MEANINGFUL CURRICULUM
Cowan House Academics
Fun, Curiosity and Discovery
The corridors of Cowan House still resonate with the values instilled by the school’s founding principal which echo a sense of fun, curiosity and discovery. Every child is an individual with varied interests and talents. At Cowan House, we do away with stereotypes and embrace what we know to be true:
The best learning happens in extraordinary academic environments full of inspiration and guided by excellent teachers.
Co-education
A co-educational primary school environment allows children to develop vital life skills which have untold benefits in adult life. Shared learning environments afford boys and girls, brothers and sisters, opportunities to balance competitive, risk taking, styles in problem solving, with cooperative and empathetic behaviour. Co-education is an invaluable and immeasurable option helping boys and girls interact, share perspectives and function as equals. It also provides the wonderful opportunity of keeping families together.
Our pupils are exceptionally well-prepared for the future…
After all, real life is co-ed.
Shaping Thinkers for a Changing World
In a world where the status quo is constantly challenged, thinking skills are central to learning at Cowan House; we do not focus on teaching our pupils what to learn but rather HOW to learn. A meaningful academic curriculum cannot be static and as an Independent School we enjoy the freedom of choice in our curriculum. It is designed to evolve and adapt in order to develop our pupils’ ability to think individually, collectively, analytically and creatively.
To be successful in the future, in a world that we do not yet fully grasp, we encourage our pupils to come out of their comfort zone, to be unafraid, to be curious, to express their ideas, to try new ways of doing things and to make room for mistakes.
Spaces that Spark Curiosity
The academic facilities on our 14-hectare campus include the Innovation Centre (home to the Science and DT Lab and Art Studio), Knowledge Centre (home to the Library and Computer Lab) and classrooms all equipped with interactive white boards – are used creatively in order to provide a flexible learning environment. Our curriculum (carried out by staff of the highest calibre) has the ability to be adjusted to each child’s individual learning needs in order for them to perform to the best of their ability.
Our Learning Support Department
The Learning Support Department continues to grow as the needs of our children continue to change. Our philosophy is: “To support each child to be the best they can be”.
Our learning support interventions and the department under which they operate are well established. Teachers and the learning support department work together to identify and support children with learning difficulties. Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy and Remedial Therapy are offered on campus at an additional cost to parents. Individual remedial therapy lessons provide an opportunity for children to receive extra reinforcement of specific skills and concepts that require further consolidation. Cowan House also has access to counselling psychologists who can assist our children on campus when needed.
Cowan House offers English and Mathematics small groups to our Grade 3, 4 and 5 classes, for those who may need additional support in one or both subjects. The Head of the Learning Support Department is available for support and guidance to staff, parents, teachers and children.
Weekly Language and Literacy lessons are incorporated in all Grade R to Grade 3 timetables. These lessons focus on the sound structure of language. The main aim of these groups is to teach pupils, in a fun and interactive way, how to think critically about information which they hear and read, to be more confident writers and to develop a hunger for knowledge.
From Grade 5 to Grade 7, Mathematics and Afrikaans classes are streamed to allow pupils to work at their own pace and engage with different concepts.
Regular, dedicated sessions are included in the timetable, focusing on abstract thinking and creative, non-content-based activities. This programme broadens the learning experience and extends pupils in a fun and creative manner. Pupils are not only exposed to a variety of subjects but different teachers who focus on their areas of interest and expertise. Clubs such as Robotics, Chess and Birding are some of the activities that pupils are exposed to.