Overview

Curriculum – Overview

Avondale Grammar School encourages children to strive for academic excellence and to reach their potential. We see each child as an individual and develop programs that cater to their personal interests, abilities and learning styles. Our approach to education is holistic. We support your child, not just academically, but physically, emotionally and socially. We believe happy children learn best.

Avondale Grammar is licensed to follow the Australian curriculum (New South Wales Board of Studies syllabus) which provides a well-researched, broad-based curriculum and is flexible enough to suit a wide range of international educational system backgrounds at infant and primary school levels. For more information on the New South Wales Board of Studies curriculum please go to their website, http://k6.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/.

The curriculum at Avondale is organised into seven Key Learning Areas (KLAs). The KLAs are; English, Mathematics, LOTE (Mandarin or French), Science and Technology, Human Society and Its Environment, Creative and Practical Arts, and Physical Education, Health and Personal Development.

All Mathematics and English lessons are normally taught in the morning sessions at Avondale, as it is important that students are equipped with the necessary literacy and numeracy skills from an early age and morning times are when students learning is optimal. Developing a love of reading and a fascination with the language of numbers in every student is our aim.

Proficiency in a second language is a valuable life skill. All students participate in our foreign language program in either Mandarin or French. Our program ensures that every child receives 30 to 45 minutes of tuition in their chosen language, every day.

Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) enable the School to tailor your child’s educational experience to their specific requirements and fully utilise their talents. After an initial assessment, teachers set guidelines appropriate to your child’s present level of achievement for the purpose of:

* appropriately supporting their needs

* nurturing their talents

* extending and exciting your child about learning

* setting targets and goals

Besides tailoring rigorous academic programs to the needs of the students, the aim of our teachers is to develop self-discipline, self-reliance and initiative in your child so that they become independent learners and, ultimately, are prepared for the challenges of High School and life beyond.

Assessment and Examination

Every year, all students in Years 3 and 5, are assessed by the Australian National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). Both Year Groups are tested on the same days using tests in Reading, Writing, Language Conventions (Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation) and Numeracy. The testing takes place in late May and the results are released in September annually.

Cambridge Assessments are offered internationally through the Cambridge University Education group. They are available for all students from 5 to 18 years of age. The assessments are drawn from the Cambridge curriculum, modelled closely on the current UK syllabus but modified to be applicable to a broad range of international settings.

The majority of assessments are available online and can be used by teachers throughout the year to gain a ‘snapshot’ of student progress. Teachers at Cambridge centre schools can complete online accreditation to become Cambridge assessors meaning that student assessments can be marked ‘in house’ and the feedback is thus immediately available to teachers, parents and students alike. The first formal assessment at primary level is towards the end of Year 6.

The Cambridge program offers comprehensive curriculum and support materials in four key areas, English, Mathematics, Science and History at both primary and secondary level. Assessments are available in each of these four areas.

The significance for parents is that the Cambridge assessments offer a genuine alternative to NAPLAN (Australia’s national testing for all students) which is also offered by Avondale for all students in Years 3 and 5. For parents who have come from and / or wish to return to the UK schooling system, Cambridge Assessments provide valuable data that will make this process far easier, particularly because it is widely recognised within the independent school sector in England.

For students the Cambridge Assessments give them another avenue for demonstrating their learning. This helps to prepare them for the challenges of schooling in a range of different international settings.

Besides tailoring rigorous academic programs to the needs of the students, the aims of our teachers are to develop self-discipline, self-reliance and initiative in your child so that they become independent learners.