A Unique Approach
SPARK Schools offers a uniquely personalised learning path for students to master academic goals and social emotional skills.
Personalised Learning
Lab Rotation Model (Grades R – 3)
Flex Model (Grades 4 – 7)
The aim of the model is to:
- Create autonomy and purpose in learning
- Improve mastery of objectives
- Build intrinsic motivation in students
- Promote daily reflections to prepare students for university
Curriculum
SPARK Schools are aligned to South African national standards and seek to extend student learning to meet international grade level standards. Therefore, each curriculum used encompasses the requirements of the CAPS curriculum and deepens student knowledge to make SPARK scholars globally competitive. Our curriculum is based on dynamic and individualised teaching, which ensures that scholars are learning the curriculum in new ways that are interesting for them.
As a result of our dynamic, individualised and globally competitive curriculum, we believe we equip our scholars to:
- SPARK scholars collaborate when they discover new knowledge
- SPARK scholars think critically when presented with a problem
- SPARK scholars are creative when presenting their findings
- And they can communicate effectively with adults and their peers
Math
In maths, students are taught according to Scholastic’s PRIME curriculum, which is based upon the rigorous maths standards of Singapore, the Republic of Korea, and Hong Kong. The curriculum builds student capacity to problem solve, and the assessments in the PRIME curriculum require students to employ critical thinking to demonstrate success.
isiZulu & isiXhosa
SPARK scholars’ second taught language is taught according to the scope and sequence laid out in the South African national curriculum. We do not teach Afrikaans at any of our schools in the network. We offer isiZulu as the additional language at all SPARK schools in Gauteng and isiXhosa at our school in the Western Cape, because they are the most populous previously marginalized African languages of their provinces.
Social & Emotional Learning
Social Emotional Learning is woven into the fabric of the day and ties the learning together with the common language and symbols that each staff and scholar uses.
Literacy
In literacy, students progress through reading and writing according to criterion scales based on Britain’s literacy standards. As required by the South African national curriculum, all students study life skills, natural science, and social science. At SPARK Schools, we integrate these subjects into literacy so that the themes of each life skill, natural science, and social science unit are explored through reading and writing.
Physical Education
At SPARK Schools we are focused on academic education, but we do know the importance of holistic development for our scholars. Therefore, SPARK scholars have physical education daily, Tuesday – Friday, where scholars learn in accordance to physical education requirements in CAPS.
SPARK Schools Extended Day
SPARK Schools have an extended school day that begins at 7:45am each day.
On Mondays, all scholars finish school at 13h00.
Grade R and 1 Regular Days (Tuesday-Friday): 7:45am – 2:30pm
Grade 2 and 3 Regular Days (Tuesday-Friday): 7:45am – 3:00pm
Grades 4 – 7 Regular Days (Tuesday-Friday): 7:45am – 3:30pm
This extended day includes all academic classes, as well as physical education and computer-based instruction in the innovative Learning Lab. The school day starts with Sparks Fly, an exciting and fun morning assembly. Then, the rigorous academic programme encourages SPARK students to develop a genuine love of learning in joyful and engaging classrooms.
Aftercare and further enrichment and sport is available from the end of school to 5:30pm for those families that desire it.
