Our overriding concern at Springs is that all students receive an education which meets their needs. Whatever a student’s future, Western Springs College strives to provide a successful pathway.

In the junior school (years 9 and 10), students move in core classes through the compulsory curriculum. Core classes give students stability of relationships. At Springs, year 9 and 10 classes are relatively small and, generally, consist of students of mixed ability.

While there is streaming in mathematics, there is a strong tradition of mixed ability teaching in the junior school. Our philosophy is that it is important to have high expectations of all students, all of whom we believe to be intelligent in various ways. In our view it is indefensible and irresponsible to prematurely and inaccurately label students’ ability levels. Multiple intelligence approaches to teaching and learning inform the staff professional development programme.

Catering for individual needs is achieved in a variety of ways at Western Springs College, including acceleration and enrichment, both in core classes and in special withdrawal classes. The learning centre has been designed to help students plug gaps in their essential learning skills.

There are withdrawal classes for gifted and talented students. Acceleration takes the form of extension classes, as in year 10 mathematics, and multilevelling whereby students are able to study at a level suited to their ability.