SENIOR PRIMARY ACADEMICS

Grade 4 to Grade 7.  Our goal: ‘Happy, fulfilled boys!’

This is an exciting adventure into early adulthood.  Here boys are encouraged to be boys, to do the things that they love and to develop and get to know themselves through their experiences here at Cordwalles.

We believe in the boys living the moment. They need to be stimulated in a happy environment.  The teachers are passionate about their involvement with the boys.  We are excited about boys’ education and strive to ensure that Cordwalles boys have well developed self esteem.  Our school develops the whole child.  We strive to create a hurt free environment where boys are happy to be themselves.

In grades four and five we have a class teacher system leading on from the Inky or foundation phase.  The class teachers each teach Mathematics, English, Afrikaans, Social Studies and Science.   It should be noted that Cordwalles places a special focus on English and Mathematics.  Art, Design Technology, Information Technology, Zulu, Media Studies, Drama, Class Music and Physical Education are subjects taught by specialist teachers.  The dynamic and nurturing environment extends into the senior primary phase with an awareness of the boys as they progress from the foundation phase into the intermediate phase.

In grade six and seven subject teaching is extended into both grades especially in grade seven to ensure that the transition into high school is smooth.  English, Afrikaans, Zulu and Mathematics all have specialist subject teachers.

Our aims are to develop a life-long desire to learn and the love for acquiring knowledge through the dynamic teaching of exciting lessons, trips, excursions, exhibitions, plays, and by visiting places of interest.  There is encouragement of independent and co-operative learning, self evaluation, peer evaluation and reflection on the positive and negative aspects of events, assignments and assessments.  The curriculum is balanced and holistic with academic, cultural, sport and spiritual development being a priority.

Our core values of respect, responsibility, compassion, courage and integrity are repeated and reflected through the academic programme, but especially in the Guidance (Life Orientation) programme.  We encourage boys to develop lateral and creative thinking skills, evaluation, research and EQ skills.

We strive for the academic excellence and the personal growth of each and every individual.  The top academics are extended to ensure that they reach their potentials.  An extensive support base is in practice to ensure all boys develop with a focus on their unique needs.

An extensive leadership programme is in existence exposing the boys to the fact that leadership can be learnt and developed above your natural ability to lead.  All boys are given the opportunity to take on monitor duties ensuring that the servant leadership aspect is well instilled.  Leadership camps, lectures, role play, film study, on the ‘beat’, and reflection and evaluation of the situations are all aspects of the Grade seven leadership programme.

Cordwalles has a well developed chain of connection.  The first link is the boys’ class teacher and a very close relationship is encouraged here.  Then there is the Cordies family teacher. These families meet three times a term to develop a cross grade unity in the school.  Another link is the house master and house teachers.  The Headmaster teaches every class in the school in the Guidance/ Divinity programmes, so every boy has access to him directly. 

Do we achieve our goal?  Absolutely, our boys love coming to Cordwalles and are extremely well prepared for the high schools of their choice.

The Academic Day:

The day is divided up into 30 minute periods, starting at 7h40 with either Assembly, Chapel, Form Periods or House meetings.  A prep period is part of the school day from 14h00 – 14h45 on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, with prep on Wednesday from 13h30 – 14h00 to accommodate inter school matches.

The academic programme contains elements of a traditional academic education combined with modern elements of a cultural and technological education.

Curriculum:

We place special emphasis on English, Mathematics, Natural and Social Science and Technology.  We have two additional African languages (Afrikaans and Zulu).

Following subjects are offered:

• English
• Mathematics
• Natural Science
• Social Science (History and Geography)
• Zulu
• Art
• Design Technology
• Divinity
• Life Orientation
• EMS (Economic Management Skills)
• Information Technology (IT Skills)
• Physical Education

In grade 6 and 7 boys are streamed in sets for Mathematics.  Zulu is offered as a third language from Grade 3 to 7.

O.B.E. (NCSE)

The current curriculum incorporates the new Outcome Based Education approach and it’s mixed with the best traditional methods.

