Download the full fact sheet - Year 7 in high school and the Australian Curriculum (PDF, 772KB) 
From 2015, Year 7 will become the first year of high school in Queensland.
In high school, Year 7 students will have access to specialist resources, such as science labs and science teachers. They will be able to keep pace with students in other states and territories, where Year 7 has been in high school for a long time.
Our Year 7 students will be better positioned to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the new Australian Curriculum as it is rolled out over the coming years.
From 2012, Queensland will commence implementation of the Australian Curriculum for English, mathematics and science. The history curriculum will commence in 2013.
Queensland's current curriculum - the Queensland Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting (QCAR) Framework - is aligned with the Australian Curriculum. This means that in most areas, the amount of change in what students learn will be manageable.
The Australian Curriculum focuses on a greater depth of knowledge and understanding as students progress through school. By moving Year 7 to high school, we will be able to provide our students with access to the specialist facilities and expertise to support this focus.
Primary schools that include Year 7 will introduce the Australian Curriculum from 2012 to 2014, before Year 7 moves to high school. This time will be used to ensure a smooth transition. Over the next few years we will continue to support schools and teachers by building on the hard work that is already underway.
To support implementation of the Australian Curriculum, all Education Queensland (EQ) regions have specialist advisers to support the teaching of English, mathematics and science in schools. These advisers will help schools make the change to the Australian Curriculum. Education Queensland will also build on Science Spark - an exciting initiative involving the equivalent of 100 fulltime science teachers currently working in primary schools to develop the knowledge and confidence of our Year 4 to 7 teachers to teach science. The science teachers are helping schools to plan and teach engaging science programs without relying on laboratory work.
The Queensland Studies Authority (QSA) has provided all schools with practical advice and resources to support implementation of the Australian Curriculum. These resources ensure that Year 7 students have access to the learning described in the curriculum. As Year 7 moves to high school the resources will be reviewed and updated to reflect increased access to specialist facilities and teaching.
Through the Curriculum into the Classroom project, state school teachers will have comprehensive curriculum planning and teaching resources to support implementation of the Australian Curriculum. These resources build on the templates developed by the QSA. In 2015, the Curriculum into the Classroom resources will be updated to reflect the access that Year 7 students will have to specialist teachers and facilities.
This page was last reviewed on 17 January 2012
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© The State of Queensland (Department of Education, Training and Employment) 2011.