Our Approach to Education
Montessori education is the result of the life and work of Dr Maria Montessori (1870-1952), an Italian doctor who devoted her life to children and their education.
It is an holistic and child-centred approach to education which takes into account all aspects of a child’s developmental needs – physical, emotional, social, and spiritual. The Montessori approach focuses on the whole personality of the child – the faculties of intellect, deliberation, initiative, and independent thinking. Montessori education emphasises the uniqueness of each individual child and acknowledges that children grow and develop at different rates.
Treetops uses the approved Montessori curriculum in our Children’s House. Throughout the Primary years however, it is blended with the WA curriculum to ensure that students receive an education that is both true to Montessori and compliant with contemporary thinking in terms of the State and National curriculum standards.
In Secondary, Years 7 to 10, and the Year 11 and 12 WACE General programme, are delivered in line with the Secondary SCSA curriculum. However, the Montessori philosophies are still applied and are an excellent fit to the philosophy underpinning the International Baccalaureate Organisation’s Diploma Programme (IBDP) which also runs in Years 11 and 12.
By combining the Montessori and International Baccalaureate philosophies, Treetops is uniquely placed to provide a different approach to secondary education. Our non-comparative and non-competitive environment develops each student as an individual, and encourages them to reach their full potential.
WHY MONTESSORI & IB?
Treetops has chosen the International Baccalaureate (IB) because of its student-centred, holistic, and international approach to education. Montessori and the IB are closely aligned in philosophy, and also with our Treetops’ ethos, mission, and core values.
Montessori Qualities and the IB Learner Profile are complementary. Fundamentally, we are a school that greatly values child-centred learning approaches, with a strong focus upon the individual. Montessori Learning Principles and Qualities, along with the IB Learner Profile, are ideal vehicles to support our goals.
Montessori Qualities | IB Learner Profile |
Curiosity | Inquiry |
Engaging with Ideas | Knowledgeability |
Independence and Problem Solving | Thinking |
Communication | Communication |
Respect | Principled Behaviour |
Appreciation of Difference | Open Mindedness |
Empathy and Service | Caring |
Willingness and Courage | Risk Taking |
Whole-child Development | Balance |
Thoughtfulness | Reflection |