The NT Government’s move to scrap middle schools in favour of new “comprehensive” high schools will start in Darwin and Palmerston by next year, the Education Minister has pledged, with Alice Springs scheduled to come on line in 2027, while the changes come amid an ongoing teacher shortage.
Education Minister Jo Hersey said the new system will see some middle schools transition to Year 7 to 12 schools by next year, which she said would offer greater stability for students.
The complete rollout across all urban government schools is scheduled to be finished by 2028, and Ms Hersey said the new comprehensive schools will give families certainty, empowering teachers with stronger career development opportunities, and ensure that students get access to high-quality education for future careers.
“These changes will open doors for students to step straight from school into a trade, a job, or a university degree, right here in the Territory,” she said.
“It’s also about giving young people the chance to explore their interests and making sure they have the support and resources to succeed.”
The plan to scrap middle schools was first raised last year by the previous Labor government, following a Deloitte Access Economics report that delivered 15 recommendations to improve public education in the NT, including rolling middle schools into high schools. Part of the reasoning involves decreasing the number of “transition points” for students and keeping them in the same school for longer.
Key features of the now CLP Government’s plan include:
Darwin (from 2026):
- Four comprehensive high schools (Years 7-12) at Dripstone, Nightcliff, Sanderson (merged with a new specialist trade and technical college), and Darwin Middle and High Schools (combined into one school);
- A new Industry, Trade and Technical College (Years 10-12), co-located at Sanderson, focused on high-priority sectors;
- A Higher Education-Focused College at Casuarina Senior College (Years 10-12), expanding pathways into professions like teaching and healthcare.
Palmerston (from 2026):
- Two full high schools (Years 7-12) across the existing Palmerston College sites in Driver and Rosebery.
Alice Springs (from 2027):
- One full high school (Years 7-12) at the Centralian Middle School site.
- A new Regional Industry, Trade and Flexible Education College (Years 10-12) at the current Centralian Senior College site.
“This phased approach ensures that students, families, and school staff have the time and support needed to move forward with confidence,” Ms Hersey said.
Amid the reforms to middle schools, the Department of Education is facing serious staffing challenges, with 82 teaching positions remaining unfilled since the beginning of the second semester on July 15.
Educators raised concerns about the impact of the ongoing vacancies, especially as some middle schools prepare to transition to the more comprehensive institutions. Although 89 teachers were successfully recruited for Term 3, the department acknowledged that 82 vacancies persist across the Territory.
“Those figures represent a significant improvement on previous years, and the department deserves credit for achieving that. We know how much effort has gone into recruitment, and it’s encouraging to see that reflected in the data,” Australian Education Union NT (AEU NT) president Michelle Ayres told the NT News.
However, Ms Ayres said while the department’s efforts to close the teacher shortage gap are laudable, they did not reflect the actual workforce shortage.
“At the same time, we don’t believe advertised vacancies reflect the full picture. In many cases, roles that would make a real difference aren’t advertised at all — they’re quietly absorbed by staff who are already at capacity,” she said.
“The reality is that more teachers are needed to implement strong programs and engage students well. That will help to keep both the students and the teachers in schools.”
A 2022 federal government report highlighted a significant teacher shortage in the Territory, predicting a surplus of 4,100 secondary school teachers by 2025.
There is still a lot of uncertainty and anxiety regarding the upcoming transition of middle schools, with the union suggesting there were still questions about “workload and infrastructure” that have yet to be addressed and concerns remain that teachers have not been adequately consulted about the changes.
‘the Department of Education is facing serious staffing challenges’
And they always will because of the way they treat their lower level staff.
Bullying Directors and Principals, supported by HR, keeps pushing honest, hardworking teachers out of their jobs.
Having a hairdresser in charge won’t help either. Duh.