Academic Programme
Tom Newby School’s reputation as an exceptional academic institution is undisputed. Learners from our school make a seamless transition from primary to secondary education and their Matric results are testament to the solid foundation that was laid in their primary school years. The academic programme is diverse and includes, inter alia, the following components:
Information Technology and Computer Literacy
Our school has a full-service computer centre, as well as two educators, dedicated to equipping learners from Grade 1 to Grade 7 with skills related to MS suite: Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Computer skills are integrated into curriculum delivery from Grade 4 to Grade 7, particularly in the informal assessment component.
All classrooms are equipped with data projectors and all Grade 1-3 educators have access to visualisers that enhance the learning experience for the students.
Our school has access to uncapped fibre Wi-Fi and learners may utilise this service free of charge to access approved sites and programmes. The school’s Wi-Fi is protected by a state of the art firewall and security system that ensures the safety of users’ devices and that identifies and reports on threats, abuse and misuse to the school’s security administrators.
It is compulsory for Grade 5 to Grade 7 learners to use android tablets to store their subject notes and complete various activities for research and assessment. E-notes are loaded onto these tablets at no cost to parents. The notes are customised for learners from Tom Newby School and are updated and refined annually. The standard of information, activities and assessments provided in these notes is of an exceptional standard and schools from as far afield as the Western Cape make use of the notes and assessments that are loaded on the school website.
Coding and Robotics
Coding skills are included in the computer literacy curriculum from Grade 1 to Grade 7 and learners’ skills development is assessed on a quarterly basis. Once the requisite coding skills are acquired, learners may apply to include a robotics component. The robotics component may incur additional costs.
STEM classes (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths)
STEM classes (known as the Apollo Club) form part of our school’s extra-curricular program from Grade 4 to Grade 7. STEM is an approach to learning and development that integrates the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Through STEM, students develop key skills that include:
- problem solving
- creativity
- critical analysis
- teamwork
- independent thinking
- initiative
- communication
- digital literacy
Learner Support
Our school helps learners who need support to navigate the academic demands of the curriculum and learning programs. This support is managed by the class teachers in conjunction with a School Based Support Team (SBST) that includes a psychologist, social worker and remedial teacher.
Recommendations, support and interventions may include one or more of the following:
- Support during class teaching: Differentiated teaching and individual support as and when required.
- Concessions: Learners who have officially been diagnosed with barriers to learning such as dyslexia, dyscalculia and dysgraphia may apply for concessions with respect to assessments. Concessions such as additional time or scribes can be approved.
- Play therapy: A therapist is available to support and counsel learners who have experienced mild trauma.
- Referral to a specialist: If school-based therapists and support services are not qualified or equipped to provide the required support, learners can be referred to a suitable specialist.
- Counselling: An on-site social worker and psychologist are available to provide counselling and support.
- Individual support plan: The members of the School Based Support Team work closely with the class/subject teachers to devise a support plan that is tailored to meet the specific needs of a learner who requires support academically, emotionally and/or behaviourally.
- Back to Basics classes: These lessons are offered as part of the school’s extra-curricular programme and are designed to fill in ‘gaps’ in basic skills for English, Afrikaans and Mathematics.
- Remedial lessons: These lessons are offered by private service providers to learners who require more support than that offered through the Back to Basics programme.
- Consolidation classes: These lessons are offered by educators of Grade 4 to Grade 7 learners. Educators make themselves available on at least one afternoon per week to re-enforce/re-teach/clarify content and skills that were presented during regular instruction.
- Educator assistants: Grade 1 educators have allocated educator assistants. These assistants provide support to the educator to ensure that this critically formative year provides the best possible conditions for foundational learning.
- Wings club: Grade 4-7 learner support in English, Afrikaans, and Maths, as part of the extra-curricular programme
Goal setting and acknowledgement of achievement in academics
Goals for academic performance are set at the beginning of each term. These goals are recorded in the school diary and both learners and educators are required to evaluate this performance at the end of the academic term. Outstanding achievement in academics is acknowledged in the following ways:
Academic badges: Learners are awarded academic badges based on their results at the end of each term. Bronze, Silver, Gold and Prestige badges are awarded based on aggregate results.
Triple T Club: Learners are invited to join the Triple-T Club if their mid-year results are exceptional. Investiture into the Triple-T Club takes the form of a special award presentation at the beginning of Term 3.
Academic certificates, trophies and colours: Learners are awarded certificates, trophies and colours based on their annual academic results. These accomplishments are acknowledged at special prize givings and assemblies at the end of the academic year.