Teaching and learning

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At Melbourne Grammar School we strive to give every student the opportunity to pursue their passions and interests. To achieve this, we complement the academic focus of our senior curriculum with opportunities for students to work collaboratively and participate in co-curricular opportunities.

Our curriculum structure

The Senior School curriculum is structured to encourage choice. In Years 9 and 10, core subjects and semester electives allow students to gain essential skills and maintain a breadth of experience, while exploring the disciplines they are most enthusiastic about in depth. In Year 11, many students will have access to a VCE Unit 3/4 subject, giving them an opportunity to maximise their ATAR while also continuing to deepen their personal interests.

Elements of a strong curriculum

We believe these elements contribute to a curriculum that provides a holistic approach to education:

  • Cultural transmission: students discover the origins and development of cultures and ideas, contributing to an understanding of their place in the world.
  • Mastery of skills: students demonstrate fundamental skill development.
  • Extension/challenge: students are challenged by course content and teaching methods.
  • Autonomy: students have a degree of autonomy in both subject choice and the tasks they undertake.
  • Reflective and creative thinkers: the curriculum inspires reflection, imagination, higher order thinking and academic independence.
  • Growth: assessment involves explicit criteria and standards, attempting to close the gap between existing and desired performance. 
  • Intellectual rigour: students develop the capacity to approach ideas and theories carefully, clearly and deeply, developing intellectual maturity and critical judgement.
  • Inspirational/aspirational: the curriculum inspires a love for learning and motivates students to continue their own education.