Year nine can be described as a lost year, where learning and engagement sometimes take a dive. And the educational gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students widens - by more than five years in year nine. Schools across the country have adopted a specialised program for students in a bid to keep them on track.
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00:00At St Patrick's High School in Tasmania's north, the Year 9 students dance to a different
00:14beat.
00:15There's less time in traditional classrooms and more time for things like aquaculture,
00:24housing and design and cooking.
00:37The specialised Year 9 program also includes Rites of Passage involving reflection and
00:43outdoor challenges.
00:52When students hit Year 9, many are dealing with changes to their bodies, brains and experiencing
00:59social pressure.
01:00The schools have found Year 9 to be a bit of a tricky year.
01:04Some teachers have even gone so far as describing Year 9 to me as a bit of a lost year.
01:09The data shows a downward slide in results from primary school to Year 9.
01:14One in three Year 9 students are below proficient in numeracy and literacy.
01:20Attendance rates are also down.
01:22And the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students becomes wider.
01:27That gap between students in the more advantaged families is about two years ahead of students
01:34from more disadvantaged families in Year 3.
01:36By the time students reach Year 9, that gap more than doubles.
01:41In reading, it's over five years.
01:43A number of government and non-government schools across the country have specialised
01:48Year 9 programs to keep students engaged.
01:51And experts say more needs to be done in primary school as soon as students fall behind.
01:58Keeping students on track in Year 9 is considered crucial for lifting results in the all-important
02:04years of 11 and 12.
02:07As these Year 9s head back to the classroom for their final years of school, they'll be
02:12armed with new skills and plenty of memories.
02:15I'm almost ready to take that big leap.
02:18They're preparing us well, so I think we'll be OK.
02:21For more UN videos visit www.un.org