Middle Years Conference 2005
Resilience, Engagement, Success

Extract of conference welcome:

A NSW first, this conference has attracted teachers, school leaders, parents and academics from across and beyond the state.

While we are aware of many of the issues facing our middle years students, increasingly we want to understand more about what drives and engages our 10 to 14 year olds.

Research supports the claim that success at school in these middle years is a critical indicator of achievement and success in the later years of schooling and beyond.

This conference is structured to provide a variety of forums to consider different ways to support students in transition from primary to secondary school. We will examine the curriculum students learn, the social development of pre-teens and young adolescents and the best teaching and learning environments we can provide.

A fresh look at the middle years of schooling will be of enormous benefit to current and future students, teachers and parents.

I trust you will take back much from the next two days, and are inspired by the ideas, stories and messages shared. We are confident you will leave this conference with a deeper understanding and some great practical ideas to enhance teaching and learning in the middle years.

Trevor Fletcher
Deputy Director-General (Schools)
NSW Department of Education and Training