Teaching & Learning

Teaching & Learning

Early Learning to Year 12

Literacy and numeracy are at the heart of developing courageous lifelong learners

Thoughout her educational journey, the Lauriston student engages in a comprehensive and rewarding curriculum.

Blairholme | Language skills and mathematical proficiency are two of the keys that unlock a child’s future

At Lauriston Kindergarten, we establish the foundations of literacy through a child’s enjoyment of texts, building a knowledge of grammar, honing listening skills, and building familiarity with new communication technologies. We do this by listening and talking in small groups, reading stories, and discussing them, using technology, and weaving real world examples into play, such as menus and signage. Mathematical concepts such as distance, weight and quantities are learned naturally through guided play. It allows every child to develop a solid understanding of numbers, learn to count fluently, and then reason and problem solve using simple mathematical challenges. Along with the vital work of developing pre-numeracy and literacy capabilities, we have planned programs to develop skills in STEM, the creative arts and celebrate culture within our curriculum, to broaden the children’s understanding of themselves and their place in the world.

Junior School | Where we begin honing each girl’s independent thinking skills, building her confidence in STEM subjects, and instilling a sense of purpose through contribution.

A well-rounded Junior School education balances building a student’s broad knowledge base with the development of specialist skills, with rigorous attention paid to literacy and numeracy. The Lauriston Inquiry Framework – Ask, Investigate, Create, Discuss, Reflect – will help your daughter grow into a curious and resourceful woman who can confidently articulate and apply what she knows. In our Junior School, students are encouraged to form their own questions about a topic or subject and then explore answers using the processes of English, Mathematics and the Arts to develop and express their understanding of the world around them. Learning programs are also designed to the needs of each student, providing extension opportunities or greater support as needed, with the aim of building strong academic foundations that prepare girls for a lifetime of learning.

Howqua | Resilience, leadership and courage. They are life skills that are gained at Howqua that no textbook can ever adequately teach.

Howqua delivers an immersive residential academic program complemented by an integrated wellbeing, outdoor and fitness program resulting in cohort connectiveness and greater engagement in life. Despite the non-traditional learning environment, traditional academic disciplines hold an important place at Howqua. The curriculum is designed so that students continue to build upon skills developed in Years 7 and 8. Classes in Mathematics, Science, Humanities, English, Mandarin and French continue, along with comprehensive Music and Art programs. As with everything at Howqua though, teachers never miss an opportunity to tailor subjects to make the most of the natural setting. The Howqua environment offers a robust, five-day core subject academic program, plus a range of electives designed to provide the girls choice and deeper engagement with learning as they consider the future.

Senior School | Learning at Lauriston goes beyond the classroom, developing knowledge and skills to prepare our girls for life.

Lauriston offers a broad-based curriculum that views local, national and global issues through multiple lenses, requiring our students to challenge their thinking on a daily basis. It allows for choice and balances critical and creative thinking with up to 28 subjects available to students by Year 12, with new subjects continuously introduced to reflect a dynamic world. Our education is designed to secure the foundations in literacy and numeracy, digital, data literacy and meta-cognitive skills, along with social and emotional and physical skills which sustain wellbeing. Students can choose one of two Senior Secondary Certificates in Year 11 and 12; the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. The equal commitment at Lauriston to both certifications, each of which provide entrance to tertiary institutions locally and overseas, enables students the choice of a program of work that suits their outlook, interests, and academic goals.

World class teaching

Highly experienced, passionate and diverse, our educators are supported by a professional development program that ensures they remain at the leading edge of teaching throughout their careers. 

While our staff focus on academic development and performance, they are just as concerned with overseeing a girl’s emotional and social growth. Our students consistently comment that their teachers are both generous with their time and proactive in reaching out with support.  

This holistic approach is well reflected in both our girls’ NAPLAN growth, strong academic results and their contributions to the community.

eBook | Beyond Words

How Lauriston is Empowering Girls Through Reading and Literacy

“When you meet Lauriston girls, you will recognise them. They will be the ones asking the questions. You will recognise their self-assurance and their courage to challenge the status quo. They will be the ones grounded in the community but with a world view.”

― Sophie Tissot (OL 2009)

Our teaching faculties

Each day at Lauriston, our girls are delivered into the care of passionate, capable, diverse thinkers whose aim is to create safe, inclusive learning environments where students are supported to be their best.  

Many of our teachers have authored textbooks, are assessors, sit on national professional learning committees and have been recognised through industry awards.

English

Developing each student’s written and verbal skills helps her gain an understanding of herself as an individual and as a member of the global community.  Lauriston’s comprehensive English program sees students engage with a wide range of fiction, non-fiction, plays, poetry, short stories, media, and electronic texts to develop their social, aesthetic and cultural literacy.

Humanities

A deep study of the humanities helps students better understand their region, their world and the contemporary society they will soon inherit.   By getting to know the people, ideas and forces that have brought us to where we are today, and by promoting international-mindedness, our girls develop the knowledge and skills needed to become true global citizens.


Languages

The study of languages contributes not just to our students’ linguistic skills, but to greater cross-cultural understanding and broader cognitive development. Be it French, Chinese or Latin, students studying languages at Lauriston better understand the relationship between language and culture, which means they are well-placed to engage in a highly globalised world.

Music

A lifelong love of music is nurtured at Lauriston from day one, be it through listening, performing or simply appreciating music’s therapeutic value in everyday life. From Prep to Year 12, students explore and develop their abilities across a range of genres, perfecting an instrument, undertaking vocal training and learning music theory from our team of highly experienced professionals.

Social Science

Social Sciences at Lauriston provide our students with the opportunity to explore Global Politics, Economics, Business Management, and Legal Studies. Through examining real world business theories, operational practices and arguing legal points in Mock Courts, students gain valuable skills and awareness for future tertiary studies.

Sport

Sport has been a key part of Lauriston life since the School’s foundation and aims to deliver girls equal opportunities to be the best they can be. Today, engagement in sports and fitness activities not only plays an important role in the overall health and wellbeing of our students; we believe it supports academic achievement as well.

STEM

At Lauriston, students are free to tinker, explore, and collaborate. In our experience, it’s how girls gain confidence in STEM subjects from an early age.  We place imagination and real-world application at the centre of our STEM Program, providing students with the opportunity to engage in a range of investigations and to interrogate the links between knowledge, theory and practice.


Creative Arts

At Lauriston, art is considered an inherently intellectual subject that deepens a student’s understanding of both themselves and the world around them. Our multi-disciplinary Art Program develops both practical and theoretical rigour in an environment that values skills, conceptual thinking, independence and above all, the student’s own voice. 

Drama

Drama at Lauriston is dynamic, collaborative and where students gain important transferable life skills, including respect for peers, confident communication, listening, organisation, teamwork and problem solving. Students have the opportunity to be involved in plays and musicals either on stage or behind the scenes, to hone technical skills such as acting, set and costume design, or sound and lighting engineering.

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