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Junior secondary

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Years 7, 8 and 9

Junior secondary is a phase of education in Queensland state secondary schools for Years 7, 8 and 9, which helps to ensure the bridge between primary and secondary school is safe, strong and consistent for all students.

Junior secondary will focus on age appropriate education and support for students' wellbeing and transitions.

There are 6 components of junior secondary that aim to support students

6 Principles of Junior Secondary: district identity, quality teaching, student wellbeing, parent and community involvement, leadership and local decision making  

​Junior secondar​​y staff

Dakabin State High School has a number of staff who are committed to ensuring each student is supported through their time at school. The following people are important for your student to know.

Deputy Principal Year 7: Ms Kennedy

Deputy Principal Year 8: Mrs Turnbull

Deputy Principal Year 9: Mr Henderson

Head of Department Junior Secondary: Ms Thurecht

Year 7 Coordinator: Mr Leadbetter

Year 8 Coordinator: Mr Murphy

Year 9 Coordinator: Ms Clark

​Guidance Officers: Ms Pearce, Ms Hall, Ms Vaughan

​Subject offerings: Y​​ear 7–9 curriculum

Featuring core and elective subjects, students are given multiple opportunities to show what they know and can do by exploring subjects that allow them to use not only their skills in literacy and numeracy, but also critical and creative thinking, enabling them to be successful. In the curriculum booklets on the right-hand side of this page, you will find a brief description of the subjects offered to students.

Compulsory su​​bjects

  • English
  • >Mathematics
  • Science
  • Digital Technologies (Year 7 and 8)
  • Humanities
  • Health and Physical Education (HPE)

Elective subje​​cts

  • STEM
  • Agricultural Science
  • Home Economics / Food Science
  • Industrial Technology and Design
  • Digital Innovations
  • Dance
  • Drama
  • Media Arts
  • Music
  • Visual Art

Subjects offered in Year 9 in​ addition to those listed above

  • Business Studies
  • Basketball Academy
  • Small Animal Studies
  • Japanese
  • Engineering

Dragon's Hoard

Students in junior secondary are awarded Dragon Coins for displaying exemplary behaviour during class or in the playground. Students are then able to redeem their coins for exciting events that happen throughout the calendar year.

​Linked to Dakabin – Transition and Enrichment Program

The leap from primary into secondary school presents a period of rapid change for children. The expectations and environment are vastly different, as students are required to be more independent, mature and organised. Stepping into high school for the first time can be a very daunting experience for some students, especially if it is their first exposure to timetables, navigating the grounds, being independent and having a high level of organisational skills.

We have developed a Transition and Enrichment Program in partnership with Dakabin State School that runs throughout the primary school years to support our new students and make sure their transition to our school is as smooth as possible. Activities and events are held throughout the year to support students to build their academic capacity, organisational and study skills, develop strong peer relationships, enhance resilience and mindfulness, and to build a sense of connectedness to the school community.

Refer to the Linked to Dakabin program overv​iew (PDF, 843KB) for more details.

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Last reviewed 04 September 2026
Last updated 04 September 2026