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Junior secondary

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​At Cairns School of Distance Education our Junior Secondary phase of learning caters for students in Years 7 to 9. 

Cairns SDE is informed by the K–12 Curriculum, assessment and reporting framework (K-12 Framework) which specifies the curriculum, assessment and reporting requirements for all Queensland state schools and upholds every student's right to access approved or prescribed kindergarten, primary and secondary education appropriate to their needs.​

Research throughout Australia has identified the unique challenges students experience in the transition from the lower middle years into the upper middle years. Our junior secondary phase has a focus on providing support for students as they progress through these pivotal years.

At Cairns SDE, the Year 7 & 8 program will see students study four core subjects (English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities) plus a language, and two introductory subjects each semester (from Health and Physical Education, The Arts and Technologies).

In Year 9, students continue with the core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science for the full year, and study a semester of History and Health and Physical Education. Students select a minimum of one, or a maximum of two subjects from The Arts, Humanities or Technologies.

Welcome to our Junior Secondary phase of learning! We wish you well as you progress through this important phase of your educational journey.

Assessment Policies

School assessment policies provide guidelines for teachers and expectations for all staff and students for assessment. These policies support schools in promoting equitable and credible outcomes, including academic integrity. Please refer to the ​Asse​ssment Policy​ page for more details.​

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Last reviewed 28 July 2026
Last updated 28 July 2026