The St Hilda’s Approach to Junior Learning

Preparing Students for a Rapidly Changing World

At a time when many parents are questioning how best to prepare their children for a rapidly changing world, St Hilda’s is leading with clarity and confidence. Through carefully designed, strategic phases of learning, the School is shaping the graduates of the future; girls who are not only academically capable, but curious, compassionate, and courageous.

Early Learning Grounded in Science and Foundational Skills

This journey begins in the Junior Primary years, where education is grounded in the Science of Learning and anchored in the foundational skills of literacy and numeracy. Research is unequivocal: children who are not functionally literate or numerate by the end of Year 2 often face long-term learning challenges. At St Hilda’s, this evidence has driven a deliberate and responsive approach. From Junior Kindergarten onward, significantly more time than the notional hours is allocated to English and Mathematics instruction, ensuring every student builds the skills she needs to thrive.

Demonstrated Academic Excellence and Early Intervention

The results are both compelling and affirming. Approximately 90% of Year 3 students who joined the School prior to Pre Primary achieve in the top two NAPLAN bands for Reading and Numeracy. By Year 5, this figure rises to over 95%. These outcomes speak not only to a strong academic foundation, but to the power of early intervention, intentional teaching, and consistent care. It’s no coincidence that our two highest ATAR-achieving students from the Class of 2024 both began their journeys in the Junior School.

Building a Solid Foundation from the Start

This confirms St Hilda’s is absolutely providing a solid foundation for learning right from the very beginning of a student’s learning journey.

Fostering Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Innovation

Once a student has become functionally literate and numerate, the School begins to introduce programs that develop curiosity and innovation through creativity, critical thinking and character development. Our lighthouse design thinking and entrepreneurship program ESSTEAM (Entrepreneurship through Sustainability, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) is an Australian-first experience for students to turn concepts into solutions and ideas into actions. With deep literacy and numeracy knowledge as their foundation, and design thinking as their compass, our students are empowered to imagine, create and achieve without limits.

Personalised Learning Through Intentional Tracking

At St Hilda’s, every girl is known, not just by name, but in the depth of her learning journey. Through intentional data tracking from the earliest years, we build a rich picture of each student’s progress, strengths and areas for growth. But it’s more than numbers; it’s about understanding the whole child. Academic data is paired with insights into wellbeing, engagement and social development, ensuring our staff can respond with precision and care. This approach allows us to personalise learning, provide timely support, and nurture each student’s confidence as a learner. It’s how we ensure that every girl is seen, supported, and set up for success.

As demand continues to grow, now is the time to consider whether St Hilda’s is the right fit for your family. For those who seek a Junior Primary where excellence meets nurture, where girls are prepared not just for school, but for life; St Hilda’s stands ready to welcome them.