In Junior School, the girls are naturally curious about the world around them. They begin school full of enthusiasm and are eager to find meaning in the world around them. In order for the girls to be autonomous learners, problem solvers and decision makers, creatively able to respond to new situations and to be thinkers with a theory about the world around them, St Hilda’s needs to support the children through considered guidance.

We need to scaffold the learning through the process of inquiry so that individuals can construct much of their own understanding. We endeavour to develop well designed inquiry-learning activities which are set in a context to help the students accumulate knowledge in meaningful ways as they progress through the Junior School. This inquiry approach to learning is student-centred, active learning focussed on questioning, critical thinking and problem-solving. In order to facilitate the girls as independent inquiring learners, we also need to teach thinking skills explicitly within the program. This ensures that a thinking culture is modelled and evident at all time.

In the Middle School, the girls are entering their young adolescent stage of development and the curriculum needs to acknowledge and celebrate the positive characteristics of these young people. It should provide opportunities to consolidate their literacy, numeracy, financial and information literacy skills. This develops and empowers our girls with the learning and thinking skills required to become critical and creative thinkers. Middle School also focuses on developing communication, social interaction, team work, leadership and self-management skills. The girls continue to enhance their understanding of citizenship in Australia, the environment and the global village. Teaching focuses on learning styles and strategies, incorporating multiple intelligences, cooperative learning, a constructivist approach and promoting risk taking in learning to push the boundaries of knowledge.

In Senior School, the girls are emerging young adults and are looking forward to their role in society and to their future. We focus on preparing the girls for their lives post senior schooling. They will be enabled to live their lives to the fullest and engage in carving out career pathways in which they will excel.

We build on their literacy and numeracy foundation and further empower their learning through incorporating higher order thinking and problem based learning skills which are the foundation for tertiary studies and working lives. This provides the girls with authentic skills for life and work. Their core curriculum skills are further enhanced in the senior years to help our girls to achieve their full potential in order to become leaders in their chosen fields.

The statement “Engaging Girls, Empowering Learners, Enabling Leaders” outlines the philosophy of teaching and learning at St Hilda’s School. It focuses on the people at the heart of this institution and their varying developmental needs while having the futuristic view of the outcomes of the girls’ journey through St Hilda’s.

2007 Special Consideration Policy - Catering For Specific Educational Needs (NEW)