Inspiring tomorrow’s generation with Julie Calder

Building those strong foundations during the early years is pivotal for academic success in the future, says Julie. “As a full primary school, our unwavering commitment to these year levels aims to provide every child with the necessary support and opportunities to excel. 

“As a school dedicated solely to primary education for girls, we provide an environment where each student can thrive—whether as a performer, creator, inventor, or athlete—laying the foundation for limitless future possibilities and encouraging them to construct their own path with confidence and purpose.”

Julie says the school’s wellbeing programme reinforces a safe, nurturing environment where students can explore and challenge themselves while developing resilience and self-worth. “Each aspect of our primary school experience builds upon the next, ensuring that by the time our girls leave Year 8, they emerge as courageous and resilient. Through small class sizes, personalised learning, leadership opportunities, inventive showcases, creative performances, and inclusivity, they discover who they are, how they learn, and what they aspire to achieve in the future.”

The renowned International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum is central to the school’s educational approach. “This curriculum promotes inquiry, action, reflection, creativity, and critical thinking. Students take charge of their learning and engage with real-world issues in a local and global context. This ensures we develop students who recognise their potential to effect positive change,” Julie explains.

“Through a future-focused curriculum grounded in the IB framework, we integrate subjects such as Mechatronics, Robotics, Music, Performing Arts and Visual Arts, alongside core subjects. “Our specialist teachers ensure engaging, relevant learning experiences that place students at the forefront of their education.

“Our educational ethos emphasises balance and diversity. “From literacy to numeracy, science to the arts, we ensure robust foundational knowledge while fostering essential attributes like empathy, curiosity, and problem-solving skills.

At Selwyn House, we take an holistic approach to a child’s development, addressing their intellectual, social, physical, and cultural needs. Girls thrive at Selwyn House because we take immense pride in developing tomorrow’s problem-solvers, leaders, and critical thinkers, Julie adds.

An IB education?

The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a global curriculum framework. The ‘Learner Profile’ is at the heart of what the IB stands for, and represents the values and attributes that IB students will develop.

IB learners strive to be:

• Inquirers who nurture their curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research.
• Knowledgeable across a range of disciplines and in issues of global significance.
• Thinkers who use critical and creative thinking skills to solve complex problems.
• Communicators who can express themselves confidently in different ways and languages.
• Principled with a strong sense of fairness and justice.
• Open-minded so that they seek and evaluate a range of points of view.
• Caring with the desire to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
• Risk-takers who are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.
• Balanced intellectually, physically, and emotionally.
• Reflective and work to understand their strengths and weaknesses to support their learning and personal development.