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Education is the key to a bright future for Queensland children and the State Government is investing strongly in education to give our children the flying start they deserve.
The State Government is driving a package of reforms to give children the boost they need at critical stages of their education, particularly during the early years and in the transition to high school.
These initiatives build on earlier educational reforms, including the introduction of an extra year of schooling - Prep - in 2007 and have been moulded by expert advice and wide community consultation.
Our focus is on:
Children soak up knowledge from the moment they are born. They are naturally inquisitive and time invested in teaching and learning at home, and in the early years of formal education help set children on the path to success. Education starts at home, and parents and families are their children's first teachers.
Literacy and numeracy skills are the essential building blocks of early learning. We can do more before our children start school to help them acquire these skills.
So the Queensland and Australian governments are working together to ensure our children are ready for school.
We know that kindergarten helps children by improving their development, wellbeing and school readiness so we are giving all Queensland children access to kindergarten programs.
To support our youngest children we will:
The transition to high school is an important time in our students' lives and the government's education reforms are designed to provide the best support and education for our students.
From 2015, Year 7 will become part of high school at all Queensland state, Catholic and Independent Schools. We have consulted widely before introducing this positive change. It follows the successful introduction of Prep in 2007. In 2008, the Year 1 entry age was raised by six months, bringing Queensland into line with other states.
By 2015 more than half the students in Year 7 will be turning 13.
Educators agree that young teenagers are ready for greater independence and the depth of learning that high school provides, which is why in most other states and territories Year 7 is already the first year of high school.
By 2015 Queensland Year 7 students will be in their eighth year of school, and this is the right year for high school to begin.
In 2012 Queensland adopted the new Australian Curriculum for English, mathematics and science. Every Australian school student will learn this core national curriculum. Education Queensland will also build on Science Spark - an exciting initiative involving the equivalent of 100 full-time 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. Our Year 7 students at high school will benefit from access to specialist resources, such as science labs and science teachers.
To support our Year 7 students we will:
Students in Queensland's rural and remote communities deserve the very best educational opportunities we can provide.
When Year 7 becomes part of high school in 2015 we will ensure all our students are supported as we make this important change. The government is committed to addressing the particular needs of students living in geographically isolated areas.
We recognise the changes which come into effect in 2015 will have an impact on rural and remote families.
Where there is no local school close by, geographically isolated families may opt for their students to attend boarding school, live with a relative closer to a school, live in a student hostel, or use distance education.
The readiness of students for a move away from home, family circumstances and the additional costs associated with boarding fees and travel, are all important considerations.
To support students in rural and remote locations we will:
High expectations, even better teaching and improved discipline are essential to boosting the performance of our schools and the success of our students.
Major education reforms in Queensland, as outlined below, are designed to raise standards.
The Queensland Government established the Queensland Education Leadership Institute in 2010 as the platform to provide school leaders with the skills and training they need to help drive major educational reforms.
It is essential teachers have a sound knowledge of critical areas like reading, writing, mathematics and science, and how to teach these subjects. The Masters Review in 2009 reinforced the importance of strong core teaching skills, which is why pre-registration tests for new primary school teachers are being developed.
The government commissioned the Caldwell Review in 2010 to examine teacher preparation programs and is acting on the key findings.
Shared standards for both state and non-state schools will raise performance in all Queensland schools. Having one education standards authority will connect school accreditation standards with curriculum, assessment and reporting standards.
To continue boosting school performance we will:
This page was last reviewed on 23 January 2012
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© The State of Queensland (Department of Education, Training and Employment) 2011.