Academics
Our mission is to focus on each child and help them identify their own "super powers". You don't expect a pen to do a screwdriver's job, yet both are of incremental value to our world. Creating a less stressful learning environment where young minds can focus on learning, helps them discover their own passions and in turn helps them to not only survive in today's world, but to thrive!
At Tate, we believe each student learns differently...and that is OK! We have applied some practical principles which we intuitively know to be best practices for helping children learn well:
● Continuous assessments throughout the Junior School phases up until age 12 - this eradicates the need for overbearing and often stressful written testing and allows students to reflect their true knowledge through continual assessments.
● A limited homework policy up until Grade 6 - working hard at school means there's no need for excessive homework in the younger grades. We believe children learn through play and maintaining a balanced lifestyle is the most important skill you can master.
● Class sizes are small to encourage individual attention and assistance.
● Brain breaks - students are encouraged to take regular breaks to ensure they are fresh and focussed.
● Outdoors - students have a lovely garden area to recharge and get a boost of oxygen rich air to refresh themselves.
● We do a daily ‘Mindfulness’ practice, which is aimed at making sure our students cultivate an attitude of mindfulness, which encapsulates respect for other and their beliefs, as well as the confidence to 'wear' their own beliefs proudly.
A Cambridge Aligned Curriculum
A focus on the 5 E's OF LEARNING as set out by major pedagogical authorities. In basic terms, all our lesson plans follow a similar structure, aimed at guiding students through the logical steps of learning, which includes:
1. ENGAGE - students discuss what they already know about a topic, ask questions and compare prior knowledge.
2. EXPLORE - students further explore the topic at hand, accumulating information and resources through teacher facilitation.
3. EXPLAIN - students demonstrate the understanding of new knowledge acquired on the topic and summarise key concepts.
4. ELABORATE - students apply their newfound knowledge to various contexts to make their learning applicable and relevant.
5. EVALUATE - teacher assessment on whether the new concepts have been grasped successfully. This happens through formal and informal assessment procedures.
● Matrix of online and traditional teaching - our world class online learning platform is used in class in conjunction with traditional teacher/student models. This keeps the classroom environment interesting and the teaching relevant and accessible.
● Daily mindfulness practices - in a world that is fast-paced and focussed on accumulation and excess, we encourage our students to take a moment daily to focus inward, practice gratitude and think on ways to leave their positive mark in the world around them. Mindful youngsters become mindful adults, with the propensity to manage their emotions and relationships in a beneficial way.
Unique assessment criteria - we feel that students best display their mastery of knowledge in an informal setting. Therefore, our assessments are based on a ratio of 70:30 informal to formal (tests) assessments. Most other academic institutions use a ratio of 70% formal testing to 30% informal assessments.
High School Subject Choices
The IGCSE Course (Grade 10 & Grade 11) lasts 18 months.
Compulsory subjects include:
● English
● Afrikaans 2nd Language
● Mathematics
Choice of three other subjects from the following:
● Biology
● Physics
● Chemistry
● Accounting
● Business Studies
● Computer Science
● Travel & Tourism
Students will then continue with the AS Level (Grade 12) which is also 18 months to complete their school leaving certificate.
Extracurricular:
Extracurricular activities form an important part of school life at Tate. A wide array of interests and knowledge makes for a well-rounded individual. Some of the main activities we present at school include:
● Cooking Programme
● Sports Programme
● Gardening Programme
● Mindfulness Programme
● Various After School Clubs
