The term ‘middle schooling’ is used to refer to the years between the completion of primary education and the beginning of the two-year period during which students prepare for entry to universities, TAFE and the workforce. (Planning for Middle Schooling in Western Australia. Ministerial Committee on Middle Schooling, June 1999). While this definition is generally accepted in this state some schools have incorporated the last year of primary school, year 7, into their middle schooling years and others have excluded year 10. This stage typically spans the 11 — 15 year old age group. (EDWA, 1999)