St. Andrew's has had study skills on its curriculum for many years. When we began, it was in this country taught mainly just in senior schools' Sixth Forms and on higher education courses. Now it is commonplace in the senior years in prep schools, though in some it may still be largely limited to practising reasoning papers. Here it is focussed more on making children more self-aware and more confident as learners. We believe they need a learning toolbox which they can call on as necessary.
The aims of the course could be summarised as follows:
- To provide children with useful cross-curricular learning tools and skills which will not receive much focus in separate subject departments
- To help children to manage their own studies more effectively, gradually becoming more independent learners and better group contributors
- To enable children to become more aware of themselves as learners, including their preferred learning styles, their strengths and weaknesses and their intelligences
- To give children more confidence in preparing for and doing examinations
All four of these serve the greater aim, of equipping our children with the ability to go on learning through study throughout their lives.
In Years 5-7 children will learn and get practice in thinking skills, groupwork, memory techniques, library use, speed reading, note-making, mind mapping, revising and preparing for examinations. They also get practice in touch typing during Year 5.
In Year 8 there are no timetabled lessons but individuals may be given help when needed.