Medbury's Learning Styles
At Medbury, we are focused on the learning styles of boys within small class settings, enabling teachers to cater for the boys' individual needs. Grouping systems in the classrooms ensure that boys are able to be extended where necessary. Learning support teachers are available for children who need assistance in particular core areas.
As boys move through the School they continue with a strong emphasis on Literacy and Numeracy. Comprehensive specialist teaching occurs across the curriculum, allowing the boys to develop academically and socially, to gain confidence and take responsibility in preparation for their move on to Secondary School.
Medbury continues to have a strong academic reputation, and boys compete each year in a wide variety of academic competitions. Medbury boys often feature in secondary school scholarship awards.
The focus in ICT is learning to think and the integrated use of ICT within curriculum outcomes is seen as an important. Medbury has an expanding range of iPads, interactive smartboard technology is being used throughout the school, and each boy in Years 5 to 8 has his own laptop. Our challenge is to provide an education which cherishes tradition, but prepares the boys for the 21st Century.
Medbury is structured in order to provide optimum pastoral care for the boys, enabling your son to move seamlessly through the many stages of primary education, enjoying a safe and nurturing learning environment.
- Junior School New Entrants to Year 2
- Lower Middle School Years 3 and 4
- Middle School Years 5 and 6
- Senior School Years 7 and 8
The Curriculum at Medbury
Every boy at Medbury studies the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Science, Information Communication Technology (ICT), Physical Education, Music, Drama and Art.
Medbury School follows the curriculum guidelines of the New Zealand Government Ministry of Education and adds a broad range of other skills, placing a strong importance of the need for boys to be creative, innovative and enterprising learners, preparing them for the 21st Century.
Junior School
From New Entrants to Year 2, the foundations are laid for a broad and balanced education.
Small class numbers in the Junior School enable the teachers to have an in-depth understanding of the boys, and to cater for their individual needs. Grouping systems in the classroom for Reading, Writing, Spelling and Mathematics ensure that boys are able to be extended where necessary.
Learning Support teachers are available for children who need extra assistance in particular core areas.
Medbury offers a stimulating and caring environment, catering for each boy’s physical and social development. Boys receive specialist training in Digital Technologies, Drama, Music and Physical Education.
Boys begin learning about emotional intelligence, understanding traits and qualities within themselves as well as via interactions with their peers.
Lower Middle School
The Lower Middle School has been created to support the growing maturity of boys who have successfully negotiated their foundation years within the Junior School.
This newly created sub-school provides boys with a wealth of opportunities both within and beyond the classroom to meet a growing interest in academic, sporting and cultural pursuits.
As boys move into Lower Middle School they continue with the strong emphasis on Literacy and Numeracy. Classes for Mathematics are grouped by ability. Specialist teaching for Year 3 occurs in Digital Technologies, Drama, Music and Physical Education, with specialist teaching in Art, Science and Health being added in Year 4.
Greater confidence, ownership of learning, risk taking, understanding that setbacks from time to time spur personal and academic growth, and an ability to understand and apply emotional intelligence principles, are all part of the Lower Middle School journey.
Middle School
Middle School boys enter the rich learning environment within The Old Boys’ Building and embrace greater academic responsibility for their learning.
The boys receive comprehensive specialist teaching in Art, Digital Technologies, Drama, Health, Library, Music, Physical Education and Science.
Middle School assemblies provide the boys with leadership opportunities, and a platform to share their work. The Middle School Peer Mediator and Physical Activity Leaders Programmes provide boys with the opportunity to develop their leadership skills.
There are many opportunities to represent the School in sport, take part in the wide variety of School music groups, and to participate in the School’s well established outdoor education programmes.
With the 1:1 laptop programme, every boy from Year 5 upwards has his own laptop to enhance engagement in learning and provide a diverse range of educational opportunities.
Emotional intelligence principles are further enhanced during the Middle Years journey.
Senior School
Medbury continues to have a strong academic reputation, and boys compete in a wide variety of academic competitions.
A pleasing proportion of Medbury boys are recipients of Secondary School scholarship awards each year.
The teaching of Literacy and Numeracy remains paramount. The core subjects are supplemented by comprehensive specialist teaching in Art, Digital Technologies, Drama, French, Maori, Music, Physical Education and Science.
Boys travel off campus for Design and Technology opportunities.
The Senior Options Programme involves the boys being able to choose from a wide range of activities including Media Studies, Robotics, Computer Science, Art, Law, Photography and Golf.
In Year 8, Medbury operates a Leadership Programme with each Year 8 boy at some time holding a position of leadership, which is an important addition to his development and self esteem.
A strong understanding of emotional intelligence is displayed when interacting with boys across various year levels.
