Middle School
(Year 7 - 9)

Our learning program in Middle School is based on the Australian Curriculum. We provide a multi-disciplinary and integrated approach that offers a rich education to support the intellectual, emotional and social growth of each student during these formative years.

Our teachers focus on skill acquisition in the key areas of, Mathematics, English, Science, Physical Education & Health, Humanities, Languages (Mandarin, Japanese or German) and Arts (Visual Art, Music, Drama, Dance).

Our approach to teaching and learning in the Middle School is student-centered and designed on the specific learning needs of adolescents. It is focused on a positive, technologically enhanced working environment, encouraging student development through social learning and interaction. Teaching and learning in the Middle School will be creative, innovative, collaborative, rigorous, authentic and engaging.

The professional practice of Middle School teachers includes rigorous planning and preparation to produce engaging and authentic lessons. We aim for our students to develop an understanding of learning; and to develop a maturity and resilience to actively engage in and positively contribute to the wider community.

The support of Pulteney’s Inclusive Learning team complements the extensive range of learning opportunities at Pulteney, providing diverse academic enrichment and support for students at all ages. We examine the learning needs and strengths of each student to identify those with a passion that could be explored in depth, those who require new challenges to extend their classroom learning, and those who may benefit from additional support.

To learn more about Inclusive Learning, please click here.

Middle School co-curricular activities are part of the rich education offered at Pulteney, and breadth of opportunity includes sport, performing arts, experiential learning, debating, chess and more.

Follow these links to learn more:

Sport at Pulteney

The Arts at Pulteney

Middle School is the place where the final vestiges of the playful spirit of childhood is welcomed, while the independence of young adulthood is encouraged. The curriculum offers time to engage in experiential learning with plenty of experiences beyond the boundaries of the classroom that encourages real-world connections and builds new areas of interest. Framed within an inquiry-based model, students explore some of the best our state and country has to offer as part of their camp inquiry units, or indeed through the Venture Club or Conservation Corps.

Camps:

• Year 7 – Robe, South Australia
• Year 8 – The Grampians, Victoria
• Year 9 – Flinders Ranges, South Australia

These opportunities provide a new environment for students to get to know their peers, Home Group teacher and to forge new friendships, whilst supporting students to:

• Enhance self-confidence and independence through overcoming personal challenge
• Develop social and collaboration skills and teamwork through group challenges
• Promote a healthy lifestyle
• Provide an introduction to and development of general camping skills
• Provide an important developmental step for the outdoor education program
• Gain an appreciation for our natural environment

Find out more about Outdoor Education at Pulteney.

Students in Year 9 take part in “City Week” – an annual team challenge based on a research topic selected by the team. Alongside their teammates, students experience the freedom to investigate our unique city location, conduct interviews, collect data and present their findings in a dynamic expo to parents, peers and community experts. Like all competitions, the authentic highs and lows of working as a team provide deep learning.

Pulteney’s purpose-built and award-winning Middle School facility offers students a dedicated space to establish a strong academic base whilst also focussing on supporting physical and social development in adolescence.

Designed in collaboration with our students, Pulteney’s Middle School provides a contemporary learning environment built specifically for adolescent learners, which comprises a series of innovative and dynamic learning spaces which facilitate contemporary learning practices such as project based learning and design thinking.

In the Middle School, we embrace our unique city location and use it to maximum advantage in our curriculum. We believe that the cultural, historical, geographical, political, corporate and civic resources of the city provide a ‘classroom’ that can dramatically enrich the learning experience and engage young adolescents in relevant, experiential learning across all curriculum areas.

Students participate regularly in excursions to a wide variety of city locations and events, all of which can be easily accessed by foot or public transport. Students are encouraged to be actively involved in community service either within our school community or in the wider community.

As a result, students gain an appreciation of the diversity that makes the city of Adelaide the vibrant and special place it is, within the world and develop their ability to be aware, informed and connected global citizens who value diversity.