Year 7 moving to high school

From 2015, Year 7 will become the first year of high school in Queensland.

This is part of the Flying Start suite of education reforms.

Moving Year 7 to high school follows other major changes, such as raising the school starting age by 6 months in 2008 and the introduction of a Prep year in 2007. By 2015 Year 7 students will be in their eighth year of schooling and more than half of them will turn 13, which is the right age to begin high school.

From 2013, state high schools will introduce Junior Secondary for students in Years 8 and 9 (and Year 7 from 2015).

Junior Secondary recognises that young teens have different learning and social needs and it will provide the supportive environment these students need as they transition to high school.

Read more about Year 7 joining high school in 2015.

Pilot schools

Twenty state schools will pilot Year 7 in a secondary setting before 2015, to ensure the schools' transition is smooth.

Murrumba State Secondary College was the first state high school to welcome Year 7 students when it opened its doors in January 2012.

Nineteen more schools from across the state will join the pilot program from 2013.

Pilot schools will share their first-hand knowledge and experience with other schools as they prepare for the statewide move of Year 7 in 2015.

They will coordinate closely with local primary schools and work together to develop programs that support Year 7 students.

Read more about the Year 7 pilot program.