We believe that life is a journey, not a race. Our Junior School, the Foundation Phase, with its own Head, is a vibrant, innovative and caring school and a wonderful introduction to first learning. At this early age the boys are introduced to the core curriculum as well as Zulu, Afrikaans, Art, Music, and Design and Technology. In Grades 0-3 we have 3 classes per year group with no more than 20 boys per class.

Grade 0

Boys enter our Grade 0 in the year they are five turning six. We have three classes of eighteen boys with their own class teacher and teachers’ aid. The Grade 0 year involves perceptual training, the setting of pre-reading, pre-Maths and pre-writing skills and a great emphasis is placed on the social and emotional well-being of the child. The boys have specialist teachers for music and movement, physical education and library skills. They have appropriate outings, which fit comfortably with their themes and enjoy a happy and full morning at school laying a strong foundation in all the learning areas for life in senior part of The Ridge School.

Grade 1

This is an exciting year, where they take the big step into formal education. Concepts are introduced to the whole class, assignments set and monitored by the teacher’s assistant, whilst the class teacher teaches small ability groups who circulate throughout the morning. Oral Afrikaans and Zulu are the additional specialist teachers at this level.

Grade 2

Grade 2 is the year of extension. All the basic skills have been introduced and the boys now seem to fly. The boys have exposure, in the classroom, to group projects as part of the co-operative learning approach. Mathematics is taught by the problem-solving or investigative approach, and has proved to be very successful in the setting of sound mathematical concepts absorbed by the individual’s own learning style. Design and technology now becomes a specialist subject and is wonderful for developing lateral-thinking and problem-solving skills.

Grade 3

This year is a gentle transition to a longer day with more exposure to the male staff members. The boys finish their academic morning at 13:10 and can choose to have “hot lunch” in the main school dining room. The Grade 3 boys stay three afternoons for cultural or sporting activities. Zulu and Afrikaans now become written subjects, and Art, Design & Technology and Computers have specialist teachers.

The main aim in the Junior School is to ensure that each boy develops good self-esteem. A learning difficulty can easily develop into poor self-esteem, so we tend to go for early intervention. We have a ‘Learning Support Centre’, which is made up of two remedial therapists, two occupational therapists and a speech therapist and any boy who is having any difficulty at any time slips out of the classroom for a one-on-one lesson and slips back better prepared.