Information for primary school teachers
The following information for the statewide move of Year 7 to secondary school settings in 2015
has been developed for primary school teachers in Queensland state schools.
Why is Year 7 moving to high school?
The move of Year 7 to secondary school
settings in 2015 is a major reform to
Queensland’s education system, which will
benefit all students.
The move follows other educational reforms,
including the introduction of the Prep year in
2007 and the raising of the Year 1 entry age
by six months in 2008.
high school cohort and resources will be
allocated accordingly.
Will primary teachers be required to
move from primary schools to
secondary schools?
Any move of existing teachers from primary to
secondary will be voluntary and through
negotiation with the individual employee.
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.
The move will be supported by the Junior
Secondary Connect program which provides
access to a range of professional
development opportunities and support.
In a secondary setting, Year 7 students will
also have access to specialist teachers and
facilities, which will allow them to fully engage
with the Australian Curriculum.
Primary teachers interested in transitioning to
Junior Secondary in 2015 can register their
interest at teach.qld.gov.au
How will primary school resourcing be
affected by the Year 7 move?
What are the opportunities for primary
teachers in Junior Secondary?
To support the Year 7 transition in 2015, up to
1,300 additional teachers will be required in
state secondary schools providing new career
and employment opportunities for Queensland
teachers, particularly existing primary school
teachers.
Secondary school principals value the skills,
knowledge and experience that primary
teachers can bring to the Junior Secondary
setting.
There will be no reduction in the number of
teachers employed in Queensland state
schools as a result of the move of Year 7 to
secondary.
All school staffing, including specialist
teachers such as languages and instrumental
music will continue to be allocated based on
Day 8 student enrolments.
Year 7 students who enrol in a high school
setting will be counted at Day 8 as part of the
More than 80 experienced primary teachers
have already transitioned to Junior Secondary
settings in the 20 schools where Year 7 is
being piloted. These teachers have made
significant contributions to the positive
transition of Year 7 students, their schools and
communities.
To find out about the experiences of some of
the teachers who have already transitioned
please visit teach.qld.gov.au
Will teachers working with Year 7
students in secondary school setting
be treated similarly to other secondary
school teachers?
Where the employment conditions of a
primary teacher differ from a secondary
teacher (e.g. non-contact time), teachers of
Year 7 students in a secondary school setting
will be treated as a secondary school teacher.
What will primary teachers who
transition to secondary be expected to
teach?
Each secondary school is developing its own
Junior Secondary model which will influence
its timetable structure and allocation of
teaching responsibilities.
In most pilot schools, teachers have shared
responsibility for the four key learning areas –
mathematics, science, English and history –
and Year 7 students have had classes with
other teachers with specialist knowledge and
skills.
Transitioning primary teachers have also had
the opportunity to teach in other year levels in
a curriculum area of interest or expertise.
During the recruitment process interested
teachers may have an opportunity to discuss
what their teaching responsibilities would be
with the secondary school principal.
How will teachers for Junior Secondary
in 2015 be recruited and appointed?
Schools and regions will be working together
during Semester 1, 2014 to identify and select
teachers for each secondary school.
Principals will be directly involved in the
selection of teachers to ensure that they have
the right complement of teachers for their
Junior Secondary model.
The Register of Interest will be a key tool for
schools and regions when identifying and
selecting teachers for 2015.
Information collected through the register
includes teaching capabilities and preferences,
and it provides existing primary teachers with
an opportunity to identify the specific
secondary schools in which they wish to be
considered for employment.
The Register of Interest also offers existing
teachers the opportunity to provide detailed
information about why they are interested in
teaching in Junior Secondary and how they
will be able to contribute to the Junior
Secondary philosophy.
The Register of Interest can be accessed at
teach.qld.gov.au
Will I lose my transfer points if I move
to a Junior Secondary setting?
It is anticipated that the majority of primary
teachers will be seeking to transition to
secondary schools within their current region.
If a primary teacher volunteers to move to a
secondary school in 2015, this will be treated
as an organisational change enabling them to
retain their transfer points.
What support will be provided to
primary teachers transitioning to
secondary schools?
The department is committed to ensuring that
primary teachers transitioning to Junior
Secondary have access to a range of
development and support opportunities prior
to, during and after transition.
The Junior Secondary Connect program has
been developed to provide primary teachers
transitioning to Junior Secondary with access
to a suite of development opportunities that
enables them to build on their personal and
professional capabilities and knowledge.
Teachers will also receive ongoing support
and induction in 2015 as part of this program.
Detailed information about the Junior
Secondary Connect program is available from
More information can be found at
teach.qld.gov.au
If I transition to secondary in 2015, can
I return to a primary school at a later
stage?
If a teacher who transitions to a Junior
Secondary setting in 2015 decides they wish
to return to a primary setting, the region will
consider their individual circumstances in
accordance with vacancies and other transfer
requests.
Staff transition management will be in
accordance with industrial awards and
agreements.
If I am currently undertaking a
temporary contract in a primary school
can I apply to teach Junior Secondary?
Suitably qualified and experienced teachers
undertaking temporary contracts or casual
(supply) teaching in primary or secondary
schools are able to be considered for
vacancies in Junior Secondary settings.
There are a number of ways to indicate your
interest in employment in Junior Secondary in
2015, these include:

registering your interest as a teacher
applicant and completing all sections of
the register, including your identification
number and employment preferences

if you have already registered your interest,
ensure that your details are complete and
up to date

teachers currently registered with
TRACER can update their personal details
and preferences to include Junior
Secondary through their MyHR
Recruitment TRACER account

the Teacher Applicant Centre can also
assist with updating your teaching and
location preferences.
Has consultation with key stakeholders
been undertaken?
The department has undertaken extensive
and continued consultation with the relevant
unions and professional associations to
establish transition arrangements that support
existing teaching and non-teaching staff in
state schools.
Where can I get further information?
Register your interest with the department to
stay up to date with relevant information about
Junior Secondary employment opportunities,
employment processes and professional
development opportunities.
Information about Junior Secondary, including
upcoming information sessions and showcase
and taster days in each region, is available on
the teach.qld.gov.au website.
Information about Junior Secondary and the
transition of Year 7 to secondary settings in
2015 is available from the Flying Start website
at flyingstart.qld.gov.au
The website contains a collection of fact
sheets and frequently asked questions for
school staff.