Hill Campus | Newcastle Grammar School

Developing the academic

potential of each student

Developing the academic potential of each student

This central location in Newcastle is easily accessible and close to the centre of Newcastle city. At Newcastle Grammar School we aim to make students’ learning more meaningful and more connected with students who are able to achieve and excel.

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Meet Our Deputy Head Of School

The Year 5-6 Difference

Positive Education and Wellbeing principles at NGS permeate our teaching practice from Kindergarten through to Year 12, with Professor Empowerment at Park Campus, structured Wellbeing sessions during Mentor time at Hill Campus and the Positive Education programme for Years 7, 8 and 9 as the formal vessels through which these principles are taught. Essentially, these principles need to be incorporated into our daily interactions with our students inside and outside of the classroom.

Much evidence exists linking heightened student wellbeing to improved academic outcomes. Through continuing to develop a Growth Mindset and enhancing student wellbeing, greater levels of school engagement will result. Enhanced wellbeing leads to improved school engagement, and improved school engagement leads to enhanced academic outcomes (Ross, Bathurst, & Jarden, 2012). Through a research project examining the relationship between positive effect (i.e. happiness or wellbeing) and the achievement of successful outcomes in life, Lyubomirsky and her colleagues (2005) find that positive effect precedes successful outcomes, that is happiness comes before success.

— Mr Alan Parsons, Deputy Head of School

Upper Primary

Years 5 & 6

Upper Primary Years 5 & 6

Years 5 and 6 work with our Primary teaching staff in a specialised area of the School. The dedicated area allows for a learning environment suited to upper primary with a focus on the development of literacy and numeracy skills as well as Inquiry based learning in Science, History and Geography. The students’ contemporary learning spaces reflect our approach to upper primary education and offer Years 5 and 6 students a unique learning environment.

Flexible

Learning Spaces

Flexible Learning Spaces

"I absolutely love the new classroom. I think it’s awesome that we get to pick where we sit and who we sit with. I also like how colourful it is. I’m very grateful we have such a wonderful classroom."

"Our classroom feels like home and makes work easier."

"I love that there are whiteboard tables and very comfortable seats."

"The new furniture is comfortable and I love all the different levels of the tables and chairs. I actually want to come to school because it makes me feel relaxed and comfortable."

Our students have been thrilled to be the pioneers in experiencing the benefits of flexible learning areas.

The spaces created using the bright modular furniture, allows a mix of social and collaborative learning, student-directed and teacher-directed teaching and learning, independent learning, project work and relationship building. The result is an engaging and motivational educational setting that we are all excited to be a part of.

Students are given the autonomy to choose their own seating arrangements depending on their preferences. For example, many students prefer to read on the floor or on our low slung lounge chairs, whilst others prefer to sit at a desk. Collaborative learning can be brainstormed on the whiteboard desks or on the back of our shelving units, which are also whiteboards.

The furniture is quickly and easily rearranged, allowing flexibility from one lesson to the next. We are still learning how to best use the space and adapting to the tote trays being away from our desks. We are working on being more organised and ensuring all our equipment is within arms’ reach at the start of each lesson. A taste of what will be expected of us in Year 7.

Secondary

Years 7 to 12

Secondary Years 7 to 12

The curriculum for each Year level is designed to develop the academic potential of each student, with the pursuit of excellence being the underlying objective.

The School follows the Australian and NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Curriculum (formerly BOSTES). In addition, specialist elective subjects including iSTEM (Years 9 and 10), languages: French, Japanese and Mandarin, and Mathematics Acceleration programme from Year 9 can supplement a student’s academic programme.

Students are divided into Houses and work with their Head of House and mentor group to achieve positive outcomes for the group and Pastoral Care is delivered through this system.

The wide co-curricular programme supplements a students’ experience of school and develops skills and talents. Weekly assemblies and Chapel services bring the Hill Campus together and emphasise our values.

Student Centred Learning