Academic Curriculum
The Junior School Learning and Teaching Curriculum centres on the integration and differentiation of the Board of Studies six Key Learning Areas of English and Mathematics, Human Society and Its Environment, including Christian Studies and LOTE: French, and Science and Technology, Creative Arts and Personal Development, Health and Physical Education.
The School focus areas of Christian Development, the City and Service (Enterprise Education), Technology, and Music are a priority across the curriculum and permeate the Key Learning Areas.
In addition to the six learning areas the curriculum incorporates the concepts and principles of a number of across curriculum issues:
- Multicultural education
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education
- Environmental education
- Technology literacy
- Media studies, visual literacy and current affairs
- Leadership and Citizenship
We are committed to small class sizes as fundamental to active student participation and effective learning and teaching relationships for measurable student development.
All Junior School classes are stage based according to the Board of Studies syllabus and external assessment grouping. They are:
- Early Stage 1 – Kindergarten and accelerated Kindergarten to Year 1
- Stage 1 – Years 1 and 2
- Stage 2 – Years 3 and 4
- Stage 3 – Years 5 and 6
Students within each stage other than stage one can be accelerated to end of stage outcomes or assisted by consolidation and revision of earlier stage outcomes will remaining in an appropriate age cohort.
The curriculum is comprehensive and balanced in order to provide for the academic, social, cultural, physical and spiritual development of students as 'whole people'. The development of sound basic skills is paramount in Junior School programming. The basic skills find context in the joy and purpose of Christian living and service.
Perspectives of the City and the Cathedral permeate the learning environment and curriculum. A rich curricular and cocurricular programme are the frameworks for the provision of diverse and engaging learning opportunities for students.
The opportunities that our City location offers are complemented by our outdoor education centre, located in the Southern Highlands 1½ hours drive south of Sydney. Students have a wonderful opportunity to experience part of the Australian outdoors.
