At Mitchelton State High School, we believe every student can contribute, succeed, and grow through learning. Junior Secondary — Years 7, 8, and 9 — is where that belief takes shape: a dedicated three-year journey that builds the confidence, curiosity, and skills your child needs for senior schooling and beyond.
Whether your child is starting high school for the first time or is already finding their feet, our Junior Secondary program is built around getting to know every student as an individual, and giving them the support and opportunities they need to thrive.
Our approach
Everything we do in Junior Secondary is grounded in our four school values — Respect, Engagement, Achievement and Lifelong Learning — which we connect to four simple ideas for our students:
- Respect → understanding yourself
- Engagement → connecting with others and our community
- Achievement → building knowledge
- Lifelong Learning → developing skills for the future
We call this Contributive Learning: helping students discover who they are, connect with others, build knowledge, and develop the competency to become active, engaged members of their community — not just to get through the curriculum, but to genuinely contribute to the world around them.
Ready to learn, every day
In every Junior Secondary classroom, students are supported to build five simple habits that help them get the most out of each lesson — being 'Mitchie Ready':
- Mind Ready — arriving with a calm, focused mindset and giving learning full attention
- Materials Ready — bringing the right equipment and being organised
- Body Ready — well-fuelled and following routines promptly
- Voice Ready — listening respectfully, asking questions, and sharing ideas
- Heart Ready — trying your best, and supporting others to learn and succeed
These habits give students — and families — a shared way of talking about what it means to be ready to learn.
Your child's Junior Secondary journey
Each year of Junior Secondary has its own focus, building step by step towards senior schooling.
Year 7 — Discover
The move to high school is a big one. In Year 7, students focus on settling in, building foundational skills across English, Maths, Science, and Humanities, and trying a range of elective subjects to discover new interests. A dedicated transition and wellbeing program — including mentoring, counselling, and peer support — helps every student find their feet.
Year 8 — Inspire
With the transition to high school behind them, Year 8 students consolidate their skills, take on more independence, and begin exploring their interests in more depth — including choosing elective subjects aligned to a pathway that suits them (see Subjects and pathways below).
Year 9 — Leap
Year 9 steps up the challenge, with greater depth in English, Maths, Science, and Humanities, and a stronger focus on career education and pathways planning — as students prepare to choose their senior subjects.
By the end of Year 9, students are ready for the future — and can be recognised for their achievements with a Junior Certificate of Education (more below).
Subjects and pathways
All Junior Secondary students study a core program of English, Maths, Science, and Humanities. Students also experience a broad range of elective subjects, which have included Business, Dance, Drama, Design and Technologies, Economics and Business, Media Arts, Music, STEM, and Visual Art.
From the end of Year 7, students choose a broad pathway to follow into Years 8 and 9 — Thrive (practical, hands-on learning), Inspire (creative arts), or Achieve (academic extension) — so they can go deeper in the areas that suit them best, while continuing their core subjects. If a student's interests change, families can request to adjust their pathway by speaking with our Junior Secondary Head of Department.
Junior Secondary subject choices lay the groundwork for senior pathways in Years 10 to 12, including vocational education, Certificate courses, and university (ATAR) pathways. We share detailed subject-selection information with families as your child approaches each choice point.
Supporting your child
We know starting or moving through high school can raise a lot of questions — for students and for families. Junior Secondary students are supported by:
- A dedicated Pastoral Care teacher – their Connect teacher – who stays with your child from Year 7 right through to Year 12, providing continuity and a familiar face
- Common teachers across core subjects in the early years of high school
- An Academic Excellence pathway for students ready to be extended
- A school wellbeing team, including Guidance Officers, a Defence Transition Mentor, a school-based Health Nurse, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison Officer, and a Chaplain
- Year 10 Peer Supporters, who help new Year 7 students build confidence and connections
- Individual Curriculum Plans and additional learning support for students who need it
- Families can also apply for our Montessori Adolescent Program from Year 7 entry — a distinctive program that nurtures independence, curiosity, and responsibility for learning within a Montessori philosophy.
Assessment and the Junior Certificate of Education
We know assessment looks different in high school, and we want families to understand how it works. Not all students learn — or show what they know — in the same way, so our teachers use a broad mix of assessment types, from assignments and exams to projects, presentations, and practical demonstrations, alongside ongoing observation of everyday learning.
At the end of Year 9, students who meet the standard are awarded a Junior Certificate of Education (JCE) — a Mitchelton State High School certificate that recognises the whole of a student's junior secondary journey, not just their marks. It takes into account:
- Academic results (a C- average or better across Years 8 and 9, including a C or better in English and Maths for at least one semester of Year 9)
- Effort and behaviour each semester
- Involvement in co-curricular life — clubs, leadership, instrumental music and more
Students who exceed the standard can also be recognised with Credit, Distinction, or High Distinction, celebrated each year at our Academic Achievement Assemblies.
Leadership and getting involved
Student leadership is encouraged from Year 7, with opportunities in academic, sporting, cultural, and citizenship roles. Getting involved in leadership and co-curricular life — clubs, sport, the arts, instrumental music — builds confidence, communication and teamwork, and it counts towards a student's Junior Certificate of Education.
Our Junior Secondary spaces
Year 7 students learn in a dedicated precinct, with:
- One classroom for their core subjects (English, Humanities, Mathematics, Science)
- Undercover eating and play areas
- Flexible, modern learning spaces
- Specialist laboratories, workshops, kitchens, and creative arts spaces
- Globally connected classrooms for innovative learning experiences
Common questions from families
What subjects will my child study in Year 7?
All students study a core program — English, Maths, Science, and Humanities — plus a range of elective subjects, so they can try new things before choosing a pathway from Year 8.
When does my child choose their subjects or pathway?
Students choose a pathway — Thrive, Inspire, or Achieve — at the end of Year 7, to follow into Years 8 and 9. We provide detailed information and support ahead of each choice point.
Can my child change pathway or subjects later?
Yes. If a student's interests change, families can arrange a meeting with our Junior Secondary Head of Department or Deputy Principal to discuss adjusting their pathway.
How will my child be supported settling into high school?
Every Year 7 student has access to Year 10 Peer Supporters who help with their transition, a Pastoral Care teacher (Connect teacher) who stays with them through to Year 12, their Head of Year, and the Student Support Team and/or Case Managers if required.
What is the Junior Certificate of Education (JCE)?
It's a school-based certificate awarded at the end of Year 9 that recognises a student's academic results, effort, behaviour, and involvement in school life.
Is the Montessori Program part of Junior Secondary?
Yes — families can apply for our Montessori Adolescent Program from Year 7 entry, as an alternative to our mainstream Junior Secondary program.
What support is there if my child needs extra help, or extra challenge?
Our wellbeing team and inclusion team support students who need extra help, and our Academic Excellence pathway extends students ready for greater challenge.
How can I get involved as a parent or carer?
We welcome family involvement — through the P&C, parent-teacher evenings, school events, and by staying in touch with your child's Connect teacher and/or Head of Year.
Who do I contact with questions about Junior Secondary?
Contact our office on (07) 3550 1111 or admin@mitcheltonshs.eq.edu.au, and we'll connect you with the right person.
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