A strong educational ethos underpins all we do at Grimwade House. Our curriculum may vary from year to year to reflect the needs of our students but, whatever the program or activity, we ensure it aligns with our overall philosophy.
This library of explorations presents our views on a selection of contemporary educational issues and best practices, providing insights into our philosophy and approach.
Encouraging deep thinking
It is our view that if students can learn how to learn, then they are best placed to succeed in future endeavours. Every day we use carefully considered strategies to help them become resilient, thoughtful, and critical thinkers, capable of understanding, integrating, and communicating complex ideas with clarity and confidence. Read more.
Thinking, feeling, doing
The educational philosophy that drives Grimwade House can be defined by: ‘thinking, feeling, doing’. That is, we work towards the cognitive, emotional and physical development of each child through our curriculum, pastoral care, classroom composition, approach to teaching and the spaces where our students learn. Read more.
Weaving the cloth: growth pathways at Grimwade House
What does it really mean for a child to succeed? We believe it’s more than just meeting benchmarks — it’s about weaving a unique learning journey for every student, nurturing growth across mind, body, heart, and spirit. Read more.
The foundations of pastoral care
We aim for all Grimwade House students to become emotionally literate and resilient, self-aware and understand the importance of choices in their life. Here are just some of the strategies we use to help them reach these goals. Read more.
Social development throughout primary school
Primary school is a journey of both academic and social growth. Recognising the various stages of emotional and social development is the first step in helping students to lay a strong foundation for a confident future. Read more.
Designing a foundation for learning
The earliest years of schooling are crucial to future success. It is a time when curiosity, discovery and concept-building shape lifelong learning. Our new Prep–Year 2 learning spaces are being designed to nurture this critical phase through flexibility, creativity and care. Read more.
Today, how we teach matters as much as what we teach
To provide students with strong literacy and numeracy skills, an ability to interact with and empathise with others, and a sense of safety and comfort it is important that we take students on an age-appropriate, personalised learning journey. Read more.
Persistence, effort and failure
Attitude is one of the most important factors that influence the way students learn. Believing they can improve and understanding that effort and persistence are required for this to occur is vital. Read more.
The importance of purposeful play
For our youngest students, play is a fundamental part of our teaching and learning strategy to advance academic and social learning by leveraging off their imagination and building their creativity. Read more.
The power of picture books
We view picture books as a fundamental tool for learning but, as socialising agents and vehicles for often sophisticated story-telling, the benefits they offer extend well beyond the obvious. Read more.
Can everyone be successful at Mathematics?
What if the common misconception that you are either good at Mathematics or not is simply not true? Our view is that, given the appropriate learning approach, success in Mathematics is attainable for every student. Read more.