Two siblings who are taking big steps this year are Brandon Oliver, 12, and Torah Cooke, 5, of Muswellbrook.

Brandon will be starting year 7 at Muswellbrook High and Torah will be starting kindergarten at Muswellbrook South Public School.

Torah was enrolled in the prior to school program at Muswellbrook South for the final term of last year and is looking forward to starting big school.

She already knows who her class teacher will be and has friends from the program who will also be starting school.

Playing soccer and other sports is some of what Torah said she was looking forward to and was excited to learn new things.

Torah has been counting the sleeps until she starts and had her school dress on as soon as they got it home last week.

Brandon is looking forward to the different subjects that he will have the opportunity to study at high school.

“I get to do cooking, woodwork, science and Japanese.”

The variety of sports that will be available at high school means Brandon will be kept busy with rugby league, cricket, soccer and basketball.

A lot of his friends who attended Muswellbrook South will be moving on to Muswellbrook High so Brandon won’t be without familiar faces.

For their mother Rebecca Oliver the stress will be on with her eldest son Brody, 15, in year 10 this year as well.

The excitement may turn to nerves next week when Brandon starts on Monday and Torah on Tuesday.