WHY WE ARE UNIQUE
So what specifically makes us unique? Following is a list of the issues we know sets us apart and consolidates our demonstrated ongoing success.
Each classroom employs the services of an expert educator trained to implement our principles. Our teacher selection policy is one of the most vital aspects of our school because we appreciate the importance of their contribution to shaping enquiring minds and developing young talent. Specialist knowledge, excellent qualifications, outstanding reputations and exceptional rapport with the students are just some of the qualities we expect in our teachers. Reddam House prides itself on its policy of hand picking outstanding educators in high demand from all over the country for every academic year from Kindergarten through to Year 12.
Teachers are specially selected according to the following criteria:
- A commitment to professional development and demonstrated record as having kept abreast with recent, relevant educational methodology
- An exceptional rapport and empathy with students by treating students with dignity and respect
- Demonstrated expertise in their subject area
- Dynamic personalities with a professional demeanor that create a nurturing educational environment
- Excellent academic qualifications
- Demonstrated track record for producing outstanding academic results
Being non-denominational in nature, the Reddam House environment allows for total religious freedom whilst fostering mutual respect and tolerance. This is a school where religious diversity is acknowledged. Through its curriculum and teaching methodology, Reddam House instills a sense of right and wrong and promotes ethical values and behaviour (common to most religions) in all aspects of school and personal lives.
Reddam House is a co-educational school that educates students to identify and understand differences between individuals that make up a school and therefore a community. It provides a secure and natural environment for students to learn to relate to the opposite sex, and an opportunity for students to interact whilst comfortably encouraging gender equality.
At Reddam House we recognize that each student is special and unique and our aim is to nurture and develop this uniqueness while simultaneously locating any latent talent and bringing it to the forefront. Students are encouraged to express their individuality, to be comfortable with whom they are and to respect each other for their differences. Our core objective is to provide each child the opportunity to develop his or her full potential.
Reddam House offers a specialized education curriculum geared towards the stronger academic child.
In an average school environment placed together with average achieving children, the above average child will under-achieve, becoming complacent and bored. In the Reddam environment each child is motivated, stimulated and supported to meet our highest academic expectations. Even the average child will rise to the challenge when presented with work that will extend and stimulate.
There is an emphasis on providing the appropriate enrichment tasks for each child that is in need of being extended in various areas or across the board. Tailor-made programmes have been specifically structured to cater for gifted and talented students.
Our aim is to promote independent thinkers and encourage young people to use the knowledge they have acquired to develop their own thoughts, ideas and opinions. We support children in their educational endeavors by teaching them how to think, not what to think.
Lateral thought, comprehension and inferential skills are honed. Through sound teaching methods, students are exposed to a wide variety of subjects, including information technology, digital media and research skills. Global and local awareness of environmental issues is fostered. Reddam House students also receive tuition in life and communication skills, study methods, time management, and are introduced to entrepreneurship, stock-exchange and banking know-how, drug awareness and eating disorder programmes, subject choice orientation and career counseling.
Reddam House’s consistently outstanding School Certificate and Higher School Certificate results have cemented its reputation as an institution committed to academic excellence; and its position amongst the leading schools in the state.
In 2006 Reddam ranked 10th in NSW in the Higher School Certificate. This placed Reddam:
- 1st out of all co-educational independent schools
- 1st out of all co-educational non-selective schools
- 3rd out of all independent schools
The areas of Sport and Creative and Performing Arts feature strongly in a Reddam House education. Students are encouraged to participate in these activities on both competitive and non-competitive levels, resulting in a student that is well rounded and not solely focusing on academia. (Link to Creative and performing Arts) (Link to sport)
Reddam House is unique in offering Drama and Public Speaking as two separate subjects for all students. Drama is offered from 3 year olds through to Year 12 and Public Speaking from yr 7 to yr 9. We value the life-long benefit gained from exposure to Drama and Public Speaking. These subjects enhance a student’s self-esteem, creativity and confidence, providing the ability to communicate articulately and confidently.
Reddam is renowned for its excellent standard in Drama, Debating and Public Speaking, regularly winning gold medals at eisteddfods and competitions.
Various day trips, environmental and outdoor education programmes, local and overseas tours and exchange programmes are offered to enrich your child’s learning experience.
Annual academic, cultural and sporting tours are undertaken locally, nationally and internationally. These tours and excursions promote curriculum enrichment, and provide opportunities for students to perform and compete in a wider arena resulting in improved social skills and greater awareness of the world they live in.
The academy programme operates a wide variety of compulsory sporting and cultural options and encourages a healthy balance between social participation in extra-curricular activities and competitive discipline.
Students may select activities from a sizeable list (link to Academies in Sport section) and if sufficient numbers are reached in any given field, every endeavour will be made to include it as an academy. No other school in Australia offers this vast selection and incorporates it into its timetable.
Whilst the Reddam House philosophy is structured to create a sense of freedom within which individuality is encouraged, personal growth and self-confidence promoted and freedom of expression allowed, the extent of the freedom is defined by the discipline code. The responsibility is placed on the student to enjoy the freedom within the parameters of this code. Reddam House offers an education without fear. The Discipline Code is a partnership between Reddam House, parents and students.
Positive discipline at Reddam is achieved in an informal, yet structured, environment, whereby students can earn credits and in so doing strive to erase previous debits.
The Discipline Code is signed by students and their parents. This allows students to actively take responsibility for their behaviour.
A Reddam education engenders an enthusiasm, enjoyment and love of learning where individuality is highly valued and encouraged. As part of this we:
- Acknowledge and reward individual achievement in the academic, sporting and cultural spheres
- Cultivate self-motivation and independence
- Employ clinical and educational psychologists, occupational and speech therapists at the point of need
- Encourage a loyalty to the school and a sense of responsibility to the wider community
- Expect personal pride to be reflected in the student’s behaviours, attitudes and attire
- Foster local and global awareness of environmental issues
- Instill a pro-active involvement in less privileged communities
- Promote etiquette, grooming and respect as signposts of a happy student
- Teach life and communication skills, study methods and time management
Cycle tests take place regularly and are an essential part of our unique teaching programme. The function of these tests is to provide a snap-shot of what a student has achieved. Parents are required to sight and sign these tests, so they are informed of how their child/ward is progressing academically. The cycle tests are conducted under exam-type conditions and provide invaluable practice in being able to complete a set task within a limited time frame and performing successfully in examinations. The tests are also used as diagnostic tools to let teachers, students and parents know what has been mastered and to flag further areas needing consolidation.
Reddam House is committed to maintaining small class sizes based on research which has demonstrated that fewer numbers per class is one of the most effective ways to maximize the learning capacity of each individual student.
At Reddam House we believe feeling comfortable is conducive to working at your optimum level. Reddam prides itself on its uniform which we prefer to refer to as a multiform. We have designed the multiform to be practical and eye-catching, whilst at the same time enjoyable to wear. Any items from the multiform can be co-ordinated with each other throughout the seasons and year.
There is however a formal uniform which is to be worn at formal functions and when representing the school.
The relaxed Campus lifestyle incorporates dynamic weekly assemblies with big screen presentations of “Red-Cam” (The Reddam Camera crew who film highlights of the sights and sounds of the past week). A unique and inviting food court café allows students to order a cappuccino or flat white to be enjoyed on any of the various levels of the square. A radio station operates during recess and lunch at the Bondi Campus.
The vibrant student life at our Campuses mirror Reddam’s inspiring and unique teaching methods and the pursuit of excellence through innovative learning.
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