Durban Girls’ College
Durban Girls’ College strives to meet the developmental needs of girls in a greater South African and global context. This year, our Junior Primary received international accreditation as a Thinking School from Exeter University, in the United Kingdom. Our journey of growth started in 2017. Today, a culture of thinking and learning permeates all areas of our Junior Primary school, ensuring that our cognitive programme is richer, more relevant, and meaningful. The heart of our teaching is based on a ‘Growth Mindset’ with a culture of explicit thinking embedded in our curriculum.
The Thinking School pedagogy ensures that learning and personal growth is approached in a progressive and innovative way. Our girls are nurtured and supported and given the skills, tools and strategies needed to thrive in an ever-changing world. They can make better connections between their learning and real-life issues while being curious, exploring their world, and in the process finding solutions to their problems.
Good habits required for learning are taught and the College values of courage, attitude, respect, empathy and self-control are instilled. A common set of attitudes that build character and self-efficacy are shared by both girls and teachers. Care Circles provide a safe space for girls to be heard, voice opinions, discuss issues, solve problems, and if necessary, for conflict and resolution exercises to take place. Girls are thinking and learning how to be kind and how to listen with more understanding.
They are practising mindful behaviour by negotiating conflict, being open to differences and building on others’ points of view. The focus is on 21st century skills such as collaboration, compassion, and communication. Our girls develop higher-order thinking skills through learning to think more creatively and critically, asking insightful and thoughtful questions and self-reflection. Being a Thinking School has encouraged our girls to be more independent and able to cope with change.
Carol-Anne Conradie – Head of Primary School Durban Girls’ College
