Year 7: Information, resources, and key dates for students and families in Year 7.

This page gives you and your family one place to access key dates, assessment details, and wellbeing information. Our team is here to help every student settle in, build confidence, and make a positive start to high school.

In Year 7, the key focus is on building effective study habits, developing digital literacy, learning to manage multiple subjects confidently, and becoming familiar with formal assessment schedules and school-based processes. Students also adjust to learning across a variety of specialist classrooms and working with different teachers for each subject, developing independence and responsibility as learners.

Key Contacts & Communication Channels

The people and channels below can assist students and families throughout the year. Please contact your child’s class teacher first for class-specific questions or concerns.

·         Year Adviser: Ms Rebekah Radnidge – first contact for general enquiries or wellbeing concerns. The Year Adviser can also refer to the Learning Support Team if additional learning support is required.

·         Deputy Principal: Mr Nick Willis – oversees and supports all aspects of the year group’s learning and wellbeing needs.

·         Class Teachers: find your child’s teachers via their timetable on Sentral for subject-specific enquiries or concerns.

·         Administration Office: attendance, absence explanations, exemption forms, school fees, and general enquiries.

·         Further assistance is available through the Wellbeing Hub, Learning Support Team, and Careers Office.
Classroom teachers make reasonable adjustments within lessons to support individual learning needs. Where a student requires or is eligible for additional assistance, this is coordinated through the Learning Support Team (LST) in consultation with staff and families. Visit the [Learning Support page] for more information.

If you’re unsure who to contact, the Administration Office can direct your enquiry to the right person.

Important Dates

Key dates for Year 7 are listed below. A full overview of school-wide events is available on the Whole-School Dates and Events page.

Learn about our key assessments and dates.

Swimming Carnival

Parent Information Evening     Term 1, Week 3    Mini Hall – Slides will be uploaded

Athletics Carnival

Year 7 Camp    Term 1, Week 8    Link to Camp Information

Semester One Report    Term 2, Week 10    Distributed electronically via Sentral Parent Portal

Semester Two Reports    Term 4, Week 10    Distributed electronically via Sentral Parent Portal

For all additional or whole-school events such as Green Day, special assemblies, NAIDOC, ROSE Awards, and other community celebrations, visit the Whole-School Dates and Events page.

Dates for smaller excursions or subject-based activities will be shared through SchoolBytes, with individual permission notes.
Further details about major events already listed above will also be distributed through SchoolBytes and the school newsletter Short Takes.

Curriculum Structure & Learning Timeline

Year 7 students at Lambton High School follow a broad and balanced curriculum designed to build strong foundations across all key learning areas.
For detailed subject descriptions and assessment information, refer to the Year 7 Course and Assessment Handbook (PDF).

Students have six lessons each day, and subjects are allocated across a fortnightly timetable (accessible to students and parents via the Sentral portal) as follows:

Subject

English -   7 periods

Visual Arts -   6 periods

Mathematics -   6 periods

Music -   6 periods

Science -   7 periods

Languages: French -   6 periods

HSIE – two semesterised courses: History & Geography -   7 periods

Technology Mandatory – two semesterised courses: Textiles & Industrial Technology -   6 periods

PDHPE (2 practical, 2 theory) -   4 periods

Sport (integrated; separate to Years 8–10 cohort) -   4 periods

In addition, students participate in:
• Lambton Learning Ladder (L3) – one period per fortnight. L3 uses inquiry-based learning to develop communication, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking through real-world projects.

• Weekly mentoring sessions that follow the GEM framework (Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness) from The Resilience Project. These sessions run for approximately 20 minutes each week and help students develop wellbeing skills, emotional awareness, and positive connections with peers and staff.

Assessment tasks are scheduled progressively across the year to support learning in each subject.
A detailed overview, including due dates and policies, is available in the Assessment Information section below.

The Year 7 program ensures all students experience the full range of Key Learning Areas and meets the mandatory study requirements set by NESA and the NSW Department of Education for Stage 4 learning.

Class Structure & Progression

Year 7 classes at Lambton High School are carefully formed during the transition process to ensure each student’s learning and wellbeing needs are supported.
The Learning and Support Teacher (LaST) works closely with partner primary schools to gather academic, wellbeing, and social-emotional information about each student.
Data sources include NAPLAN, Year 6 transition profiles, and information from primary teachers and support staff.

Core Class Structure
Students are placed into core classes that remain together for their main Key Learning Areas – English, Mathematics, Science, HSIE, and PDHPE.
This structure helps students build strong relationships and provides teachers with a clear understanding of each group’s learning and wellbeing needs.

