Middle School - Developing Confident Learners

William Clarke College is divided into three sub-schools, Junior (Kindergarten to Year 4), Middle (Years 5 to 8) and Senior (Years 9 to 12) with each student being challenged to learn and apply the values of SPELL in life. 

These values are:

• Serving others
• Participating fully
• Exploring Christ
• Learning to learn for life
• Leading by example

Serving

All students complete Community Service each year as part of the wider Service programme. This is formally extended in Year 8 with students completing a semester subject called Service Learning. This is where they learn more about paid and unpaid service providers and work on a project which advantages the wider community. They learn new skills and develop attitudes they would not necessarily gain from their mainstream classes. Some community partnerships within the Service Learning Programme include: Glenhaven Green, Carinya House and Tallowood School

Participation

Students within Middle School participate in a camping experience which gives them the opportunity of getting to know each other and the staff better and challenges them to do things outside their comfort zone.  Camps also challenge students to think through their study habits and time management skills as well as providing practical leadership skill development through challenging activities such as archery, abseiling, rafting and dragon boat racing.  Students are encouraged to involve themselves in a diverse range of co-curricular activities including music ensembles, drama group, dance troupe, sporting teams and inter-House competition.

Exploring Christ

All students attend weekly Chapel services and Christian Development classes and have the opportunity to attend GLO (the student led Christian group).  In Years 5 and 6 students also have daily devotionals.

Learning

The Middle School seeks to cater for the diverse learning needs of the growing adolescent through a more flexible, kinaesthetic and practical style of learning.  Academic programmes to expand thinking, learning and study skills are delivered through the Year 7 PlatoProgramme as well as the Service Learning programme in Year 8.  Students are offered opportunities to compete in academic competitions with other schools such as the GATEway8 Programme, the Looking into Learning Symposium and Autonomous Learning.  Students with special needs are also catered for in small groups and individual programmes.

Leadership

Leadership skills are developed in students through the camping programme, sport, music and drama opportunities and more formally through Year 8 Leadership initiatives. Students in Year 8 assist in a variety of ways including Monitors, Peer Support Leaders and Sports Leaders, while Year 7 experience leadership opportunities through Tutor Groups. Years 5 and 6 students have the opportunity to further develop leadership skills within the classroom.