Our Curriculum

Bateleur College offers a private school education with a CAPS and IEB compliant curriculum.

Some believe a school is best located in the countryside, others that it should be close to a town with communications and the real world of commerce and industry.

Baleleur College is both.

Although the College is situated less than a few kilometres from the Northgate Node and Kya Sands, neither is visible or audible. Screened by mature trees and protected from urban sprawl, the School's 9 acre campus sits juxtaposed to the Jackal Creek Nature Reserve. Randburg lies to the east and Roodepoort to the south west, – close but not too close making rewarding cultural visits, or sports fixtures, easy to reach.

Bateleur College is at the cutting edge of integrating junior education into the independent school system and it aims to integrate it's unique country atmosphere into the curriculum at every opportunity.

We will, in the near future, offer parents the priceless benefit of progressive, uninterrupted education from ages 6 to 18 years for their children. The Primary and Prep School is housed in its own buildings at the far end of the  campus, in a lovely wooded setting with easy access to facilities. It has its own structure, staff and Head, who is an Honourary member of the South African Heads of Independent Schools Association (SAHISA).

Entry is at Grade R, although places will arise from time to time in other age groups.As boys and girls move through the School from ages 6 to 12 years, they will find their programme increasingly developing and challenging. Independent Examination Board Curriculum subjects will be studied.

An Art Centre will offer multimedia opportunities in macrame, pottery, batik and many other disciplines in a relaxed atmosphere.

Sports and games activities feature strongly in the curriculum.

Future plans include fully networked computers in the school with multimedia PC's and interactive whiteboards in every classroom in the high school, and an additional CD-ROM provision in the Library. The installation of interactive whiteboards in the classrooms will ensure that ICT is integral to the learning process and reflects the College's commitment to the future.

The College sees education as a partnership with parents in which regular reports are complemented by parent evenings and frequent informal contact with Head and staff.

Foundation Phase (Grades  R, 1, 2, 3)

The very word "foundation" implies that the focus will be to develop the skills, knowledge and concepts required for further learning. 

The four prime "learning areas" are:                                                       

Numeracy - Number Concept and hands on use of Basic Mathematical Concepts 

Literacy - English first language, with Afrikaans (from Grade 1) and conversational Zulu (from Grade 4) as secondary languages   

Perceptual Development - skills in Sensory-Motor Integration, Gross Motor, Perceptual Life Skills  

Assessment in the Foundation Phase is based on realising developmental outcomes. Learners are evaluated in each learning area in a contiuum according to competencies, skills and concepts. Each learner is a "star" at something and individual development is given priority over competitiveness. Progress Reports are issued on a regular basis and parents should feel free to discuss their child's progress at any time by making an appointment with the teacher.   

Intermediate Phase (grades 4 - 6)

Languages - English (first), Afrikaans and conversational Zulu                                                                               Mathematics                                                                                                                                     Natural Sciences

Economic Management Sciences 

Human and Social Sciences                                                                                                                 Computer Studies                                                                                                                                      Life Orientation                                                                                                                                   Basic foundations are still of prime importance but learners are encouraged to achieve more independence through the application of independent thought. Pupils are prepared for the Senior Phase in high school. 

Grade 7  (High School), and 8 and 9 (to be phased in later) 

English                                                                                                                                             Afrikaans as an additional language                                                                                        Mathematics                                                                                                                                    Natural Sciences                                                                                                                                    Art and Culture                                                                                                                                      Life Orientation                                                                                                                               Computer Studies                                                                                                                             Technology                                                                                                                                                Human Sciences                                                                                                                                  Economic Management Sciences 

Grade 10, 11, 12 (to be phased in later)

English                                                                                                                                                    Afrikaans as an additional language                                                                                        Mathematics/Mathematical  Literacy                                                                                                         

Life Sciences                                                                                                                                        Physical Sciences                                                                                                                                 Life Orientation                                                                                                    Geography                                                                                                                        History                                                                                                                                  Economics                                                                                                                                   Business Economics                                                                                                                         Information Technology                                                                                                                   Accounting                                                                                                                                              Art Design                                                                                                                                         Speech and Drama                                                                                                                        Computer Applications Technology 

Examinations

Learners will write external examinations as prescribed by the I.E.B. (Independent Examinations Board) in Grade 9 and 12

Skills Shortage List for South Africa

 In order to be proactive, the Directors have had a careful look at the Skills Shortage List for South Africa in order to better understand where we can be of assistance in ensuring that our students are properly prepared for fields that will offer positions at the time they matriculate. This is obviously difficult to forecast as nobody can predict what will happen in the next twelve years, but we have identified definite areas and will be working towards encouraging students by supplying facilities and support where possible.

The first area is in the Mathematics and Science fields. South Africa currently has about 1500 PHD graduates annually and we need 6000. We have selected a curriculum that has a very good Mathematics and Science base that will encourage interest and participation by students. We will also be introducing Junior Labs as an extra-mural activity next year as well as planning a well-equipped lab for our high school.

The second area is Business Entrepreneurs; we need to encourage another 3% of our population into this field to ensure dynamic economic growth and variety within South Africa. We will be working closely with companies like Raizcorp, investigating adding modules on entrepreneurial business management to our high school curriculum and encouraging entrepreneurial thinking and approaches in our lessons.

The third area is Creative Thinking; we are already very active with the creative arts offering Arts and Crafts, Fine Art, Dramatic Art and Creative Dance. We will be adding more creative thinking activities and modules to our curriculum to encourage innovative and creative approaches to problem solving.

The last area is Technical Skills and this ranges from computer-based applications, engineering to trades such as electrical engineering, plumbing and building. All of these fields require mathematical thinkers and problem solvers. We will be embracing technology in the high school and are currently talking to experts in these fields to better understand how we may prepare our students for these career paths. We will start by adding activities such as Junior Engineers, Junior Robotics and Lego Engineers to our extra murals as soon as the school is big enough to accommodate these activities.

We assure you of our commitment to offering you the most ‘innovative, excellent and affordable’ education we possibly can, as we promised when we created Bateleur College.