Junior School

Junior School at Strathcona Girls Grammar: Fostering Growth and Belonging

At Strathcona Girls Grammar, our Junior School (Prep to Year 6) offers a vibrant and nurturing environment where every girl is empowered to learn, belong, and thrive. With a dedicated campus designed specifically for primary-aged learners, students benefit from a unique blend of independence and connection. 

Our academic foundation is built on comprehensive literacy and numeracy programs, incorporating a systematic synthetic phonics approach to ensure strong reading and writing skills. Teachers build trusting relationships with students and families and utilise data and evidence and research-based practices to construct learning experiences that meet the needs of all learners. In addition, extensive support and enrichment opportunities are available to ensure all students reach their potential. 

Inquiry units within year levels present opportunities to explore a variety of core subject areas, including history, geography, civics and citizenship, and economics and business. Students are encouraged to think critically and creatively, investigate the world around them and apply new learning to complex tasks and situations. 

Our curriculum is enriched by several specialist subjects including SPARK, a dynamic subject and space where students across all year levels engage with digital and design technologies, robotics, and coding. This hands-on, inquiry-driven environment fosters creativity, design thinking, and innovation, ensuring our students are creators, not just consumers, of technology. 

In Years 5 and 6, students extend their scientific understanding through access to Senior School science laboratories, where they participate in advanced experiments and investigations. This early exposure to secondary-level science builds confidence and curiosity in STEM disciplines. 

As part of our Health and Physical Education curriculum, all Junior School students participate in weekly swimming lessons, promoting physical wellbeing, water safety, and skill development in a fun and supportive setting. 

The arts are celebrated through annual productions for every year level, where students showcase their talents in drama, music, and performance. Our comprehensive music program includes instrumental lessons, ensembles, and classroom music, with opportunities to join choirs, orchestras, and bands such as the Junior School String Orchestra and Brass Ensemble. Creativity is further highlighted in our exceptional annual art exhibition, where students proudly display their visual artworks, reflecting their imagination, skill, and artistic growth. 

Weekly French lessons allow students to explore one of the world’s most spoken languages. Students engage in practical ways, attaining conversational language skills and knowledge of the French culture and traditions. 

Through our unique Strathcona SOUL program, Junior School students develop respectful relationships, build resilience and refine personal and group problem solving strategies. SOUL can be defined as developing Self, understanding Others, understanding Us and identifying what you Love. Prioritising SOUL ensures that all students have access to learning opportunities that challenge them to reflect on themselves and others and build a sense of connection and positive support. 

Leadership is cultivated through dedicated Year 6 leadership programs, where students take on meaningful roles that build confidence, responsibility, and collaboration. From Year 2 onwards, students also participate in school camps, designed to foster resilience, independence, and personal growth through outdoor education and team-building experiences. 

We believe that education is most powerful when it is a partnership. Throughout the Junior School years, we work closely with parents and families, fostering open communication and collaboration to support each child’s learning journey and wellbeing. 

When the school day is done (and even before it begins), co-curricular opportunities are available. From swimming and netball to rhythmic gymnastics and speech and drama classes, there are many options to choose from. In addition, lunchtime clubs allow students to try new activities and develop new friendships. 

Every aspect of our Junior School is guided by Strathcona’s core values of respect, integrity, compassion, courage, and empowerment. These values underpin our mission to develop Unstoppable Girls; young women who make a positive impact on themselves, those around them, and the world beyond our school.