Specific Aims

The school shall equip each Grade 12 student with an internationally accredited School Leaver's Certificate, which will open doors for him/her worldwide.

The widest possible range of subjects will be offered to all students on the highest possible grade, with specific focus on those subjects which are required for further study at tertiary institutions.

We shall remain true to our vision of building self-confidence within each student .

Our educational approach is future oriented, because we believe that we have to equip the students with skills to manage their lives successfully.

These aims can only be reached if all the role-players work together and accept their responsibility.

1. Students' responsibility:

•  Students must take full responsibility for their own learning. They will do this by studying INDEPENDENTLY , without specific instructions from or control by teachers.

•  Students will exercise self motivation in order to do their best at all times.

•  Students will be self disciplined both inside and outside the classroom by regulating their own study-times, keeping to deadlines for class and project work and keeping order within themselves, in the classroom and wherever they can be identified as learners of the school.

•  If any problem might arise, they are expected to find a solution by themselves and only call on the help of parents/outsiders if all other avenues have been exhausted.

•  Students are expected to enhance their general knowledge , including keeping up with current affairs, through reading, researching, etc.

•  It is the students' responsibility to keep up to date with all technological development which might assist them in their educational process, such as computer operation, information systems, etc.

2. Teachers' responsibility:

2.1 Preparation and teaching

  • It is vital that teachers have a thorough knowledge of the syllabi as well as the aims and objectives of their subject.
  • Schemes of Work should be compiled at the beginning of each year and revised if necessary. Completed sections/chapters should be ticked off continuously.
  • In order to make full use of the teaching time, careful and complete preparation of each lesson is essential and should be each teacher's first priority.
  • Teachers should bear in mind that individual students AND classes have different abilities. When starting preparation, the composition, mental ability, history and social atmosphere of/in the class should be taken into consideration.
  • The teaching methods which are used will be determined by the intellectual ability, attitude and performance level of each class.
  • Alternate teaching methods, eg. lecturing, team- or paired work, group work, individual work, project work, etc. to stimulate the interest of the students.
  • Teachers should be confident in the use of different teaching aids such as overhead projectors, video machines, computer generated programmes, etc., to enhance their lessons.
  • Teachers should constantly strive to develop skills such as critical thinking, insight, independence, in the students. Preparation and teaching should keep this end in mind.

 

2.2 Homework

  • Students in Grade 8 should be given a total of about 2 hours' work per day (10 hours per week). This may gradually be increased with every grade. The students' own ability, work tempo, etc should determine the amount of work they are given.
  • All students are expected to do revision, summaries, etc. daily and without specific instruction.

 

2.3 Projects/assignments

  • Students must be afforded the opportunity to present their best work, thus projects must be given well in advance . This will enable them to do proper planning and research and to submit their work in good time.
  • Instructions should be given in writing with clear stipulations regarding deadlines, aims, formal content, documentation, etc.
  • Proper time management by the student is essential. As from grade 8 students are expected to manage their time and complete their projects without any help.
  • The assessment criteria must be established and known to the students. beforehand, and adhered to when assessing the projects. It might differ from subject to subject and with different projects.
  • Projects can be written, oral, practical or a combination, depending on which skills are being assessed.

 

2.4 Practical work

  • It is essential especially in the Sciences, because “seeing is believing.” Often students will remember work better if it has been demonstrated practically.
  • HIGSCE students' practical skills are tested at the end of Grade 12. It is thus important that they gain enough experience in practical work beforehand.
  • Students should be exposed to practical work as early as possible, to give them enough time to develop confidence and the necessary skills in the laboratory.
  • Initially the teacher will do the demonstrations and students will work in groups. A they progress they must be given more responsibility, leading them to the ultimate aim of each student performing experiments individually .
  • Safety is a priority. Apparatus and chemicals must be handled with utmost care in order to avoid any accidents. Chemicals must be used sparingly too, as they are very expensive.  

 

2.5 Learning Problems

  •   Wherever possible, learning problems should be addressed in primary school and in such a manner that the students will be able to cope with the problems by themselves.
  • Students with learning problems will only be given extra time consideration during examinations.
  • The specific learning problem could be taken into consideration if a decision has to be taken about the students' promotion.

 

2.6 Discipline

Refer to the school's Code of Conduct and other policy documents, eg. the drug policy.

 

2.7 Evaluation of written and oral work

  • Students should develop the skill of critical analysis by evaluating the work of their classmates. They can do this by editing essays, criticizing oral presentations, etc. It can be done as individual evaluation by the class or group evaluation in larger or smaller groups.
  • The teacher does not mark all the work of high school students. They have to evaluate their own work and in the process they will learn to judge their abilities, skills, performance and development.
  • External evaluation helps us to assess the standard of work at PSS in relation to other educational facilities. This can be done through participation in Science Fairs, Orators' League, “Rednerwettbewerb”, essay competitions, Olympiads, etc.
  • Students should be encouraged to participate in the classroom actively . Their relevant oral contributions should form part of their CASS-mark (Continuous Assessment) and could count up to 30% of their total mark. The aim here is to lead the students to thinking critically and to increase their general knowledge by listening to each other.
  • Although the obvious goal of evaluation is to test knowledge, we should not lose sight of the ultimate purpose, i.e. preparing students for a competitive world in which creativity, various skills and a critical approach are required.

 

2.8 Examinations

  • Examinations should be set in accordance with the standards and specifications of each subject, while bearing in mind that the students are being groomed for success in the Grade 12 examinations.
  • Question papers should be moderated before the examinations. Once the papers have been written and marked, a sample of the students' scripts must be handed in for moderation too.
  • Teachers must observe the “Guidelines for Examinations” with regard to deadlines, copying, marking, invigilation, etc.
  • It is the teacher's duty to ensure that the students adhere to the “Rules for Examinations”.

 

2.9 Excursions and Job Observation

  • All excursions should be subject-related . The primary goal with excursions is to further the students' knowledge of the world around them.
  • A week-long open-air school (extra-mural education) should be organized for students in Grades 8 to 10 every year. This could take the form of leadership courses, student conferences, youth camps ,etc.
  • Organizations outside the school should be consulted in this regard..
  • Grade 11 students should do job observation in their chosen fields during this time.

 

2.10 Personal Development

  • All teachers belong to a professional educational community and as such they are expected to be on the constant outlook for opportunities to further their own development in the teaching field. This could take the form of courses, workshops seminars, conferences or congresses which are either subject related or would contribute to improving their teaching skills.
  • PSS teachers should participate in subject meetings and other forms of interaction with their colleagues from other schools regularly in order to keep up-to-date with developments on the regional educational front.

3. Parents' responsibility:

True to the mission of PSS, parents must engage in a true partnership with the teachers in order to develop their child/ren into confident young adults who will be able to live life independently

Parents must supply their child/ren with adequate subject materials such as a good electronic calculator, specific graph paper, dictionary, etc. Parents must also do regular checks to ensure that these articles are maintained in good condition.

Parents should refrain from doing the children's work for them and instead encourage them to take full responsibility for their own learning, while keeping their individual abilities and talents in mind.

Parents should respect and support the teachers in their decisions with regard to the children's education. At the same time they should feel free to discuss any concerns with the relevant teacher.

4. The School Board's responsibility:

The school board must ensure that the teachers have an adequate teaching environment by providing the necessary facilities and structures, such as a fully equipped laboratory.

Care should be taken that fully qualified teachers are employed and that each teacher ‘s abilities are put to optimum use in the subjects for which he/she is best qualified.

It is the responsibility of the Board to provide adequate funding for the professional development of the teachers