Middle Years (Years 7 - 9) 

I am Anna Symonds, Head of Middle Years at Yankalilla Area School. I work closely with students, families, and teachers to support all aspects of student wellbeing and learning across Years 7–9. I also teach Agriculture to secondary students.
Our Middle Years philosophy focuses on recognising and nurturing each student’s unique learning needs, building strong relationships, and celebrating individual strengths. We incorporate restorative practices to foster a positive, supportive community. By tailoring our approach to each student’s strengths and interests, we empower them to take ownership of their learning and grow into confident, responsible learners.
A key feature of our Middle Years is our culture of care, which underpins and promotes academic excellence
The Middle Years team at Yankalilla Area School recognises the critical importance of schooling during early adolescence and the unique needs of students in this stage of their development. We are committed to providing programs that are responsive to students’ developmental and learning needs—programs that are both engaging and rewarding. Rest assured, when your child enters the Middle Years, they will be in capable, compassionate, and caring hands.
Our curriculum and wellbeing programs have a global perspective, preparing students for active citizenship in a democratic and multicultural society.
We encourage students to:
  • Be themselves, showing tolerance and respect for others
  • Appreciate and celebrate differences
  • Grow in self-respect and take responsibility for their actions
  • Become leaders and responsible learners through active decision-making
Understanding Middle Years Learners
At Yankalilla, we understand that students in the Middle Years (typically aged 11–15) are:
  • Experiencing significant physical, social, and emotional changes
  • Developing a sense of identity and becoming aware of their sexuality
  • Forming values, ideas, and opinions
  • Beginning to make decisions about their lives and the world around them
  • Building strong friendships and learning the importance of positive relationships
How We Support Middle Years Students
At Yankalilla Area School, we support our Middle Years students by:
  • Nurturing strong, positive relationships between students, teachers, parents, and caregivers
  • Maintaining small class sizes to foster personalised learning
  • Promoting resilience and positive social, emotional, and physical development
  • Making learning meaningful, relevant, challenging, and enjoyable
  • Offering intellectually stimulating activities tailored to individual abilities
  • Designing an inclusive curriculum that supports different learning styles and needs
  • Supporting diversity through mixed-ability classes
  • Encouraging collaboration through individual, group, class, and sub-school activities
  • Ensuring access to modern teaching methods and resources equitably
  • Fostering student leadership in the classroom and across the school
  • Celebrating student achievements throughout the year
  • Integrating up-to-date technology to support learning
  • Implementing consistent assessment practices that reward effort and engagement
  • Building strong connections with the Junior and Senior Schools and community organisations
A Unique Middle Years Experience
We believe our Middle Years program is both special and unique. As part of a Reception to Year 12 school, we are able to view the Middle Years as a vital link within the broader educational journey. We work closely with our Junior and Senior Schools—as well as our feeder schools at Rapid Bay and Myponga—to ensure smooth transitions and rich opportunities for connection across year levels.

Head of Middle Years

Anna Symonds