Learning

Curriculum

Literacy

At Fairhills Primary School, the Literacy Block provides a rich, structured approach to reading and language development. Students engage in Reading Groups tailored to their individual skill levels, fostering fluency, comprehension and a love of literature.

Our synthetic phonics instruction (Spalding Language Arts) is a comprehensive, research-based approach to teaching reading, writing, spelling, and comprehension. It emphasizes the direct, systematic teaching of sound-symbol relationships, spelling rules and word meanings to help students understand why words are spelled and pronounced the way they are.

Our program equips learners with essential decoding strategies for accurate and confident reading and builds strong foundations in spelling, handwriting and vocabulary. Together, these components create a comprehensive literacy experience that supports every child’s growth as a reader and writer.

Our Writing program is designed to grow with students as their skills and understanding deepen. In the junior years, the focus is on developing well-constructed sentences, emphasizing correct grammar, punctuation and vocabulary use.

As students’ progress into the senior years, the program shifts toward genre-based writing, where they explore a range of text types such as narratives, informative narratives, persuasive essays, reports and explanations.

This progression ensures that all students build a strong foundation in sentence construction before applying those skills to more complex, purposeful, and creative forms of written expression.

Mathematics

At Fairhills Primary School students are provided with authentic numeracy learning experiences that are challenging, exciting and enjoyable. All mathematical concepts are progressively developed within the context of meaningful learning situations. Numeracy at all levels encompasses cooperative learning and problem-solving activities as well as focus on fluency to develop sound numeracy skills for life.

All students learn to have a growth mindset in Mathematics. This is the understanding that everyone can change and grow through application and experience. Students are frequently asked to explain where they are in the ‘Learning Pit’ throughout a Mathematics topic and are supported through differentiated tasks and small focus groups to achieve success.

Numeracy teaching in the Junior School focuses on developing number sense and building automatic response. Students use materials to model authentic problems and familiar counting sequences to solve unfamiliar problems.

Senior School students engage in learning activities that are targeted to their individual learning needs. They participate in five sessions of explicit Numeracy teaching each week, where they apply taught strategies to develop their problem-solving skills. Students are encouraged share a range of strategies when solving problems, enabling them to understand different approaches and apply their thinking in multiple way

Units of Study (Science, Humanities and the four Capabilities)

At Fairhills Primary School, students explore the world through our Integrated Studies units. This area of learning brings together concepts from Science, Humanities, History and Geography.

Through these units, students investigate how the world works and how people interact with it. They engage in scientific inquiry to explore the natural and physical world and examine how people, places and events have shaped our communities, cultures, and environments.

Students learn to ask questions, conduct investigations, analyse information, and draw connections between ideas. They develop critical and creative thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills as they explore topics that connect science, history, and geography to real-world contexts.

Assessment

Assessment is a vital component of effective teaching and learning, providing teachers with meaningful insights into student progress and guiding future instruction. Through a range of formative and summative assessment practices, educators can identify student strengths, pinpoint areas for growth and tailor learning experiences to meet individual needs.

At Fairhills Primary School, assessment is conducted continuously throughout the year to ensure learning is tailored to each student’s needs. This ongoing process includes the use of online platforms, student work samples as well as anecdotal and observational assessments that provide teachers with rich, real-time insights into student progress. At the end of Semesters 1 and 2, students participate in more formal assessment tasks that inform their reports. In May, students in Grades 4 and 6 also take part in the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN), with this data helping to guide long-term planning and strategic decision-making across the school.

Co-Curricular

Fairhills Primary School students enjoy other activities on offer:

Perceptual Motor Program (PMP)

Perceptual Motor Development refers to a child’s ability to receive, interpret and respond successfully to sensory information. The program is designed to develop physical skills and fitness through activities that require the use of cognitive, physical, social and communication skills. PMP runs for one hour per week over several weeks and involves small student groups working their way around a circuit of pre-determined activities. Each activity utilises specialised equipment and is supervised by a teacher and parent helpers. All Foundation(prep) students and some Year 1 students participate in PMP.

Swimming Program

Swimming is a fundamental part of our Physical Education program. All students from Foundation(prep) to Grade 6 are offered the opportunity to participate in two weeks of intensive swimming classes at Genesis Swim School. Classes are 45mins long and students walk to the swim school accompanied by teachers and parent helpers. Classes are run by accredited swimming instructors and all students are taught according to their individual skill levels. The focus of our swimming program is on water familiarisation, swimming technique and water safety. From Grade 3, students are invited to represent Fairhills Primary School in District Swimming Carnivals.

School Camps

School Camp is fun and often the first experience that students have of staying away from home/family. Between years 3-6 students are able to participate in two city and two adventure camps. This provides new learning opportunities in a safe environment outside the school setting. We are looking to expand our camping program to include our Junior School students and provide a camping experience to prepare them for Grade 3 camp. This may involve pyjamas, BBQ, Movie and a sleep over for our Grades 2s at school. Stay tuned!

School Performance

Fairhills Primary School proudly presents a performance every year. This alternates between circus and musical drama. All students, from Foundation(prep) to Year 6, are involved in the preparation, rehearsals and presentations. Students experience new learning opportunities which include dancing, singing, circus and stage skills. They practise memorising information by using clear communication skills, team work and commitment.

Music Lessons

Fairhills Primary School believes that Music provides excellent skills such as memory, attention to detail, listening skills and commitment. We offer keyboard, guitar and singing through private qualified tutors