The Curious Years
In the middle years of Junior School, students shift from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.” This is the moment when we spark their curiosity through our Units of Curiosity, which foster creativity, critical thinking, innovation and character development.
Our focus on strong foundations continues in Years 3 and 4, where dedicated literacy and numeracy instruction exceeds mandated hours. This ensures every student strengthens core skills and is well prepared for ongoing enrichment. Shared devices are also introduced at this stage, used thoughtfully to enhance learning when appropriate.
Supported by our Culture of Care, our girls not only ask meaningful questions and develop the skills to solve them, they also build the empathy and motivation to make a positive difference to others.
Our flagship Year 9 Wandering Spirit program has now been extended into the Junior School through the introduction of Little Wanderers in Year 3. This initiative is designed to nurture a strong sense of service, compassion and leadership. The timing is intentional, aligning with a key stage of development when students are ready to connect their learning with a deeper purpose.
The expansion of ESSTEAM (our Entrepreneurship program) into Year 3 represents an exciting next step in the growth of this world-class initiative. Grounded in the design thinking process, the program teaches students to apply creativity, logic, and empathy to real-world challenges. With deep literacy and numeracy knowledge as their foundation, and deep thinking as their compass, our students are empowered to imagine, create and achieve without limits.
At St Hilda’s, every girl is known, not just by name, but through a deep understanding of her learning journey. Using intentional data tracking from the earliest years, we develop a rich picture of each student’s progress, strengths and areas for growth. Academic information is paired with insights into wellbeing, engagement and social development, allowing our staff to respond with precision and genuine care. This personalised approach ensures every girl is seen, supported and equipped to thrive.