Information Technology

Cordwalles operates 52 computers in two centres.  Each computer runs on Windows XP professional and is linked to the internet and a printer.  Every boy in the school has some contact time in the computer centers.
Grade 1 to 7 boys have an hour a week in the IT room with two specialist teachers.
Grades 3 to 7 have an additional half hour in the centres with Mathematics.
Pre-primary boys have 45 minutes per week.
Focus is on computer literacy with the majority of lessons involving a combination of MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel.  Research is done using Encarta and Internet.
The boys are encouraged to use the computer to add value to their academic subjects and other aspects of their lives.

The Grade 5’s are put through a two week typing course.

Thinking Skills

Boys are exposed to thinking skills and study techniques throughout their years at Cordwalles.  A thinking skills programme is given to Grade 6.  This helps with ways to study.

Outreach

Each grade undertakes to be involved in the schools outreach programme.  In addition to the Musi Tusi and Currys Post Schools which Cordwalles is involved in to help teachers with techniques and facilities.  The boys are involved in outreach through each grades involvement in their topics.

Economic Management Sciences (EMS)

EMS is taught from Grade 4 to 7 by specialist staff.
The Grade 6’s do a full business plan culminating in a market day with a great deal of community support.  Various skills are learnt and a wonderful experience for all boys involved.  Even the dear ‘Tax Man’ isn’t forgotten.

The Grade 7’s are involved in motivating a gift for the school.  They provide a PowerPoint presentation to the parents and staff, their idea is voted upon and then funds are raised to present the school with the winning idea in the form of a gift.

 

ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES

This team consists of five professionally qualified specialists who work at Cordwalles every week.  They are involved in case conferences and parent meetings at the school.

All boys have therapy in rooms specifically equipped to deal with their difficulties – exercise balls, computers and white boards are available.  The majority of boys have individual help once or twice each week for 30 minutes.  A few boys respond better working in a small group of 2 or 3 peers.  The cost of this professional therapy is carried directly by the boys’ parents.

 

Referral
Boys can be referred for therapy by consultant psychologists, paediatricians, or other therapists.  Generally the first line of referral for specialist therapy comes from the class teachers.  If they are concerned about any boy’s progress, they discuss the problem with the appropriate therapist who gives advice on strategies which could be implemented in the class room.  If the teachers feel that the difficulty has not been resolved, the boy is then referred for a specialist assessment.  After the necessary tests have been administered, the therapist diagnoses the results and makes appropriate recommendations to the parents and the class teacher.  A decision is then reached about the boy’s future support.  All therapists work closely with the boys’ teachers ensuring that their support is playing an appropriate part of the boy’s ongoing development.

 

Occupational Therapy
Mrs Lyndal Nicholson qualified at the University of Cape Town.  After years working in the Specialist Unit at Clarendon School, she joined the team of support therapists at Cordwalles. Her experience with children with learning differences makes her expertise highly valuable. 

 

Remedial Therapy
The three remedial therapists work a total of 11 days each week.  The therapists constantly discuss with the teachers their individualized programmes and the learners’ progress.  This means that there is close interaction between the class teaching and the remedial support.

Mrs Linda Quibbell qualified in Wales and brings a wealth of experience to the support team.  She enjoys

Mrs Belinda Quin qualified as a remedial teacher through UNISA. Her great love of helping boys with learning differences is evident in the stream of boys making their way to her therapy room.  She has a special concern for the Cordwalles Inky boys and they thoroughly enjoy her nurturing and positive approach.

Miss Sue Smythe qualified at the University of Natal (Durban).  She loves the open and enthusiastic attitude that Cordwalles boys bring to their therapy sessions.  She believes in the use of games and rewards to motivate and reinforce the strategies and techniques which they learn.

 

Speech Therapy
Mrs Prushanti Rugbeer is an experienced therapist who also has a private practice in Pietermaritzburg.  She qualified at the University of Durban - Westville