One in three students in years 7–9 show signs of school disengagement. What’s causing it?

One in three high school students in Victoria show signs of disengagement from school—and new research suggests the transition to secondary education itself is the primary driver. According to findings published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, a study of over twenty thousand South Australian students revealed that wellbeing declined across eight key areas within two years of entering high school. The Conversation reports that cognitive engagement and perseverance fell the most, by around eleven and eight percent respectively, while happiness, optimism, and life satisfaction also dropped, with sadness and worry increasing. The research used a natural experiment created by South Australia's twenty twenty-two education reform, which shifted the start of secondary school from Year 8 to Year 7. By tracking both year groups, researchers could isolate the high school transition itself from normal adolescent development—and both showed similar declines once they entered secondary school. Girls experienced larger wellbeing declines than boys, and students in remote areas saw longer-lasting effects. Researchers attribute the drops to larger campuses, complex timetables, academic pressure, and the loss of familiar teachers, recommending stronger bridges between primary and secondary schools, explicit teaching of learning skills, and sustained support beyond orientation.

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