content-left-bg.png
content-right-bg.png

Junior school

PublishingPageContent

Junior Secondary (Years 7 - 9) recognizes the unique developmental needs of early adolescents (cognitive, social, emotional, physical)  and the school is committed to the seamless transition of students from primary school into engaging and supportive Junior Secondary school classrooms that optimise student learning at every opportunity.

Rochedale State High School responds to this unique stage of development by providing a Junior Secondary approach. This includes:

  • A Junior Secondary curriculum, underpinned by the ‘Six Pillars of Junior Secondary’ , designed to provide students with the opportunity to experience a wide range of subjects in a caring and supportive environment, while meeting the requirements of the Australian Curriculum

  • A learner-centred approach whereby coherent curriculum is focused on identified needs, interests and concerns of students, and with an emphasis on self-directed and co-constructed learning

  • Collaboratively organised teams of teachers who know and understand their students very well, employ powerful pedagogical strategies to challenge and extend students within a supportive school environment 

  • Ethically aware practices of justice, care, respect and concern for the needs of others as reflected in every-day practice of students, teachers and administrators

Curriculum

In Year 7 and 8, students will study English, Mathematics, History / Geography, Science (including Agricultural Science), Health and Physical Education, LOTE (Chinese), The Arts (rotation of Dance, Music, Drama, Visual Art), and Technologies (rotation of Food Studies, Design Technology, Media Arts, Digital Technology. 

In Year 9, students study a core curriculum that includes English, Mathematics, Science, History or Geography, and Health and Physical Education.  A broad range of elective subjects supplements the Year 9 core curriculum. Students study 2 elective subjects

Elective Choices Year 9:

  • Agricultural Practices
  • APEX
  • Chinese
  • Dance
  • Design & Technology
  • Digital Technologies
  • Drama
  • Economics and Business
  • Film & Media Technologies
  • Food Specialisations
  • Metal Trade Skills
  • Music
  • STEM
  • Textiles Studies
  • Timber Trade Skills
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV & Drones)
  • Visual Art

From Year 8, students will no longer have a 'Key Teacher' as they did in Junior Secondary but will move around to specialist areas for their subjects. Their IDP teacher becomes a key point of contact for parents and students alike.

At Rochedale State High School we believe junior secondary students need to focus on developing independence, resilience, and social and emotional competence as learners. Our IDP Program (Individual Development Program) develops these competencies as wells as assisting student to learn how to organise and maintain independent study routines, make decisions that promote personal success, understand themselves as learners and how they contribute to the positive learning culture of the school.

Our curriculum incorporates:

  • Access for all students to state-of-the-art technology embedded across the curriculum or BYOD (laptop) program;

  • Unique experiences for students in the Arts (APEX, Dance, Music, Drama, Media Arts, and Visual Arts);

  • Access to a Chinese program as part of a strong focus on languages and cultures;

  • Learning support and articulated programs for students with special needs (Achievement & Development Centre);

  • Access to well-resourced Learning Centre;

  • Career guidance and counselling support (dedicated Guidance Officer for Junior Secondary);

  • A disciplined environment based on high standards of behaviour;

  • Strong links with Universities, TAFE Institutes and Industry; and

  • Interschool sport

 

Assessment Calendars

Yr7 - year-07-sem1-2025.pdf

Yr8 - year-08-sem1-2025.pdf

Yr9 - year-09-sem1-2025.pdf

 

Related Links

RSHS Yr9 into Yr10 Subject Selection

junior-secondary-yr9-10-pathways-subject-information-2024.pptx

RSHS Yr9 into Yr10 Subject Selection Handbook

year-10-subject-selection-2025.pdf

Assessment Policy
https://rochedaleshs.eq.edu.au/supportandresources/formsanddocuments/documents/policies/assessment-policy-2025.pdf

Assessment Absensce Form Yr7-9

https://rochedaleshs.eq.edu.au/supportandresources/formsanddocuments/documents/assessment_absence_form_year_7-9.pdf


Last reviewed 20 May 2025
Last updated 20 May 2025