Preparatory School Handbook:
Specialist Curriculum

In an era of heightened social and environmental awareness, a profound commitment to using nature and adventure to foster a deep appreciation for the environment and instil enduring values and skills in students is a foundational principle of Bush School. Led by a dedicated Nature Pedagogy Practitioner, GGS Bush School provides a unique approach to learning for all preparatory students. Direct relationships with nature—inside, outside, and beyond—fundamentally shape our students’ learning journeys.

Meaningful, self-directed outdoor play enhances the senses, benefiting our children’s growing minds, bodies, and spirits. Research demonstrates the effects of outdoor play on social skills, emotional resilience, gross and fine motor skills, auditory and visual processing, attention, creativity, conflict resolution, and more. The positive impact of time spent outside is reflected in increased classroom engagement. By using the rich natural tapestry of Guildford Grammar School grounds and interacting regularly with the natural world, we ultimately support the cognitive, emotional, and physical development of our preparatory students.  

Drama and Dance helps children to express themselves creatively and build valuable life skills. Through Drama, students engage in storytelling, role-play, and improvisation, which helps develop their communication, confidence, and empathy. These activities encourage children to explore different perspectives and work together in a supportive environment

In Dance, children use movement to express emotions and ideas, which enhances their physical coordination, rhythm, and teamwork skills. Dance encourages creativity and imagination, allowing children to communicate in new ways while staying active and engaged.

Both drama and dance foster a sense of confidence, self-expression, and collaboration. In the Preparatory School context, Drama and Dance will be taught in an integrated manner in all year groups for K-Year 6, with regular opportunities to perform to and audience at showcases and special events.ssential skills for the future.

Histoires en action! has proven to be a revolutionary new approach to second language instruction. This content-based programme is centered upon the use of stories and music as context for language acquisition. In this program, there is an emphasis on language learning both from whole to part and from part to whole, with an initial focus on meaning over form, until students reach a critical level of fluency.  

Specifically designed stories like “Poule Maboule” and ‘Les 3 petits cochons’ are also theatre pieces and become the focus for a range of integrated scaffolded language activities that push students to higher levels of fluency (both oral and written) as they progress through each story unit. 

The vocabulary in the stories is targeted for acquisition through a highly effective kinaesthetic method termed The Gesture Approach. The latter accelerates the internalisation of the target vocabulary from unit to unit and year to year, as students experience and respond to vocabulary and structures kinaesthetically, visually and auditorially. The approach ensures an equal, strong emphasis on the development of all four language skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) through a program that meets the needs of all language learners and their learning styles.  

This program aligns well with the initial phase of the WA French Curriculum, emphasising the development of core competencies and language skills. Students will engage in activities that foster their abilities in communication, intercultural understanding, and critical thinking. They will work towards becoming confident, informed, and articulate in their use of the French language, while also developing a sense of global citizenship and cultural appreciation. 

“Music is what feelings sound like.” – Georgia Cates 

Music at GGS is a happy and safe space that inspires students to become confident and autonomous musicians, whilst finding their own place within the world of music. This is achieved through classroom programs that encourage students to learn through collaboration and performance and supports them in developing skills and a lifelong passion for music. The programs offer a comprehensive co-curricular menu that consists of 12 different ensembles, both instrumental and vocal. These ensembles have performed at several high-profile events, including the United Nations Conference (2023 and 2024), IPSHA (2024), as well as many other events within the school and wider community. 

The Early Years (Kindergarten and Pre-Primary) 
Introducing music in the Early Years plays a key role in many aspects of lifelong learning, such as improving literacy and language abilities, and laying the foundation for proficiency in music. At GGS, music is a shared experience, whereby students are encouraged to explore, engage in and respond to music in a safe and supportive environment. Students are provided with regular opportunities to participate in activities that involve imitation, guided listening, creative performance, singing, and movement. These activities and experiences often occur in the form of circle songs, dances and musical games, which in turn support the physical, intellectual, emotional and social development of each child. Additionally, students attend and participate in more formal events such as the Kindy Cushion Concert and the ELC Nativity. 

Classroom Music (Year 1-6)  
The Music program for students in Years 1-6 provides a holistic and integrated approach to music education. Students engage in a variety of activities where they are encouraged to create, perform and respond to music. All students are supported in developing and actively applying their music skills through the combined use of traditional and modern music from a range of styles and cultures. Outlined below are the core practical components for each year below. 

