.

The proposed distance of 20 kilometres by road from their nearest area or high school (approximated as 15 minute travel time) responds to the particular issues of travel time for younger students, as well as concerns for the impact on smaller primary schools in more removed communities.

Is 20 kilometres the appropriate distance to consider?

• In Western Australia, the transition period was extended for some families, for a limited 3-year period.
  
  Should a similar choice be offered in South Australia, is the 3-year period an appropriate length of time?

  
  

• A key challenge with the proposed approach is the associated planning uncertainty for primary and high schools. It is expected that planning decisions relating to staffing, budget and curriculum planning could be made more difficult due to the changeable nature of enrolments under this approach (as it is not possible to forecast parents’ decisions).
  
  What are the challenges or opportunities you anticipate in the introduction of Year 7 to high school in the regional setting?

  
  

• Existing supports for small schools and country staff are outlined below.
  
  Small school funding
  The existing small school funding structures will provide a safety net for those small schools that will lose students as a result of the move of year 7 to high school. The funding allows small schools the flexibility to ‘top up’ in areas that may be impacted by reduced enrolments (such as reduced funding for support staff).
  
  Country incentives
  Country incentives can apply to staff employed by schools in country locations, to support country schools in attracting staff.
  
  What support measures do you propose?

  
  Given the option, would you keep your year 7 child in the primary school setting? What factors are important to you in making this decision?