It is very important that the transition from primary school to secondary school is smooth. At Ulladulla High School, Year 6 students have several opportunities to experience high school life. Year 6 students have the opportunity to talk to current Year 7 students, the Year 7 Adviser and Deputy Principal.
Students with special needs are identified and suitable transition programs established, including participation in a series of activities with students currently enrolled in Special Education classes.
UHS offers Year 6 students a ‘taster day', in which students and their primary school teachers participate in a number of mini lessons on high school subjects. Year 6 students have the opportunity to meet high school teachers, follow a timetable and walk to different classrooms to undertake lessons in Technology and Science. UHS students from a variety of year groups visit local primary schools and demonstrate skills in science, personal development, health, physical education (PDHPE) and drama.
Year 6 students and their parents are invited to attend an orientation day and evening to help students and families feel comfortable in their new surrounds.
Stage 4 learning
Students enter Year 7 within a learning and welfare framework of Stage 4. The aim of Stage 4 learning is to settle new students in a safe, caring and stable learning environment. Typically students in upper primary have one core teacher who teaches all the main subject areas. In high school the number of teachers increases dramatically.
To bridge the transition to high school in Year 7, the core key learning areas (KLA0 subjects of English, human science and its environment (HSIE), mathematics and science see one teacher leading learning in English/HSIE and another teacher in maths/science. Each class also has a homeroom. Alongside this, Stage 4 teachers work very closely together to model best practice teaching and learning in a caring environment.
Year 7 students also undertake elective subjects where students move around the school and learn from other teachers and in specialised learning environments.