Senior Years

Academically and socially, Grade 7 provides a structured transition from the security of primary school education to the challenging intellectual and emotional adolescent years. The balance between nurture and challenge is carefully managed to ensure an optimal start and successful learning outcomes across the school year.

The School supports Grade 7 students by way of a purpose-built learning zone. The ‘Log Cabin’ has been designed to meet the developmental needs of young adolescents and provides a welcoming and nurturing environment that gently exposes students to the wider experiences of secondary school. Now a long-valued tradition, it has been proven to support and increase parental involvement in secondary school life and transitions students smoothly to the Senior Campus.

Our Grade 7 students have a designated class teacher who is responsible for their overall welfare and is aware of the new challenges that the secondary years bring. The class teacher ensures that each of their students is known, heard and understood.

Students are assigned to one of our five Houses where they begin to form an identity and bond with this core group of fellow students. With Grade 7 teachers responsible for student pastoral care in their first year of high school, students become more fully part of the Senior Campus House system in Grade 8.

A highlight of Grade 7 at Launceston Grammar is the Outdoor Education programme consisting of two camps; a four-day camp in the second week of the new school year; and a seven-day experience on Maria Island in October. A special feature of both camps is that they are undertaken by all students at the same time and this adds greatly to the shared experience.

In Grade 8 our students make the transition from the Grade 7 Log Cabins and become more fully integrated into the House system. Joining a tutor group with students from Grades 8 to 12, they begin to set their sights on the years ahead. Together with their tutors, who are trained to have coaching conversations, they collaboratively plan their future goals.

Our specialised peer mentoring Pastoral Programme empowers students to learn from each other and develop strong, positive relationships with their cohort and teachers.

Grade 8 students are challenged in the outdoors with a major Outdoor Education camp at Freycinet Peninsular, and an extensive range of sporting, music and cultural activities. Grade 8 marks the beginning of the senior years with a wide choice of electives from which to choose. During Grade 8 students also begin to explore future potential careers with access to our specialist Careers Advisor.

Many opportunities are available for Grade 9 as they start to think about courses in Grades 11 and 12 and the years beyond. Students in Grade 9 have the opportunity to choose extension subjects in Mathematics, Science and History which fast track them into studies in Grade 11 and 12.

Students perform and excel in senior music ensembles, senior sports teams and a range of cultural activities that challenge them to perform at higher levels. They are exposed to a significant Outdoor Education experience in Tasmania’s north east that inspires and nurtures their unique leadership styles.

Grade 10 is a critical year as students begin preparation for pre tertiary studies. Launceston Grammar provides a raft of opportunities for students to help prepare them for the years ahead.

Significant elements of the Grade 10 year involve a Retreat programme, Grade 10 Futures Week and a unique Outdoor Education experience where students select from a range of experiences which range from traversing the Overland to rafting the Derwent River.

Grade 10 students take on leadership roles within the School and mentor younger students. As with other years, they spend significant time being counselled by their tutors and our careers advisory team about the years ahead whether it be academic or trades based.

These two years see students undertaking the Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE) studies as they begin to contemplate university based or careers based education in the years ahead. Launceston Grammar has the enviable reputation of producing results of the finest calibre across these two years.

Our small class sizes and highly regarded expert teaching staff maximise the potential of all students. Each year we have a significant number graduating in the top 100 within our state as well as a significant number graduating with an ATAR score that allows them access to their university of first choice. Equally, our students are guided into the workforce whether that be an apprenticeship or a gap year. As our students navigate this process, they are assisted by our specialised Careers Advisor as well as House heads.

The School’s focus is on helping students achieve their aspirations. In these final years they have opportunities to become leaders within the school community. Opportunities abound for students to be involved in community service projects from breakfast programmes at local primary schools to assisting to run the Sony Christmas Camp for students with disability. Many of our students will complete the Duke of Edinburgh award during these years and the School often has students awarded the coveted gold award in this scheme.

As with other years, our students have opportunities to participate and be challenged in academic, sporting, arts and cultural activities. Opportunities also abound for them to network with others within our community.

In Grade 12 students continue in the footsteps of those that have gone before by completing an annual Walkathon. This historic rite of passage includes an 80-kilometre walk to raise funds for charitable causes.