Junior School
Starting early makes a difference
St Michael’s offers a rigorous, evidence‑based curriculum with carefully designed and sequenced programs that build strong foundational skills and develop students as confident learners and contributing citizens.
On average, our highest‑performing Year 12 students began their learning journey with St Michael’s in our Early Learning Centre or Junior School. We view children as capable protagonists in their learning, who require expert educators who nurture a culture of excellence, and intentionally extend thinking and development.
We prioritise the transition from the Early Learning Centre to Junior School through a dedicated, carefully targeted program that ensures continuity of learning and a seamless start to primary schooling. This approach supports both academic growth and student wellbeing.
An inside look
Why choose our Junior School
At St Michael’s Junior School, families find a balance of academic excellence, wellbeing, and real-world learning experiences that equip children from Kindergarten to Year 6 with confidence and curiosity.
Lower Primary School (Prep to Year 3)
Learner dispositions are deliberately developed across the Junior School through classroom learning and Signature Programs, with students in Years 4, 5, and 6 formally assessed and accredited against a defined set of essential competencies that support leadership, agency, and future employability.
Curriculum Highlights
English, Mathematics, Health, PE, Music, Visual Arts, Anam Cara spirituality, Literature and Research, and Languages (French or Mandarin from Prep). Specialist STEAM opportunities begin with robotics, coding, and design.
Signature Programs
- Little Farmers (Prep) – exploring life cycles through hands-on learning at Collingwood Children’s Farm.
- Surfer Gulls (Year 1) – teamwork, resilience, and water safety with Port Melbourne Life Saving Club.
- Sailing Cygnets (Year 2) – developing independence through sailing and environmental exploration at Albert Park Lake.
- Penguin Squad (Year 3) – partnering with Earth Care to study and protect St Kilda’s penguin colony.
Beyond the Classroom
Swimming and gymnastics programs, local excursions, and the first overnight Exodus camp (Year 2). Co-curricular opportunities include Kitchen Garden, Art, beginner robotics, Chess Club, Junior Band, and House activities.
Upper Primary School (Years 4 to 6)
As students progress into the upper years of Junior School, learning expands into community and leadership contexts. Children apply critical and creative thinking to complex issues, with growing independence, responsibility, and opportunities for service.
Curriculum Highlights
Transdisciplinary inquiry connects English, Mathematics, Humanities, Science, and STEAM, supported by specialist subjects in Languages, Visual and Performing Arts, PE and Sport, and Literature and Research. Students develop digital literacies using iPads, coding, and design technologies.
Signature Programs
- Conservation and Ethics Through Culture (Year 4) – explore how First Peoples in Asia and Boonwurrung Country care for land, animals, and ecosystems through deep cultural knowledge, tradition, and creativity. through immersive experiences at Yalukit Willim and the St Kilda Botanic Gardens Ecocentre,
- Lead the Future (Year 5) – self-leadership and civic engagement with local council, Kids in Philanthropy and Port Melbourne Football Club.
- Enterprising Futures (Year 6) – entrepreneurship, design thinking, storytelling, and pitching ideas to real-world audiences.
Beyond the Classroom
Multi-day Exodus camps, including Coastal Guardians (Year 4), Journeying Through History and Heritage at Sovereign Hill (Year 5), and Our National Neighbour Canberra study tour (Year 6). Leadership opportunities include Captains, House Leaders, Music Leaders, STEAM Leaders, Community Action Leaders and SRC. Co-curricular opportunities expand into sport teams, robotics, music ensembles, community action projects, and extended tuition in STEM and the Arts.
Award-winning spaces that inspire
Our award-winning Junior School facilities are designed to support primary school learning in dynamic and engaging ways. Marlton House and the Allan Pizzey Building feature flexible, home-like classrooms that foster a strong sense of belonging. Breakout “chapter spaces” allow students to collaborate or work independently while teachers guide learning. The Octavius Brown Kitchen Garden provides a unique outdoor classroom where children explore sustainability, science, and food production by growing and preparing their own produce.
Beyond the classroom, primary school students benefit from inspiring, future-focused learning environments. The Gipson Commons combines a vibrant Knowledge Commons library with a STEM hub and collaborative study spaces, connecting students with the wider School community through the on-site cafe. The award-winning Centre for Inquiry and Innovation (CII) supports research, design thinking, and problem-solving, empowering students to explore ideas deeply and apply their learning in meaningful ways.
The St Michael's Difference
St Michael’s is one of Australia’s leading independent coeducational schools, educating more than 1200 students from Kindergarten to VCE. We acknowledge the Boonwurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which St Michael’s stands. We pay respect to their ancestors, elders and emerging leaders, and we are committed to reconciliation through authentic relationships and continued cultural learning.
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