Is Year 7 part of primary or secondary school in Australia?

Year 7 is now part of secondary school in all Australian states and territories. Queensland was the last state to make this transition, moving Year 7 to secondary school in 2015. In some combined K–12 schools, Year 7 students may remain on the same campus as primary students, but they follow the secondary school curriculum.

Junior Secondary School in Australia – Years 7 to 10 Guide 2025

Q: What years are Junior Secondary in Australia?

Junior Secondary in Australia covers Years 7 to 10, spanning ages 12 to 16. This is sometimes called 'middle school' and precedes the senior years (Years 11–12). In some schools, particularly in Queensland and South Australia, Year 7 was historically part of primary school but has now transitioned to secondary in most states.

Q: Do junior secondary students sit NAPLAN?

Yes. Students in Year 7 and Year 9 sit NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy). Since 2023, NAPLAN is conducted in Term 1 (March). Results are reported on a proficiency scale and used by schools to identify areas for improvement.

Q: What subjects do students study in Years 7–10?

In Years 7–10, students study a broad range of subjects across the Australian Curriculum including English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography, Languages, Arts, Technologies, and Health & PE. From Year 9, many schools introduce elective subjects, allowing students to begin exploring areas of interest such as Business, Drama, Food Technology, or Digital Technologies.

Q: What is the difference between junior and senior secondary school?

Junior Secondary (Years 7–10) provides a broad, general education across all key learning areas. Senior Secondary (Years 11–12) is more specialised, with students selecting subjects aligned to their future study or career pathways. Senior years lead to a state senior certificate (HSC, VCE, QCE etc.) and an ATAR score for university entry.

Q: How do I choose the right secondary school for my child?

Key factors include: school culture and values, academic programs and extracurricular offerings, NAPLAN and ICSEA data (available on myschool.edu.au), proximity and transport options, sector preference (government, Catholic, independent), and whether the school offers a pathway through to Year 12 or is a stand-alone Years 7–10 school.

Overview

Junior Secondary Education in Australia — Years 7 to 10

Junior Secondary school in Australia spans Years 7 to 10, catering for students aged approximately 12 to 16. Often called "middle school" or the "junior years", this phase bridges the structured environment of primary school with the specialised, subject-focused senior years.

Junior Secondary students follow the Australian Curriculum across all key learning areas, while increasingly beginning to explore elective subjects that align with their individual interests and future pathways. It is a pivotal time developmentally, academically, and socially — and the right school environment makes a critical difference.

Age Range

Ages 12–16, covering Years 7 through to Year 10.

Curriculum

Australian Curriculum (Years 7–10) with electives introduced from Year 9.

NAPLAN

National assessments sat in Years 7 and 9 (Term 1 each year).

Pathway

Leads into Senior Secondary (Years 11–12) and subject specialisation.

Subjects

Subjects in Years 7–10

Junior Secondary students study across all 8 learning areas of the Australian Curriculum. As students progress from Year 7 to Year 10, teaching becomes increasingly subject-specialist, with dedicated teachers for each discipline.

Core Subjects (Years 7–10)

English — Literature, language study, creative and analytical writing, media literacy.
Mathematics — Number, algebra, geometry, statistics and financial mathematics.
Science — Biology, chemistry, physics and Earth sciences through inquiry-based learning.
History — World history, ancient civilisations, and modern Australian history.
Geography — Environments, human geography and sustainability.
Health & Physical Education — Wellbeing, sport, personal development and movement.

Elective Subjects (typically from Year 9)

Languages — Mandarin, French, Italian, Japanese, Indonesian, Spanish and more.
The Arts — Visual Art, Drama, Music, Dance, Media Arts.
Technologies — Digital Technologies, Food Technology, Design, Engineering, Wood/Metal Work.
Commerce & Business — Business studies, economics, entrepreneurship (varies by school).
Specialist subjects — Extension Maths, Agriculture, Child Studies, Photography, Sports Science.

NAPLAN in Junior Secondary

Students in Year 7 and Year 9 sit NAPLAN in Term 1. Results are used to identify learning strengths and areas needing support. Year 9 NAPLAN is the final NAPLAN assessment students will ever sit — it's also a key benchmark used by some selective senior schools for entry. Results are published on the My School website (myschool.edu.au).