Year 1: Vocal and Percussion (Tuned and Untuned) Instruments 
Year 2: Compulsory String Program (Instruments provided free of charge) 
Year 3: Ukulele/Percussion/Voice with String option 
Year 4:  Ukulele/Percussion/Voice with String option 
Year 5: Music In Action Program 
(Strings/Voice/Percussion/Brass/Woodwind) (Instruments provided free of charge) 
Year 6: Music In Action Program 
(Strings/Voice/Percussion/Brass/Woodwind) (Instruments provided free of charge) 

More information regarding these programs can be found in the Music Handbook. 

Ensembles
The ensemble program in the Preparatory school is open to all, with an ensemble guaranteed to be commensurate with your child’s skill level!  These ensembles rehearse outside of class time with one rehearsal per week. The ensembles planned for 2025 include: 

• Just for ‘Uke’ (Ukulele band) 
• Poco Pizzicato Strings 
• Sinfonietta Strings 
• Guildford Grammar Preparatory Orchestra 
• Chamber Winds 
• Prep Jazz 
• Junior Choir (Years 2 – 4) 
• Senior Choir (Years 5 – 6) 
• Chapel Choir (By Invitation Only) 
• Rock Face Rock Band 
• Mic Drop Rock Band 
• Preparatory School String Quartet 

Instrumental Music Tuition
The school also offers a comprehensive Instrumental Music Tuition program. This program offers students the opportunity to learn a musical instrument as a part of their overall educative experience. Lessons are 30 minutes in duration and are held as a part of the regular school timetable. Tuition is available for the following instruments: piano, guitar, bass guitar, violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, drums/percussion and voice. 

Please refer to the Music Handbook for more information.

The goal of Health and Physical Education (HPE) is to empower all students to sustain regular, lifelong physical activity as a foundation for a healthy, productive, and fulfilling life. At Guildford Grammar Preparatory School, we will expose students to an array of experiences which will add a broad range of athletic qualities, fundamental movement skills and game strategies to students’ physical literacy repertoire. This gives students the tools to lead active lifestyles and be meaningful contributors in a just, loving and peaceful society.  

Proudly inclusive, all students at all levels, stages and ages are involved in sport and physical activity at school. Regardless of the level of involvement, our program enables every student to access our enviable facilities, stunning environment and invested professional coaches. We offer a wide range of sporting options, from those which support the development and maintenance of a healthy lifestyle to our ‘performance’ sports where the focus is on competing and excellence at age and stage appropriate phases.  

Year 1 and 2 Physical Education 
The focus of the Year 1 and 2 program is fundamental movement skills including body control skills, locomotion skills, and object control skills. Students will develop a vocabulary for movement and apply concepts dealing with space and body awareness as well as hand/foot-eye coordination. Students will be engaged in activities that develop basic levels of strength, endurance, and flexibility. In addition, students will learn to work safely in group and individual movement settings.  

A major objective is to present activities in a setting of simple games that complements the student’s natural inclination to view physical activity as challenging and enjoyable. This will create multiple and numerous opportunities to practise the skill or strategy that is the learning intention for the lesson with technical instruction being delivered in short, targeted discussions or in a discrete manner. 

Year 3 and 4 Physical Education 
Year 3 and 4 PE continues to build on fundamental movement skills in a similar manner to the Year 1 and 2 program. Students in Year 3 and 4 progress to using these fundamental movement skills in minor and modified game situations.  

Year 5 and 6 Physical Education  
The focus of the Years 5 and 6 program is game strategies within the context of modified games and modified sports categorised into invasion games, net and wall games, striking and fielding games as well as target games. The aim of this is to create a bank of transferrable skills and strategies for students to draw on as they improve their game knowledge and physical literacy.

STEAM
STEAM is hands-on, project-based learning that integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. Students will apply creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration to solve real-world challenges, developing essential skills for the future. STEAM education at GGS will include: 

• Agricultural Technology and Food Science  
• Coding, Robotics and Automation 
• Environmental Science and Sustainability 
• Renewable Energy Systems 
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning 
• Architecture and Urban Planning 
• Electronics and Circuitry 
• 3D Modeling and Printing 
• Physics of Motion and Forces 
• Chemical Reactions and Materials Science  
• Biomedical Science and Biotechnology 
• Geology and Earth Sciences 
• Astronomy and Space Exploration