Reading / Stage 1 Years K - 2 / Stages 2 and 3 Years 3 - 6 / Opportunity Class / Selective Schools

Students who do well in primary school will have the chance to be in the best possible classes in Year 7 when they start high school. We can help your child to do very well in primary school, meaning he or she will be full of confidence as a learner and will be developing good study habits. We can also help if your child has some difficulty learning the basic knowledge and skills in Reading, English or Mathematics. In this case, it is wise to take action well before they start high school.

Fees and timetable

for Kindergarten to Year 6 are $47 per 60-minute session. An administration fee of $15 per family is payable at the start of each term. Kindergarten students do not start until Term 2. Click here for 2013 Timetable and tuition fees.

Reading Years K to 6

This systematic and comprehensive phonics program makes sure students can read and spell well. Students use the award-winning “Reading Freedom” workbooks at the learning centre and in short practice sessions at home. The program covers phonically regular words that can be sounded out quickly and accurately following the rules of phonics, and sight words that cannot be sounded out such as “was” and “said”. As the reading process becomes faster and more accurate, comprehension improves. Students can move from the Reading program into the English program once their basic reading skills are up to a good level. It is suitable for all age groups from Kindergarten through to Year 6, and is also used for teenagers and adults. For more information, download the full reading program guide.

 

Stage 1

English Years K to 2

This tuition program also covers phonics, but includes speaking, listening, reading comprehension and written expression through stories, news and guided reading. Students develop handwriting skills and basic rules of spelling, grammar and punctuation.

Mathematics Years K to 2

Maths at this level involves much hands-on experience with real objects. Students record what they handle using informal methods. There is a gradual introduction to more formal methods that parents would recognise as algorithms.  This tuition program builds knowledge and skill in counting forwards and backwards, reading and writing numbers, introductory addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, number and shape patterns, measurement and 2D and 3D shapes.

 

Stage 2 Years 3 - 4 and Stage 3 Years 5 - 6

English Years 3 to 6

This tuition program covers reading comprehension and written expression of a variety of text types such as narrative, discussion, exposition, information report and poetry. Special attention is given to grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary development.  Competence in all these areas is critical for success in high school. 

Mathematics Years 3 to 6

This program builds knowledge and skill in all number operations, fractions and decimals, space and measurement. There is a strong emphasis on the basic number facts, including the times tables, as students with well-developed number sense find Mathematics much easier. Students also learn to solve routine problems as well as those of a more complicated nature. A solid foundation in mathematics is very important before starting high school.

Opportunity Class Program Years 3 to 4

Students sitting this exam in August of Year 4 should enrol in the Advanced Primary English and Mathematics programs when they are in Year 3. Students develop and maintain incredible speed and accuracy in challenging work, especially problem solving in mathematics and general ability. The program also covers reading comprehension and written expression of a variety of text types. Exam techniques are also developed. Please be aware that half of the marks for Opportunity Class entry are provided by the student’s primary school. Students therefore need to be working at an advanced level right through Year 3 and 4.

Selective Schools Program Years 5 to 6

Students sitting the Selective Schools Test in March of Year 6, and other scholarship exams, should enrol in the Advanced Primary English and Mathematics programs when they are starting Year 5. The Advanced English program covers the skills listed above at a more sophisticated level, as well as general ability topics such as analogies, synonyms and antonyms, codes, series and logic. The Advanced Mathematics program covers the skills listed above at a more sophisticated level, especially problem solving, as well as general ability topics such as number and shape series, number rules and equations. Exam techniques are also developed and practised to help students work quickly and carefully while not wasting time on “alien” questions. One third of the marks for Selective School entry are provided by the student’s primary school at the time of application in October. Students therefore need to be working at an advanced level right through Year 5. Read more about our Selective Schools Test Program ...

Top of page