Move away from Middle schools

The transition from the middle school model to the new comprehensive secondary school structure commenced in 2026.

Dripstone Secondary College, Nightcliff High School, Sanderson High School and Rosebery Secondary College have completed their first Term operating as Year 7-10 schools. Driver Secondary School completed Term 1 with its new Year 7 cohort, alongside existing Years 10-12.

These schools will each add additional year levels in 2027 and 2028, becoming full Years 7–12 comprehensive secondary schools in 2028.

To support their transition, infrastructure upgrades are being undertaken to ensure teaching spaces support delivery of senior years curriculum. This has included:

• Completion of woodwork room upgrades at Nightcliff High School and a new purpose-built salon and electro-communications room at Sanderson High School.
• Commencement of upgrades to a science lab at Nightcliff High School and procurement for works to upgrade Dripstone Secondary College’s science lab.
• Finalisation of the design for a shade structure at Driver Secondary School to create an additional playing area for the new cohort of younger students.

All new comprehensive schools that are delivering NTCET subjects for the first time participated in regional NTCET Coordinator networking events organised by the department’s Teaching and Learning Services Division. Schools delivering stage 1 subjects in 2026 were also provided with moderation and review support.

Enrolment data for Term 1, showed stronger than projected enrolments across the new year levels indicating positive support from families for the comprehensive school model.

Darwin High School

The new Darwin High School was established in Term 1, 2026 with the following key milestones:

• Legal amalgamation: Government Gazette Instrument No. S16 PDF (196.3 KB), published on 27 February 2026, formally amalgamated Darwin Middle School and Darwin High School. The instrument confirmed the new school name as Darwin High School and established a School Management Council, with Ms Annette Pederson, Transition Principal, appointed to the council. These changes took effect 27 February 2026.
• Stakeholder consultation: Engagement on the establishment of the new school occurred with the school community, the Australian Education Union NT, NT Council of Government School Organisations, NT Principals’ Association and the local Member for Fannie Bay.
• A parent information night was held on 11 March 2026 outlining next steps for establishing a new school representative body and inviting nominations.
• Government Gazette Instrument No. S27 PDF (177.3 KB) was published on 14 April 2026 to abolish the Darwin High School Management Council and establish a School Representative Board. The first School Board meeting occurred on 26 March 2026.
• Work is taking place across the school to design the new school brand and integrate the school curriculum, staffing and timetabling.

Centralian Middle School and Centralian Senior College - Alice Springs

Planning continues to prepare for the transition to a comprehensive school with grades 7-10 continuing on the current Centralian Middle School site in 2027 expanding to grades 7-12 from 2028. The current Centralian Senior School site will transform into a regional industry, trade and flexible education college starting in 2028

The following milestones have been delivered in Term 1:

• Ms Donna O’Brien commenced as Transitional Principal and visited Darwin to meet with leaders from schools that have already transitioned to the comprehensive model. Site visits included Darwin High School, Sanderson High School, Driver Secondary School, Rosebery Secondary School and Taminmin College. Each visit provided valuable insights into change processes and delivery models for Years 7–12.
• Hon. Jo Hersey MLA, Minister for Education and Training announced on 13 April 2026 that, following consultation with students, parents and school staff, Alice Springs College would be the name of the new comprehensive school.
• A Transitional Advisory Committee was set up to guide design and operationalisation of the new school. The committee includes members from school councils, leadership, staff and students.
• The site layout for Alice Springs College is being mapped out, with a focus on creating fit for purpose faculty spaces with teaching areas suited to a full secondary cohort, smaller learning spaces for senior students and staff rooms.
• The Skills NT team travelled to Alice Springs in March to commence planning VET Pathways for Alice Springs College and design of the Alice Springs Industry College.

The Department of Education and Training, in collaboration with schools, is on track to delivery key changes from 2026 to support the transition from middle schools to comprehensive schools in urban areas.

Highlights:

School naming

Several Darwin and Palmerston schools will adopt new names from Term 1, 2026 with names selected in close consultation with school communities:

• Nightcliff Middle School will become Nightcliff High School
• Sanderson Middle School will become Sanderson High School
• Dripstone Middle School will become Dripstone Secondary College
• Palmerston College Driver Campus will become Driver Secondary School
• Palmerston College Rosebery Campus will become Rosebery Secondary School
• Darwin Middle and Darwin High Schools will merge to become Darwin High School
• Casuarina Senior College will retain its current name
• In Alice Springs, the Centralian Middle School and Centralian Senior College communities will work together in Term 1, 2026 to select a name for their new comprehensive school.

Principal appointments

To lead the new schools, the following principals have been appointed:

• Ms. Annette Pedersen, current Principal of Darwin Middle School, will lead the new comprehensive Darwin High School
• Ms. Maisie Floyd, current Principal of Palmerston College, will lead the new Driver Secondary School
• Ms. Kristi Beynon, current Head of Campus at Palmerston College’s Rosebery site, will lead the new Rosebery Secondary School
• Ms. Donna O’Brien, current Principal of Gillen Primary School, will lead the new comprehensive high school in Alice Springs.

Continuing in their current roles:

• Ms. Eva Kokkinomagoulos will lead Nightcliff High School
• Ms. Nektaria Pikoulos will lead Dripstone Secondary College
• Mr. Robert McIntosh will lead Sanderson High School
• Mr. Glenn Dixon will lead Casuarina Senior College.

