ACADEMICS
Our small class sizes and nurturing teachers allow this to be a reality.
The academic programme is of a high standard and learning support is available to learners who experience barriers to learning.
Our Curriculum
At Hamilton, we teach a holistic, well-balanced, and relevant curriculum based on an enriched IEB Curriculum. It is implemented by fully qualified, SACE-registered teachers using carefully selected learning programmes and a variety of thinking skills, teaching methods, and teaching aids.
In the Pre-Primary we focus on age-appropriate development and use the Think Equal programme for social and emotional learning.
The Foundation Phase (Grades 1, 2, and 3) cements the basics of Numeracy and Literacy with a themed approach to Life Skills.
The Intermediate Phase (Grades 4, 5 and 6) uses an integrated approach to encourage a love of learning, thinking skills, application of knowledge, and problem-solving.
The Senior Phase (Grades 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12) has a subject-teaching approach to prepare the pupils for subject choices in the FET Phase leading to an IEB matric certificate and tertiary education.
We benchmark our standards locally and internationally using the Acer International Benchmarking tests in Grade 3 and 6 as well as the Conquesta Olympiads in Maths, English and General Knowledge.
Hamilton is the only ISASA School in Ladysmith and surrounds and is an IEB accredited School. We are also a member of Thinking Schools South Africa, a group of schools that strive to make thinking explicit and visible using the Thinking Maps as our primary tool.
Parent Involvement
Regular contact with parents is essential and it is imperative that parents keep up with their child(ren)’s progress.
Parent and teacher (PAT) Chats are held in Terms 1 and 3. Full reports are sent out in Terms 2 and 4.
Our School Day
The school gates open at 07h00. The morning line-up is at 07h20. Classes begin at 07h30.
On Fridays, all grades end at 12h00.
Pre-Primary
Start: 07h20
End: 12h30
Grade 1 to 3
Start: 07h20
End: 13h00
Grade 4 to 7
Start: 07h20
End: 14h15
Grade 8 to 12
Start: 07h20
End: 14h15
We Are Proudly Affiliated With:
Member of the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa (ISASA)
An Independent Examinations Board (IEB) Accredited School
Member of Thinking Schools South Africa.
(We use Thinking Maps as our primary tool.)