By State

Junior Secondary by State & Territory

While Years 7–10 is the standard junior secondary range across Australia, there are some structural differences in how schools organise these years:

State	Junior Secondary Years	Ages	NAPLAN Years	Notes
NSW	Years 7–10	12–16	7 & 9	Year 7 starts high school; RoSA awarded at Year 10
VIC	Years 7–10	12–16	7 & 9	Some schools use "Middle School" Years 7–9
QLD	Years 7–10	12–16	7 & 9	Year 7 moved to secondary in 2015
WA	Years 7–10	12–16	7 & 9	Some schools offer a distinct Middle School campus
SA	Years 7–10	12–16	7 & 9	Year 7 in secondary since 2022
TAS	Years 7–10	12–16	7 & 9	Years 7–8 sometimes in middle school structure
ACT	Years 7–10	12–16	7 & 9	Distinct high school campuses (Years 7–10)
NT	Years 7–10	12–16	7 & 9	Combined schools common in remote communities

Pathways

Preparing for Senior Secondary — Year 10 Choices

Year 10 is a critical transition year. Students begin to shape their senior school pathway by:

Subject selection — Choosing Year 11 subjects that align with ATAR goals or vocational interests.
School change decisions — Some students move to a different school for Years 11–12 (e.g. a specialist senior college in ACT, or a more academically focused school).
VET pathways — Vocational Education and Training (VET) subjects can begin in Year 10 at many schools, offering industry-recognised certificates.
Work experience — Many Year 10 students complete 1–2 weeks of structured workplace learning.
Selective entry applications — Some specialist senior schools (e.g. James Ruse, Melbourne High, MacRobertson Girls) require applications in Year 10.

Tips for Parents of Year 7–10 Students

Stay engaged — Adolescents still need parental support; maintain open conversations about school, friendships and wellbeing.
Monitor NAPLAN results — Use Year 7 and 9 NAPLAN reports to identify learning gaps early, before senior school.
Encourage broad exploration — Try different electives; this phase is about discovering interests, not just academic achievement.
Plan Year 10 subject selections carefully — Subject choice in Year 10 shapes ATAR pathway options in Years 11–12.
Use the My School website — Compare school data, attendance rates and NAPLAN benchmarks at myschool.edu.au.
Investigate selective school options early — If applying for a selective senior school, applications often open in Term 3 of Year 10.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions — Junior Secondary

What years are Junior Secondary in Australia?

Junior Secondary covers Years 7 to 10, for students aged approximately 12–16. This phase is sometimes called "middle school" and precedes the senior years (Years 11–12). In all Australian states, Year 7 is now part of secondary school.

Do junior secondary students sit NAPLAN?

Yes. Students in Year 7 and Year 9 sit NAPLAN in Term 1 (since 2023). It tests reading, writing, language conventions and numeracy. Year 9 is the final NAPLAN year and its results are used by some selective senior schools as part of their entry process.

What subjects do students study in Years 7–10?

Core subjects include English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography, Health & PE and Languages. From Year 9, most schools introduce elective subjects such as Drama, Music, Visual Art, Business Studies, Food Technology, Digital Technologies, and more. The mix varies by school.

Is Year 7 part of primary or secondary school?

Year 7 is part of secondary school in all Australian states. Queensland was the last state to make this transition in 2015. In some combined (K–12) schools, Year 7 students share a campus with primary students, but they follow the secondary curriculum.

What is the difference between junior and senior secondary school?

Junior Secondary (Years 7–10) provides a broad general education across all learning areas. Senior Secondary (Years 11–12) is more specialised — students choose subjects aligned to their ATAR goals or vocational pathway. Senior years lead to a state senior certificate and ATAR ranking for university entry.

How do I choose the right secondary school for my child?

Consider the school's culture and values, academic programs and extracurriculars, NAPLAN and ICSEA data (myschool.edu.au), proximity, sector preference (government, Catholic, independent), and whether the school provides a pathway through to Year 12 or is a standalone Years 7–10 school.

Junior Secondary School in Australia

Education Levels