Professional learning planning

• The department continues to work with transitioning schools to develop and deliver tailored professional learning programs to support delivery of the Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (NTCET) and Australian Curriculum.
• Staff from Dripstone, Sanderson and Nightcliff middle schools participated in NTCET-focussed professional learning at the start of Term 4, 2025.
• A tailored professional learning package is being developed for Palmerston College staff.
• Discussions are set to begin with Darwin Middle School, Darwin High School, Centralian Middle School and Centralian Senior College to identify specific professional learning needs.
• All schools have access to universal professional learning via eLearn, including NTCET and Australian Curriculum modules. A Term 4 training calendar is available at eLearn calendar.

Other updates

• The department’s Student Attendance and Engagement team is working closely with students that have been identified as being at risk of disengagement to ensure they understand their options for 2026 and to support them to enrol.
• Each of the transitioning schools in Darwin, Palmerston and Alice Springs have had a school counsellor in Term 4, 2025. This support will continue in 2026.
• The department is working closely with schools to ensure that teaching facilities are ready for senior curriculum and VET delivery from Term 1, 2026.

Budgets have been released for 2026:

• Transitioning schools have been funded for 2026 based on the expected enrolment for new year levels calculated in October this year. Through the standard funding process, schools that have more enrolments than expected will receive a funding top-up in term 1.
• For the smaller schools undergoing the transition, the department has provided targeted funding to support delivery of the full range on Year 10 subjects in 2026 and into the future as they grow their senior secondary year levels.
• Schools commencing new year levels have been provided with supplementary funding to assist with the procurement of teaching materials including textbooks, calculators and classroom supplies and where required, larger furniture for older students.
• DCDD has been working closely with Palmerston College to prepare for the establishment of the two new schools, including configuring the schools in various IT systems, separating school held data across the new schools and allocating IT assets.
• DCDD is supporting schools that have changed their name to update their website domains and generic email addresses.

Four new comprehensive high schools (years 7 to 12) at the following sites:

• Dripstone Middle School has become Dripstone Secondary College
• Nightcliff Middle School has become Nightcliff High School
• Sanderson Middle School has become Sanderson High School
• Darwin Middle and High Schools combined to form Darwin High School
• one specialist industry, trade and technical college for senior secondary students (years 10 to 12), focussed on high-priority industries. This college will be connected to Sanderson High School site and established over the next 4 years.
• one higher education-focused college for senior secondary students (years 10 to 12), focussed on pathways and programs to in-demand professions, e.g. education and health. This college will be established by enhancing the pathways offered through the current Casuarina Senior College.

In Palmerston, the former Palmerston College sites in Driver and Rosebery have transitioned to become 2 full comprehensive high schools (years 7 to 12), Driver Secondary School and Rosebery Secondary School.

In Alice Springs, there will be one full comprehensive high school (years 7 to 12) called Alice Springs College on the existing site at Centralian Middle School with a connected regional industry and trade a college (years 10 to 12) to be established on the Centralian Senior College site over the next 4 years.

The transition to the new, comprehensive secondary education system is being strategically managed to ensure a gradual, sequenced and smooth rollout that minimises disruption and enables students to continue their education journey at their current school.

Since semester 2, 2025, school planning and system preparation has been underway to ensure students, staff, school communities and the department are prepared for the transition.

For Darwin and Palmerston schools the transition timeline will see the new comprehensive schools gradually commence new year levels:

• 2026
  • Dripstone Secondary College, Nightcliff High School, Sanderson High School and Rosebery Secondary School operate as Years 7-10
  • Driver Secondary School operates as Year 7, and Year 10-12
  • Darwin High School operates as Years 7-12
  • Casuarina Senior College – no change, continues to operate as Years 10-12
• 2027
  • Dripstone Secondary College, Nightcliff High School, Sanderson High School and Rosebery Secondary School operate as Years 7-11
  • Driver Secondary School operates as Years 7-8, and Years 10-12
• 2028
  • Dripstone Secondary College, Nightcliff High School, Sanderson High School and Rosebery Secondary School and Driver Secondary School operate as full comprehensive schools with Years 7-12

For Alice Springs:

• 2027
  • Alice Springs College will operate Years 7-10 at the former CMS site
  • Alice Springs College will operate Years 11 and 12 at the former CSC site
• 2028
  • Alice Springs College will operate Years 7-12 at the former CMS site
  • The industry and trade college will begin establishing at the former CSC site

The later start in Alice Springs reflects local community feedback and allows for additional planning and preparation. The full implementation across all urban government secondary schools will be completed by end of 2028.

The department will work closely with schools, parents, teachers, and students over the next 6 months to implement these changes, with a focus on:

• Ensuring that families and communities are kept well-informed about the changes and have confidence in the new structure for secondary education.
• Recruiting and training new leadership for the new schools, supporting employee wellbeing, and providing professional development for teachers.
• Supporting students, especially those with additional needs and vulnerable students, to ensure they stay engaged and supported during the transition process.
• Finalising career and industry programs and pathways.
• Addressing infrastructure, logistics, and technology needs to support the new school structure, including identifying funding and planning for necessary upgrades.
• Updating governance structures, enrolment policies, and priority enrolment areas to align with the new school system.