Year 4-6 Senior School Information Afternoon

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Moving to the Senior School at St. Michael’s

Our aim is to provide a safe, happy, and supportive senior school environment that nurtures the unique and evolving needs of Year 7 and 8 students, empowering them to grow academically, socially, and personally as they prepare for the transition to secondary school.

What makes St Michael’s different from other schools?

• Small class and year group sizes.
• Specialist teachers in Science, Art, Physical Education, Spanish, and Music.
• Solely focused on primary and intermediate education, giving the school a strong preparatory school model. A Y1-8 genuinely co-educational independent school is rare.
• Historic, genuine Anglican tradition with a close connection to St Michael and All Angels Church.
• Unique location, close to Central City facilities.
• Strong foundations in Literacy and Numeracy with a more traditional classroom structure.

The Importance of Small Class Sizes

Our current class sizes are 18 and 13 in Year 7 and 8, respectively. We have a maximum class size of 22 in each year. 

Differentiated learning:

• Small class sizes enable teachers to know each student as an individual, allowing for highly differentiated learning that responds to their unique strengths, needs, and interests.
• With fewer students in each class, teachers can provide targeted academic support, challenge learners at the appropriate level, and closely monitor progress.
• Equally important, smaller classes foster stronger relationships and more meaningful pastoral care, ensuring that every student feels seen, supported, and valued. This personalised approach helps students thrive both academically and personally, building confidence, wellbeing, and a genuine sense of belonging.

Our ‘School within a School’

• Our Year 7 and 8 students enjoy the best of both worlds in a unique environment that feels like a school within a school, while remaining an integral part of our Year 1–8 Community.
• This dedicated intermediate setting provides age-appropriate learning experiences, increasing independence, leadership opportunities, and a strong sense of identity during these important transitional years.
• Students continue to benefit from the continuity, relationships, and sense of belonging that come from being part of a larger Year 1–8 school.
• Our small class and year group numbers enable all of our senior students to have opportunities to step up as role models and leaders.

Features of our Academic Programme

• Academic rigour
• Traditional single-cell classrooms
• Standardised and data-driven assessment and reporting
• Appropriate balance between bookwork and digital learning
• Strong focus on Literacy and Numeracy learning
• Ability-grouped classes where appropriate
• Targeted learning support
• External examinations and competitions
• A high level of teaching specialisation

The Parare Programme

Deriving its name from the Latin ‘to prepare’, the Year 7 and 8 Parare programme balances academic life in the Senior School with a diverse co-curricular experience, encompassing, among other things, sport, technology, civics, and service.

Student Voice

“I think if there’s one thing you take away from me, it is that spending Year 7-8 at St Michael’s will teach your children a lot. Although they may not realise it until later, they will be developed holistically – a perfect blend of academic, interpersonal, and life skills, and these combined will make the transition to high school as smooth as possible. “

 - Divya Pereira, Year 10 at St. Margaret’s College, Year 8 at St. Michael’s in 2024

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