College

Grades 8-9 – A Time for Growth

The Student

• a developing adolescent
• a discoverer wanting to explore and question
• seeking individual identity

The Needs

• relevance in education
• open discussions on all topics
• inspiration
• acceptance by peers

The Skills

• self-motivation
• decision-making
• effective oral and written communication
• understanding and empathy for others

Having emerged from Preparatory School, young teenagers are searching for their place in the world. This is an exciting yet challenging part of the journey towards adulthood. Grades 8 and 9 offer a caring and supportive environment, which stimulates and inspires students to achieve their potential.

“What we want to see is the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.”
- George Bernard Shaw

Grade 10-12 – the pursuit of excellence

The Student

• a decision-maker
• a developing thinker
• idealistic
• “The child is Father to the Man” (W. Wordsworth)

The Needs

• self-worth, balance as a person
• information to make informed choices
• intimacy and friendship

The Skills

• the responsibility to respond to opportunity
• the ability to think critically and independently
• commitment, endurance, and a desire for personal excellence

During these final years at school (Grades 10, 11 and 12), emphasis is increasingly on academic excellence as students prepare for the National Senior Certificate Examinations (Matric) written through the Independent Examinations Board (IEB).

The maturing adolescents must now master many skills. The ability to think and work independently, critically and creatively, to access knowledge and reach understanding and to communicate clearly, are the challenges facing them. Teachers and students become partners in a dynamic learning process, serving as a final springboard to adulthood.

Field trips form a strong part of the curriculum and students spend one week each year at an educational camp, exploring ecological issues, experiencing team-work and developing leadership qualities.

The Senior College provides outstanding preparation for the challenges facing our young people as they venture on to further education and future careers.

“Columbus did not set out to get to America. He discovered it. One does not set out for static known objectives – nor should one merely look in books for knowledge. There is so much within one’s own depth which, if developed, will add to life beyond the year 2000.”
- Peter Bishop, Oakhill Teacher