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A Froebel Education

Hands, Hearts and Head

A Froebel education is a learning experience grounded in:

  • recognition that each child has unique capacity and potential
  • a holistic view of each child's development
  • the value of a childhood in and of itself
  • recognition of each person as part of an ecosystem in the natural world
  • recognition of the child as part of the community
  • recognition that parents and educators work in harmony and partnership

Froebelian principles align closely with the Quaker values on which Alexandra College was founded.

Our Educational Philosophy

Each student will enjoy a creative and holistic system of education that allows her to feel valued and trusted so that she enjoys her learning experience at Alexandra College.

Our philosophy of teaching and learning is child-centred and based on the principles of Friedrich Froebel, the German educator and founder of the Kindergarten method, who recognised the importance of childhood to healthy human development.

At Alexandra College Junior School we promote play as a life affirming activity for children. We place importance on activity and creativity, singing, dancing and gardening as a community.

Family Groups

Mixed-age learning groups develop self-esteem, collective identity, camaraderie and a happy interest in learning from and with everyone.  

Each girl in the Junior School is a valued member not only of her traditional class peer group, but also of a mixed-age family group. There are ten ‘Family Groups’ in the Junior School, each with a mix of students aged from three to twelve years.

The older girls are given leadership roles that help them develop a sense of responsibility toward the younger girls, which enhances their self-esteem. The younger girls benefit from their sisterly connection to those who are senior students. 

The Family Group system aims to:

  • stimulate collective working
  • develop social skills
  • create a sense of responsibility 
  • build gracious habits of respect. 

Each year the composition, theme and name of each Family Group is changed. This allows each student to work and develop with other girls throughout her passage through the Junior School.

Family Reading

Literacy is a skill and a joy for life. Our Froebelian approach to Family Reading provides the setting for learning in a social and interactive environment and complements daily reading in individual classes.

The girls from KG Lower to J2 read together twice a week during Family Reading time. Each child will read to another child and they will also have an opportunity to read with a teacher.

Family Reading develops literacy but it also fosters patience, a willingness to assist others and provides an opportunity for girls to work collaboratively within their Family Groups. Sometimes the students share stories which they have written or illustrated books which they have created and this showcases the pleasure of reading to all age groups and abilities.

Partnering with Parents

Parents and teachers are partners in helping each child to:

  • enjoy her childhood, 
  • learn to love learning,
  • acknowledge and name her feelings, and 
  • day by day achieve a successful transition to adulthood.

This combined support is essential if the transition is to be a positive developmental experience for your daughter. A good relationship with your daughter's teacher will make it easier for you and her teacher to stay informed about her progress across all areas of schooling and to work together to develop your child’s learning and potential throughout the year. 

A group of young girls wearing red tracksuits run on a playground, with one in the foreground smiling at the camera.
Three girls in red tracksuits sit together smiling in a wooden play house.