Woodridge

OUR ACADEMICS

The Academic Programme at Woodridge Preparatory aims to develop confident, happy, motivated and engaged children. Children who can question, think critically, work collaboratively and independently, and form their own opinions about the world they live in.

Our thematic approach to teaching and learning ensures that essential real-life skills are at the heart of the curriculum. We actively seek to use our immediate surroundings as a stimulus for learning; outdoor education and experiential learning lie at the heart of our child-centred curriculum.

Our pupils are provided with the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding needed to succeed in an ever-changing world. This encourages them to develop the positive attitudes and values required to make a meaningful contribution to society.

Our academic year is divided into two semesters: January to June and July to November. Complete academic reports are emailed to parents in June and November. Pupils are assessed in various ways, both formatively (through continuous ongoing assessment for learning) and summatively (through scheduled assessments at the end of each theme). Grade 7 pupils write examinations in May and November. The academics is run by a committee comprised of the Headmaster, the Deputy Headmaster and the Head of Foundation Phase. 

The holistic education approach at Woodridge Preparatory considers all aspects of the child. Our caring staff nurtures their social, spiritual, physical and emotional well-being alongside their academic development. We stress the importance of moral values, respect and empathy for others, and the need to make a difference in the world around them. Each pupil is encouraged to achieve to the best of their ability in every aspect of school life. We strive to meet the learning needs of all children and have a dedicated learning support team on campus. This team consists of Remedial Therapists, an Auditory, Speech & Language Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist and Kumon.

Foundation Phase (Grade 1-3)

In the Foundation Phase, emphasis is placed on developing the children’s knowledge, understanding and skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening, spelling and mathematics. As a private school, our thematic cross-curricular teaching approach enables pupils to learn and consolidate these real-life skills in a fun, safe and nurturing environment.

We encourage our young pupils to explore the world around them, ask questions, begin to form opinions and develop critical thinking skills in a healthy environment. Our aim is to lay the foundation for our pupils to enter the Intermediate Phase as confident and open-minded pupils. Subject specialists deliver ICT, Art, Xhosa, Music, Library, Drama and Physical Education. Links across the curriculum are made wherever possible and all activities are planned and delivered to maximise first-hand experience through experiential learning and the use of different learning styles.

We take full advantage of our unique setting, giving the children opportunities to explore and develop their curiosity and wonder of the natural world, emphasising the importance of outdoor education. Regular excursions and visits by outside specialists enrich the curriculum and ensure learning is relevant and meaningful.

Intermediate & Senior Phase (Grade 4-7)

Children arrive at school with minds full of curiosity, imagination and the need to understand the world. It is our duty to ensure that we fulfil these needs, and through our academic programme, develop confident pupils who can question, think critically, work independently and collaboratively, and make their findings of the world they live in.

We strive to uphold a child-centred approach and make learning relevant, engaging and meaningful by implementing holistic education methods. We aim to foster a love for learning and provide pupils with the skills and attitudes necessary to become confident life-long pupils. We strongly believe a thematic approach to teaching and learning, along with a healthy environment, provides a rich foundation for developing these skills.

Our thematic approach ensures that essential real-life skills are at the heart of the curriculum. At the same time, we make full use of our immediate surroundings to enrich our teaching, outdoor education, and experiential learning. We make every effort to link learning to real-life skills contexts. Our cross-curricular topics ensure that what the children learn is motivating, challenging and relevant. We understand that children have different learning styles. We endeavour, wherever possible, to differentiate our teaching to accommodate these needs through a holistic education approach.

From Grade 4 to 6, there is an emphasis on Mathematics and English, while all classes do Afrikaans (First Additional Language), Xhosa , Information Technology, Art, and Class Music. All other subjects are incorporated into the theme being covered at any specific time.

In Grade 7, we focus more on individual subjects. Pupils study Mathematics, English, Afrikaans (First Additional Language), Information Technology, Physical Science, Natural Science, Social Science, Economic Management Sciences, Life Orientation, Art, and Class Music.

coding & robotics

This is an exciting addition to the Preparatory academic offering. Pupils from Grade 3-7 benefit from an hour lesson every week in order to develop their understanding of technology.

Although we have introduced a variety of coding and programming languages this year, the focus at Preparatory level will be HTML and CSS, which lends itself to website design, as well as JavaScript, which is used in the programming of robots. Pupils will start programming virtual robots before testing their skills on the real thing.

We are working closely with Code4Kids, which offers an online workspace that allows the pupils access their content from anywhere as long as they have an internet connection.

With a dedicated Robotics Lab, pupils are in the perfect environment for learning, while they each have access to a laptop to search the internet and effectively problem solve questions presented to them. Emphasis is placed on pupils understanding the power of the internet in order to ensure their safety at all times.

We take great care in protecting our pupils and developing their ability to work with technology and not against it.