Hale School aims to ensure that all students experience a challenging, dynamic and relevant education that enables them to reach their full potential. Differentiation supports all students of every ability level by identifying teaching and learning activities and resources that relate to a student’s prior learning, his individual differences, aptitudes and interests in order to facilitate his learning progress.
While the School is largely committed to heterogeneous mixed-ability classes, there is a limited use of ability grouping, notably in Mathematics in Years 3 to 10.
Learning support
If your son has a learning disability or finds learning challenging, we have dedicated support staff to work with him and to help tailor his learning to best suit his needs. Some subjects are taught to a small group of students, while others are differentiated within the regular classroom.
In the Junior School, a dedicated team of Learning Support staff ensure an appropriate teaching and learning pathway, with close collaboration between families, classroom teachers, specialist teachers, the Junior School Psychologist and external agencies.
In Middle and Senior Schools, Curriculum Support provides targeted literacy and numeracy instruction, while also liaising with pastoral care leaders and other teachers to provide support.
Academic extension
Students identified as gifted and/or talented require academic extension to fully engage in learning and to reach their potential. Both teaching and specialist staff, including School Psychologists, work closely to implement strategies that make the necessary curriculum adjustments to meet individual learning needs, strengths, interests and goals.
Different provisions are appropriate for students at different ages and circumstances. Some students have the potential to succeed but not the necessary skills and may need support to address any learning difficulty and their area of giftedness. Students who are identified as gifted may be offered access to special provisions, including differentiated curriculum, extension, enrichment and acceleration.
