What is Middle School and why is it different?
Middle School is comprised of three short years of significant change. Students between the ages of 11 and 15 (adolescents) are adjusting to profound physical, social, and emotional changes. During this period they are beginning to develop a strong sense of their own identity and learning how to establish personal and working relationship with adults. They are starting to show concern about wider, contemporary issues and are trying to make sense of the social and political world beyond their own communities especially in terms of how it affects them.
As learners, they are at once listless and energetic, curious and bored, maddeningly obtuse and refreshingly insightful. They are keen to get “out there” in the real world and want to learn in different contexts and in different ways.
Middle School at GCCC
Year 7
Year 7 will maintain the strong pastoral care focus of the Primary School but expose students to new challenges of discipline-based learning which come with secondary schooling. It is a foundational time where students trial many electives. It is a time where students get to experience the smorgasbord of subjects and see what they like and are good at. Some subjects they will enjoy and continue with whilst others they many never have to do again. It is a time of discovery and making choices.
Core Subjects:
- LIFE (Living in Faith Everyday)
- English
- SOSE (Study of Society & Environment)
- Mathematics
- Science
- Health and Physical Education
- IT (Information Technology)
- Sport
Elective rotations (one semester for each subject):
- Food & Textile Technology
- Industrial Technology
- Drama
- Art
- Music
- French
Proverbs 1:5 “Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.”
Years 8 and 9
Years 8 and 9 will continue with their core subjects of LIFE, English, SOSE, Mathematics and Science. Students then choose three subjects from the following electives:
- Health & Physical Education (HPE)
- Business Studies Art
- Music
- Computer Studies
- Hospitality
- Interior & Fashion Design
- Drama
- French
- Industrial Technology
- Design Technology
Over the two years students confirm their choices and develop skills in their chosen fields. There is some flexibility in the course to allow for change as choices and preferences are refined and confirmed. This is a time to benefit from strengths and improve any areas of weakness; a time of change and growth.
We believe our curriculum has been developed in order to cater for the needs, interests and abilities of all students and to provide opportunities for them to develop to their full potential.
Finally, the Middle School will prioritize the modelling and education for the Christian habits of the heart, mind and body which will equip students to maintain and build their Christian values and witness.