Frequently asked questions
Answers to FAQs
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How does The Vine School in Cape Town encourage a love of learning?
In a typical classroom, children engage in an assignment-work‑completion routine which develops a particular attitude to work. They are expected to finish the task at hand, get on to the next task, and do what is required to earn the desired grade. The focus is on getting the work done. The process, the act of work itself, takes on a secondary role. This system encourages them to develop habits aimed toward a “good-enough” outcome—at the expense of working well. Children learn to ask “What must I do to get an A?” or “What must I do to pass?”
The Vine School has a different approach to work. The work itself is valuable and worth doing for its own sake. Curiosity sparks an interest in knowing and work is needed to master what you are interested in. Work is meant to be a natural response to knowing, not something you do to get a grade or praise and approval. Our students are encouraged to write, speak, think, compute, draw and paint, as a response to what they learnt rather than as a task to complete.
When the work of mastering something is difficult, instead of giving up they can rely on a teacher to come alongside to help them. But they are the ones who make the effort and earn the reward of knowing - something far more lasting and valuable than just getting a grade or approval.
What curriculum does The Vine School use?
What is “habit formation” and why is it emphasised?
How do Ambleside students do on standardized tests
What athletic activities does the school offer?
Does the Ambleside curriculum align with CAPS?
How will being in a small school benefit my child(ren)?
What difference does it make to have a "philosophy driven school?"
What is narration? Why is it used so much?
Why does The Vine School cover so many subjects?
How do you measure student growth and achievement?
How do you handle discipline issues?
Do you accept students of different faiths?
How do you handle doctrinal differences in the classroom?
What guidelines do you use in hiring teachers?
What training do your incoming teachers receive?
How do you utilize technology in the classroom?
How did you respond to the COVID-19 Lockdown?
Where do The Vine School students go to High School?
How do The Vine School students cope in a high school which follows CAPS or another curriculum which is different from the distinctive Ambleside approach?
How does The Vine School equip students for High School?
- We use a broad, rigorous, internationally-accredited curriculum to equip our students for academic success in high school and university.
- We maintain an atmosphere of grace and acceptance that builds confidence.
- Small classes allow teachers to give attention to every child, so the need for early intervention or extra support is not overlooked
- All pupils receive intensive skills training in all sporting codes, enabling them to participate successfully in a variety of competitive team sports at high school
- Character training enables pupils to recognise good character and choose good friends in high school.
- Deliberate choices to limit too much homework and school activities protects them from childhood stress which can result in teenage burnout.
- All students are trained in voice, speech and performance skills, preparing them for public speaking, oral presentations, drama activities and debate.
- In Grades 6 & 7, students are taught how to submit projects, study for CAPS-based exams and deal with the kind of assessments they will encounter in high school.
Is the Charlotte Mason approach extended to include African voices and literature?