Innovation in Academics

Brescia House School is part of a worldwide Ursuline network of schools, committed to the education of young women in a manner which fosters in them the visions, hopes and dreams to contribute fully as participants on an international platform.

The schools collaborate in a Global Education Programme so that pupils of Ursuline schools can travel and meet with their Ursuline counterparts, exchange ideas, form networks and develop the confidence that will stand them in good stead in the future.
‘With the shrinking of the world into a smaller global village, we have recognized the need to forge greater bonds with our fellow Ursuline schools around the world,’ said Sr Diane, School Representative for the Ursuline Schools in Southern Africa.
It is also through this networking that the pupils learn more about the culture of other societies and work to form a better understanding of the world in which we live. The exchange also allows for the teachers to discuss educational issues with the intention of forming educational exchanges. Many of the pupils and teachers skype each other on a regular basis and exchange educational material or ideas.
Visits to and from Ursuline schools across the world has become an annual occurrence for both staff and pupils of the Global Education Programme. The school has had several exchanges in the last few years and has established strong ties with the Ursuline Academies in the USA, Brazil, Europe and Australia.

The aim of the Education Beyond Borders programme is to leverage the familiarity with online communication and collaboration technology in order to expose our pupils to not only different thinking and viewpoints, but to prepare them for the future of the working world.

The post-pandemic geography of work is likely to permanently change with flexible workspaces, virtual meetings and remote work here to stay. COVID-19 has also accelerated the need for developing 21^st century skills and, in order to thrive in the uncertain world of the future, our pupils are going to need better innovation, critical thinking, problem-solving and collaboration skills. Development of these future skills, through experiential learning, is central to the idea of our Education Beyond Borders programme, which is not just about transcending physical borders using technology, but transcending the borders of traditional education.

The value of the programme is evident in the experience gained from working on a real-world problem, and making decisions together, in an international cross-cultural team. Whilst the project might guide learners in a formal way, there is also significant learning that takes place from the informal conversations and sharing of information between pupils of the same age.

Whilst we have a well-established physical exchange programme, Education Beyond Borders opens the opportunity for all pupils to engage and work directly with their peers in overseas schools. The Ursuline schools network includes schools on all continents and Brescia House School has historic relationships with schools in the USA, Europe and Australia.

Through engaging in collaborative, cross-cultural workspaces across the world, we are exposing our pupils to different thinking and different perspectives on global issues. This not only helps prepare our pupils for the future of work but is also important in developing them into responsible global citizens.

At Brescia House School we believe that every pupil is a leader who is able to influence the lives of others. The philosophy we teach is based on servant leadership and inspired by the teaching of St Angela

Leadership training and experiences prepare our pupils to deal with many of the challenges and situations they will experience later in life.

Pupils in Grade 11 and 12 are involved in our formal leadership programme which includes a leadership curriculum, taught in Life Orientation, a leadership camp and engagement with other schools through the Catholic Schools office. Our curriculum is balanced between discussing and reflecting on personal development issues such as self-awareness and finding purpose, as well as more practical thinking on topics such as time management, delegation and conflict management.

We operate a committee system in which all senior pupils are expected to work together on various projects and initiatives. Pupils throughout the High School are represented in a Pupil Forum, which meets regularly with school management. The Pupil Forum discusses issues that affect pupils and works to resolve problems and promote cohesion within the school.

• English
• Afrikaans
• IsiZulu
• French
• Mathematics
• Natural Sciences
• Social Sciences: Geography
• Social Sciences: History
• Economic and Management Sciences
• Creative Arts: Music, Art and Drama
• Design and Technology
  
• Information Technology Skills
• Life Orientation
• Religious Education
• Music Specialist (from Grade 8)
• Art Specialist (Grade 9)
• Consumer Studies (Grade 9)
• 21CLD (21^st Century Learning Design)