Enrichment Pathways
Two specialist pathways operate in Year 7 to support students with specific strengths or interests:

• 7L – Enrich, Engage, Extend (E3): entry by application and testing. The E3 class provides enrichment and extension across subjects and helps identify students for ongoing High Potential pathways and placement in streamed classes in later years.
• 7A – CAPA Enrichment: entry by audition. This class allows students with strong interests or skills in the Creative and Performing Arts to experience a broad range of CAPA disciplines before selecting a specialist elective (Drama, Music, or Visual Arts) in Year 8.

Practical Class Groupings
Subjects such as Visual Arts and Technology Mandatory are taught in smaller, mixed groups, typically drawn from one to two core classes at a time.

This arrangement allows students to collaborate with a wider range of peers and access specialist learning spaces and equipment safely, in line with Department of Education staffing agreements.

School-Based Assessment

Assessment plays an important role in helping students demonstrate what they know and can do, while providing teachers and families with feedback on progress throughout the year.

The Year 7 Course and Assessment Handbook (PDF) outlines all assessment tasks, weightings, and key expectations for each subject. It also includes important policies on submission, late work, and academic integrity. Within the handbook, families will also find the Assessment Planner, which provides an at-a-glance schedule of all formal assessment tasks for the year. This planner is particularly useful for students to manage time effectively and prepare for busy periods in advance.

If a student is absent or unable to complete an assessment due to illness or misadventure, they should complete an Illness/Misadventure Form, available on their year-specific Canvas homepage. Supporting documentation (such as a medical certificate) should be submitted promptly.

Junior (Years 7–9) applications are managed by the Head Teacher of the relevant faculty, while Senior (Years 10–12) applications are managed by the relevant Deputy Principal.

Assessment results and feedback are provided through Canvas (the school’s online learning platform), allowing students and families to track progress and identify areas for improvement.

External Assessments

Throughout the year, Year 7 students participate in several statewide assessments that provide valuable information about their learning progress and help guide teaching and support programs. The timing of these assessments is set by the NSW Department of Education, and the current schedule is available on the NSW DoE Assessment Dates page.

NAPLAN
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is undertaken by all students in Years 7 and 9. It assesses key skills in reading, writing, spelling, grammar, and numeracy.
Results provide insight into each student’s literacy and numeracy growth since primary school and help teachers identify areas for additional support or extension.
Further information about NAPLAN, including dates and preparation advice, will be shared with families closer to the testing period.

Check-in Assessment
Students in Years 7, 8 and 9 complete the Check-in Assessment, an online literacy and numeracy assessment developed by the NSW Department of Education.
This short, low-stakes assessment supports classroom teachers by identifying strengths and areas for improvement, allowing targeted learning support throughout the year.

VALID – Science
Year 8 and Year 10 students complete the VALID (Validation of Assessment for Learning and Individual Development) assessment in Science. While Year 7 students do not sit VALID, their learning in Science builds the foundation for this future assessment.

Other Assessments
Occasionally, students may participate in other national, statewide, or international assessments that provide feedback on curriculum implementation and student learning – for example, PISA, TIMSS, or PIRLS.

Participation in these assessments is usually sample-based and may involve selected classes or cohorts only. Families will be notified through SchoolBytes and the school newsletter if additional assessments occur, including any permission or scheduling details.

Excursions & Wellbeing Activities

Excursions and wellbeing activities are an important part of the learning experience at Lambton High School. They provide opportunities for students to build relationships, explore new environments, and connect classroom learning with real-world contexts.

Year 7 Camp
A highlight of the Year 7 calendar, the Year 7 Camp takes place in Term 1, Week 8. The camp focuses on team-building, resilience, and developing positive peer connections as students settle into high school life.
Full details, including location, cost, packing lists, and permission forms, are shared through SchoolBytes and the school newsletter.

Wellbeing Activities and Sessions
Across the year, students participate in a variety of Wellbeing Activities and Mentor Sessions that support inclusion, resilience, and respectful relationships.
These sessions align with our school’s Care value and are guided by The Resilience Project’s GEM framework (Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness).

Typical activities include:
• Police presentations on safety, respect, and decision-making
• R U OK? Day activities
• Harmony and Reconciliation Week sessions
• Whole-school initiatives such as the Colour Run, Green Day, and Elevate sessions

Information about upcoming wellbeing activities or incursions is communicated through SchoolBytes, year assemblies, and the school newsletter.

Other Excursions and Events
Subject-specific excursions and enrichment opportunities occur throughout the year to support learning in areas such as Science, HSIE, and CAPA. Families will receive permission notes and details via SchoolBytes.
Major events such as the Swimming, Athletics, and Cross Country Carnivals are listed in the Whole-School Dates and Events calendar.