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A Montessori approach to secondary education

Inspiring a lifelong passion for learning, the Montessori approach provides a well-rounded educational experience that enables students to develop to their full potential and equips them with the skills and knowledge they will need to thrive in a fast-changing world.

Melbourne Montessori School (MMS) offers Victoria’s first independent Montessori secondary education program. It challenges young minds and provides them with broad opportunities to become excited by the world around them. The program is specifically structured to engage them in hands-on experiences and provide opportunities to learn independence, contribute to community ventures and start running their own businesses. All the normal secondary subjects are taught, but they are taught in a way that students see the relevance of what they are learning. MMS is an authorised IB World School and will offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme commencing in 2019.

Developed by Dr Maria Montessori in 1906, Montessori education is centred around four planes of development – birth to six years, six to 12 years, 12 to 18 years and 18 to 24 years. The learning environment and structure of educational tasks are suited to the developmental level of each student. All classes are multi-age, giving each student the opportunity to learn from others and the flexibility to develop their personality at their own pace, both socially and intellectually.

“Supporting adolescents on their journey to adulthood is crucial,” says Melbourne Montessori School Principal Gay Wales. “It is a time of great change and development when individuals strive to understand the world and their place within it and search to understand issues of social justice.”

Our Senior School is small by design. “This enables us to be more responsive, to better personalise and adapt to student needs, and to create an environment where adolescents develop a sense of belonging and feel comfortable working and studying,” says Mrs Wales.

Learning spaces are welcoming and curriculum areas are integrated. Students regularly work at Collingwood Children’s Farm and manage micro economy businesses, addressing the need to be physically active whilst at the same time engaging in real world problem-solving. Through this, students learn about leadership and the importance of being independent, responsible and community minded.

Montessori secondary education is education for the real world, in the real world.

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