Primary

The educational cornerstones which our school’s curriculum is based on are:

1. Academic
2. Personal Development Programme
3. Culture& Sport
4. Environment & community

1. Academic:  ‘Education for tomorrow’s world’ – Real world ready

• Curriculum: Cambridge Primary Programme (Grade 1 – 6)
• Co-curricular & Theme based
• Learner – centred / creative teaching strategies
• “Whole brain approach”
• Manners 4 Minors ( Grade 000 – Grade 1)
• Playball ( Grade 000 – Grade R) & Physical Education
• ICT for starters
• Music

The curriculum is holistic, covering a wide range of subjects. The learners learn three languages – English, Afrikaans and Setswana. Maths, Natural Sciences, History, Geography,EMS, Design and Technology, Information Technology (ICT), Sport, Music, Life Orientation, Art and Drama make up the rest of the weekly programme.

The Mountain Cambridge School has met all the standards required to be a Cambridge International Examination Centre (Registered Centre ZA 245) and has been awarded International status by the University Of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE). Mountain Cambridge School offers a range of internationally accepted qualifications including Cambridge’s IGCSE, Checkpoint, ICT Starters, Primary and Lower Secondary Programmes. University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) is the world’s largest provider of international qualifications for 14-19 year olds. The Cambridge International Curriculum is designed to teach students how to learn and to go on learning. Our role goes beyond helping students achieve good results, and beyond giving students passports for progression to university or employment. We give our students a curriculum that will bring lifelong success in tomorrow’s world.

Cambridge International Qualifications are welcomed at the world’s leading universities – Cambridge, Harvard, Yale, Oxford and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Cambridge qualifications are recognized locally by the South African Matriculation Board for entrance into South African Universities. In order to comply with the requirements for Matric Exemption certain subject groupings are required. We will guide our students in their subject choices to ensure compliance with the Matriculation Board’s requirements should they intend going on to University.

Cambridge International Primary Programme offers: Grade 1 – 6

Within the Cambridge Primary stage, the Cambridge International Primary Programme for
6-11 year olds sets clear learning objectives in English, Mathematics and Science skills for each year of primary education. It focuses on learners’ development in each year and provides a natural progression throughout the years of primary education, providing international benchmarks for schools. It is also excellent preparation for the next stage of the Cambridge International Education, Cambridge Secondary 1 for learners aged 11-14. It also enables teachers to assess children’s learning as they progress with two optional assessments: Cambridge Primary Progression Tests and Cambridge Primary Checkpoint 1 External Examinations.

Foundation for secondary education

Cambridge Primary aids identification of a student’s strengths and weaknesses and can be used to support learning and development. It provides learners with excellent preparation so they can progress seamlessly into Cambridge Secondary 1 and beyond.

External benchmark

As an international programme, Cambridge Primary provides teachers with an external benchmark to inform their teaching and easily measure learners’ progress over time. It also enables detailed and structured reporting to parents.

International curriculum

Appropriate and relevant internationally, Cambridge Primary has been designed to be culturally sensitive. It includes top-quality teaching and assessment resources appropriate for teaching and learning in local and international schools.

Flexibility

Cambridge Primary complements a range of teaching methods and curricula. No part of the programme is compulsory and schools have the freedom to choose the parts that best suit their situation.

• A curriculum for children aged 6 – 11
• Excellent preparation for secondary education
• Focuses on English, Mathematics, Science and Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
• Tests show progression of your child’s ability through primary education
• Certificate of Achievement for each child at the end of Grade 6 in the primary school
• Developed by University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE)

The Primary Programme (Grade 4 – 6):

Primary School Programme aims to extend and enrich the children, increasing their critical thinking skills and awareness of the world. This phase ensures self-development and intellectual maturation so that the children will be successful at High School and are ready to fulfil their potential on their chosen career paths.

English

English is taught as an integrated whole, through a thematic approach. The themes are used across the school. The whole-brained approached is adopted throughout, keeping the multicultural environment in mind. A combination of individual and group work is encouraged. Emphasis is on the student with the teacher as facilitator. Individual enrichment and extension is advised to keep faster students involved and fully extended.

Reading Programme

An extensive library/”cave area” is housed in the English class and the children are encouraged to choose their own reading book. In addition to this, each child has a graded reader which is part of the Big Cat reading system. This encourages the love of reading and hones comprehension skills. The child moves from level to level. We listen, with the help of our reading moms, to the children’s reading every day and record their progress.

