Kimberley College Curriculum
Kimberley College is based around a multi-aged classroom system. This effectively moves the year level focus that is typical of traditional schooling to a more modern approach. This provides students with the opportunity for success regardless of their age or level of achievement measured against global standards. This leads to improved self-confidence and self-worth which are foundational to “enabling all students to explore and build on their gifts and talents”. Multi-aged classrooms at Kimberley College feature collaborative teaching teams that facilitate teaching and learning for all year levels and all Key Learning Areas through a thematic approach. This removes the need for movement between classrooms and classes which allows students to build strong working relationships between themselves and their teachers.
The primary and middle school classes are comprised of a junior and senior ‘boat’ with the two boats forming a ‘catamaran’. This analogy was adopted to symbolise the flexible nature of our teaching and learning program. Similar to a sailing vessel on the open ocean, our learning journeys can sometimes be uncharted and we occasionally come across an island that we might like to investigate. We aim to provide learning experiences that are tailored to the needs of the students, and celebrate these learning and life journeys both in school and beyond. The catamaran grouping system provides students with the opportunity to remain in the same class with the same teachers for two years in the primary school and four years in the middle school.
There is a smooth transition into Year 11 for our middle school students as they join senior Faculties which strive to mirror the communities established in the catamarans whilst also aligning with the external procedures dictated by the QCAA.
Curriculum design at Kimberley College is based on the question, “What thinking can I teach in this lesson?” Thinking strategies are then applied from the following options (along with others): Six Thinking Hats, Mind Maps, Multiple Intelligences, Socratic Circles, Q- Matrix, SCAMPER, Habits of Mind and Essential Questions.
The principles of The Art and Science of Teaching: A Comprehensive Framework for Effective Instruction by Robert Marzano inform the teaching and learning practice at Kimberley College. It has been described as a model for ensuring quality teaching that balances the necessity of research-based data with the equally vital need to understand the strengths and weaknesses of individual students.
Kimberley College promotes the involvement of students in The Opti-MINDS Creative Sustainability Challenge. This is a team challenge in which participants think, create and communicate in creative problem challenges which showcase their skills and talents in an exciting, vibrant and public way.
Teaching staff across the College are fully supported by a strong team of support staff. Each teaching space has two teachers and a teacher aide to support students on their learning journey. The newly formed Learning Enrichment team works alongside teaching staff to help individualise programs for students.
The annual Kimberley College fair is an opportunity for students to showcase the curriculum and to be immersed in activities designed to establish a broad knowledge of countries from around the world. Classes select countries in need of international aid to inspire fair projects as the focus for curriculum in Term Two. These projects look at the social and cultural features of their chosen country which then inspires the production of food, products and artworks for sale at the fair. For students who are more scientifically inclined, they have the opportunity to create a cause-and-effect machine and enter into a Rube Goldberg competition. The fair is also an opportunity to showcase dance and public speaking performances that have been produced by the students.