2026 has brought with it an exciting transformation of the Middle Years (Year 7-9) curriculum at Seymour College. These changes have arisen from deep engagement with contemporary research into girls’ education, and as part of the College’s ongoing commitment to future focused-learning. Aligned with their vision to develop women of strength, optimism, and justice, confident for the future, Seymour’s reinvigorated Middle Years draws from their strategic framework and is centred around the College values of excellence, respect, and innovation.
The middle years are a critical time for all students, and especially for girls, because this period marries rapid brain reorganisation with major physical, hormonal, and social changes, creating both high potential and high vulnerability. It is a time when there is a real risk of academic disengagement. Research suggests that what young girls need at this time in their life is learning programs that are relevant, meaningful and challenging and where they have genuine choice and voice. An effective Middle Years curriculum is one that fosters higher order thinking, creativity, independence and self-regulation and where a broad subject offering encourages girls to pursue diverse pathways to experiment, take risks and ultimately find their own individual passions and interests.
Year 7: Mastering How to Learn
Seymour’s bespoke Year 7 Learning Lab remains a highlight of their Middle Years curriculum as a subject dedicated to teaching girls how to be excellent learners. Through reflective, metacognitive practices and explicit teaching of the Seymour College Learning Framework, students become aware of their learning processes and gain essential skills for succeeding in the classroom. Further, in addition to the core curriculum and its focus on developing foundational literacy and numeracy, Year 7 students have the opportunity to engage in a wide range of hands-on learning experiences in subject rotations such as Robotics and Food Technology. The Year 7 program sets a strong academic foundation amid the many transitions of early adolescence while supporting students to start considering their learning pathway moving forward.
Year 8: Empowering Choice and Creativity
This year, Seymour has introduced electives at Year 8, giving girls’ unprecedented agency and choice. Electives range from Food Technologies, Radical Textiles, Computer Aided Design, Drama, Music, or Visual Arts. In these electives, expert specialist teachers guide hands-on exploration and real-world learning. Most importantly however, students are introduced to a range of new fields of learning in the hope that they will start to settle into new interests and passions.
Year 9: Tackling Real-World Challenges
The Year 9 curriculum has expanded even further in 2026 with a broad elective range, including exciting new subjects like Change Makers, a capabilities-driven subject honing critical thinking, problem-solving, and awareness of global issues, and Eco Innovators, where girls apply scientific methods to environmental dilemmas. Contemporary educational research is clear that the most meaningful and authentic learning for students occurs when learning programs are grounded in real-world scenarios. These new subjects are examples of best practice in action.
Excellence and Innovation
Our most exciting new addition to the Middle Years curriculum, The Excellence and Innovation Program is premised on the notion that learning should be fun and joyful and that learning for learning’s sake is a worthwhile endeavour. The program allows girls to opt into short courses led by passionate expert teachers and embrace ungraded, hands-on learning purely for enjoyment and challenge. Students are grouped by interest not age which provides the opportunity to learn alongside girls in other year levels. Courses currently on offer include Midsummer Mayhem which involves staging a Shakespearean play in 10 weeks, Pod Squad focusing on the skills involved in creating a podcast, Money Matters building students’ financial literacy through online simulation technology, and Rain Hail or Shine which offers mindful movement through walking and yoga. This is just a taste of what is on offer!
The Middle Years curriculum at Seymour College isn’t just about educating girls, it’s about fostering joy in learning and equipping them to thrive as lifelong learners, innovators and leaders.
Leah English
Head of Academics
For more information or to book a tour, visit: seymour.sa.edu.au/book-a-tour