ACTIV8

Y8 students learn to take responsibility for their own learning and direction, preparing them for the changes they will face as they enter the Senior School

Y8 is a time of significant change and growth and provides an ideal opportunity for our Y8 students to play an active and special role as the leaders of the Junior School at St Cuthbert’s College. Our Activ8 programme recognises that thriving at school will enable these students to develop a strong foundation for ongoing success throughout life. The Activ8 programme is based upon an integrative learning approach, specifically designed to cater for the changing needs of these students: independence, and the development of self-discipline, self-knowledge and self-motivation.

A rich Science programme at Y8 enhances the Activ8 programme. It empowers our girls to participate fully in their own Science experiments, to develop a thorough understanding of scientific concepts and to explore areas of particular interest.

In the Activ8 programme, girls acquire self-knowledge, and decision-making and leadership skills through such roles as house captains, class and games captains, Values and Student Council representatives, and librarians, and through our Y8 service and public relations teams. As part of our Y7-8 Careers programme the teachers explore how best to develop the girls’ understanding of their own strengths, weaknesses and interests, and their awareness of a range of possible future careers. In Term 4 of their Y7 year, they submit a CV and letter of application for leadership roles in Y8.

Our Activ8 programme complements our Values and Christian education programmes in contributing to the Y8 girls’ development as citizens. We aim to stretch each Y8 girl’s consciousness, her awareness of what is going on around her, her opinions, feelings and beliefs, and we push her to think deeply in every way we can.

It is a privilege to prepare our Y8 girls to embrace the challenges of their years in the Senior School, and to leave the Junior School with confidence and a sense of anticipation.