Middle School

YEAR 7 – ‘Our New Learning Community’

Year 7 Students are supported to develop their organisational skills, as well as their independent learning skills; Balwyn High School places a high value on formative assessment because it supports students to understand their learning progress as they play an active role in their learning. Most Year 7 students will access the laptop program and continue to develop their ability to incorporate digital technologies into their learning. Learning at Year 7 focuses on a range of core subjects including English (or English as an Additional Language), Mathematics, Science, Humanities, Physical Education and Health, Visual Art, Music and Language (either French or Chinese). Major events at Year 7 include the Student Transition and Enhancement Program (STEP), Year 7 Camp and a range of excursions. Developing strategies for positive wellbeing is prioritised through weekly tutorial lessons, clubs and committees, leadership opportunities and array of wellbeing incursions around self-esteem, positive relationships, mental health and more.

YEAR 8 – ‘Making a Difference’

Whereas students in Year 7 focus on building connections within their new learning community, Year 8 students focus on the impact that they can make on the lives of others. As active members of the community and as role-models, students participate in activities that nurture the attributes of successful learners and community members. Students in Year 8 have more agency with their learning as they select two elective subjects each semester, in addition to the core subjects from Year 7. Students’ elective choices include Drama, Media, Music, Food Studies and Computing. Major activities at Year 8 include the Making a Difference Program, Student Leadership, Music, Sport and much more, with an emphasis on civics and pathways education. Students also engage in a range of wellbeing programs, including the anti-bullying program Project Rockit, which supports students to use digital technologies responsibly as a respectful ‘digital citizen’. Year 8 students are widely represented in the huge range of clubs and other co-curricular activities offered at Balwyn High School.

YEAR 9 – ‘My Middle School Experience’

Year 9 marks a pivotal stage in a student’s journey as they prepare for the transition to Senior School. At this stage, students are given meaningful opportunities to reflect on how their Middle School experience has contributed to their personal growth. They are supported to continue developing as independent learners and creative thinkers. A key highlight of the Year 9 experience is the time spent in the City of Melbourne as part of the Careers Pathway Inquiry Experience, alongside participation in the Morrisby My Career Insights assessment and interview. These experiences help students explore future pathways and reflect on their aspirations. Academically, students continue to study core subjects—English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities, and Health and Physical Education—while also selecting four elective subjects from a diverse range, including Outdoor Education, Art, Drama, Nanotechnology, and The Writers’ Craft. While extension opportunities are embedded across all subjects, Year 9 also offers additional pathways for high-achieving students, including entry into a second SEAL class and participation in an extension Mathematics class. Leadership also becomes a focus in Year 9, with students taking on key roles as leaders of Middle School. Their Middle School journey culminates in a reflective presentation to their Year 7 Tutorial Class, teachers, and parents/carers, where they articulate their growth and readiness for the challenges of Senior School.