The Middle School at Townsville Grammar aims to provide an exciting and dynamic experience of schooling for our girls and boys in Years 7, 8 and 9.

Middle schooling is an educational approach that better caters for the physical, social, emotional, moral and cognitive needs of young people. It bridges the divide between primary and secondary education by extending students in this middle phase, equipping them with the skills to become independent learners and successful citizens in this new and ever-changing world.

Townsville Grammar School is committed to best-practice middle schooling through an approach to teaching and learning that is student-centred, authentic, collaborative, developmental, and challenging.

Literacy and Numeracy

The development of literacy and numeracy across all core subject areas is a key focus of the Middle School curriculum. Our dedicated teachers work collaboratively in teams and regularly attend professional development initiatives to ensure our curriculum delivery is relevant and responsive to adolescent culture and trends. The core subjects on offer in our Middle School include the following:

• English
• Mathematics
• Science
• Studies of Society and the Environment (History and Geography)
• Modern Languages (Japanese, French, Italian and Indonesian) or Literacy Support
• Physical Education
• Performing Arts

 The curriculum offers students opportunity to engage in:

• Music and/or Reading
• Design and Technology
• Art
• IT Foundations

130 laptops on trolleys, plus an additional 18 desktop computers throughout the classrooms, are available for use in the Middle School. Each Middle School classroom is equipped with a data projector and wireless internet access. With the support of an IT-Aide, all Middle School teachers are able to integrate technology into curriculum planning and pedagogy.

Pastoral Care and Student Well-Being

Our approach in pastoral care and student well-being encompasses all aspects of students’ lives both inside and outside the classroom. With an emphasis on high expectations and high support we encourage students’ physical and social-emotional development through building strong relationships between students, and between students and their teachers. Our Middle School ‘Values Framework’ forms the foundation for pastoral care initiatives, developing values such as respect, tolerance, responsibility, care and compassion, and personal best. Initiatives currently operating in our pastoral care programme include: Values Education, Life Education, Drug Education and the Friendly Schools and Families Programme.

A common thread linking our core curriculum, pastoral care and values education is a philosophical approach to behaviour management known as ‘Restorative Practices’. Restorative Practices (RP) enables students to explore harm that has been caused in conflict situations and to find common solutions/agreements for a positive way forward. This approach is effective at providing students with the skills required to resolve conflict situations without having to resort to anti-social behaviour. RP uses conflict as an opportunity for learning, particularly in areas of communication, self-awareness and understanding how one’s actions impact upon others. RP is used in conjunction with other discipline measures such as detentions, Diary monitoring and suspensions. 

The Head of Middle School, Mr David Terblanche, and Year Level Co-ordinators, with the support of the School Counsellor, Head of Educational Support and Form Teachers make up the Pastoral Care team of the Middle School and work closely with students to provide a safe and caring environment.

Staff

The Head of Middle School has specific responsibility for the educational well-being of all students in the Middle School ensuring operational processes of the Middle School Precinct are aligned with best-practice delivery models. The Head of Middle School is also the Year 9 Co-ordinator and is supported by a Year Level Co-ordinator for Years 7 and 8, to deliver effective pastoral care to all students. The Deputy Principal (Curriculum), Mrs Mary Hall, has overall responsibility for the co-ordination of curriculum in the Middle School and is supported by a Curriculum Team that consists of the Year 7 Curriculum Co-ordinator (Mrs Cheryl Kybus), the Heads of Faculties and the Head of Middle School. The Middle School Teachers, the Pastoral Care Team and the Curriculum Team work collaboratively to ensure a student-centred approach to teaching and learning and an educational philosophy that is built upon high expectations and high support.

Years 7-9 Curriculum

Year 7-9 Curriculum