Mathematics

The Cambridge Primary Programme covers all aspects of Mathematics: Number and Number Systems, Calculations, Mental Skills; Problem Solving; Organizing and Using data; Shape, Space and Measures including patterns and properties of shape, properties of position and movement and measures. Students are introduced to a variety of concepts through both “hands on” and “abstract” tasks.

Natural Science

Natural Science forms part of the core subjects in the primary phase (Gr 1-7). In following the Cambridge curriculum it serves as a stimulating vehicle for developing basic skills. Learners are encouraged to develop their natural curiosity, ask questions, devise suitable investigations, collect and observe, check and solve problems, record their findings and draw conclusions. The programmes of study include plants and animals, the human body, human influences on the earth, types and uses of materials, seasonal changes, space, forces, magnetism, sound, music and energy. School trips are arranged to be complementary to subject themes.

Computing: ICT Starters (Grade 4 -7)

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is part of the educational experience of children at MCS. ICT is regarded as a new ‘literacy’, alongside reading, writing and numeracy. ICT is taught as a discrete subject. All children have 2 lessons per week with a specialist teacher. Cambridge ICT Starters is designed to introduce students, within Primary and Lower Secondary Education, to the key ICT applications they need to acquire that literacy and to understand the impact of technology on our daily lives.

Students use ICT to communicate, handle information, model and control. They develop key ICT skills in a range of applications including: word processing, computer graphics, databases, spreadsheets, email, internet, presentations, video/animation and web authoring. Through Cambridge ICT Starters, students learn ICT practical skills; also they learn to consider wider issues such as adapting their work according to the audience and internet safety.

Students use ICT to communicate, handle information, model and control. They develop key ICT skills in a range of applications including: word processing, computer graphics, databases, spreadsheets, email, internet, presentations, video/animation and web authoring. Through Cambridge ICT Starters, students learn ICT practical skills; also they learn to consider wider issues such as adapting their work according to the audience and internet safety.

Language Afrikaans

Our aim for Afrikaans is to supply each and every child with a sufficient vocabulary to express themselves clearly and effectively with, in writing and speaking. We teach vocabulary, language structures and skills such as critical thinking, interpretation and problem solving through the “whole-brain” approach where different thinking styles are addressed and optimum learning therefore takes place. Our reading programme consists of exciting readers for each grade. Learners are also encouraged to take Afrikaans books out to read at home so as to improve their comprehension and interpretation skills. We encourage the learners to have a positive attitude towards Afrikaans as a modern and exceptionally expressive language.

Language Setswana

Language skills of listening, speaking, reading and processing simple Setswana are taught through various activities.

General Studies

The General Studies Programme including Social Sciences (History and Geography) and EMSis integrated throughout the curriculum by means of specifically planned and prepared activities planned around our themes.

We aim to develop in our learners a life-long desire to learn and explore. This is encouraged through the teaching of exciting lessons, setting challenging projects and extending the learning experience through trips and tours to exhibitions, plays and places of interest. Geographical skills and knowledge are integral to the understanding and appreciation of the environment in which we live. Responsible citizenship is fostered through an appreciation of the inter-dependence of society, nature, water, air, soil, vegetation and even the urban environment. Our learners are taught an appreciation of the sustainable use of the environment in which they live. Skills such as reading and interpreting maps; using symbols, scale, distance and direction; graphical and drawing skills and the translating of mapped information into the written word are taught. Learners study the relationships between people and themselves and their environment from the past to the present and looking forward into the future.

Economic and Management Sciences

The Economic and Management Sciences Learning Area teaches financial literacy and develops entrepreneurial skills. In History our focus is to encourage an open-minded, questioning and critical attitude. Not only will children understand History, but we hope they will come to value it for the interesting, fun and challenging subject that it is.

Art and Technology

From Grade 4-7 Art and technology is combined and all projects follow the design process which incorporates research, planning, individual design, crafting or making, as well as presentation of the completed project. Thinking skills such as planning and problem solving are as important as the practical skills such as painting, drawing, woodwork, sewing, and paper craft and are incorporated with aesthetic presentation.

Library/Media Centre

Library and Information Research Skills are presented by the Class Teachers and ICT skills are encouraged. Each class room has its own dedicated “cave” area/ library area.