Excellence in education
Multi Age Learning
At Pioneer Village School we recognise that all children develop at different ages, and through the use of multi-age groupings we are able to better cater for each child’s particular learning requirements. Having multi age classes allows all students to work from their own level and many opportunities exist for extension as well as support. In many schools of today the education system still resembles a factory system as children are still educated by batches, grouped by their age and then into year levels, but at Pioneer Village School we recognise the need to provide better learning opportunities for our students.
In a multi-age classroom, students learn together in an environment that encourages mentoring between students, social and leadership skill development, as well as increased achievement and collaboration opportunities. We advocate multi-age education as it puts learners at the center; socially and academically. Children and teachers may have the opportunity to work together for more than one year, which enhances continuity of learning and the forming of positive relationships with teachers, and with other children.
Research has highlighted the benefits for both teachers and children when learning and teaching in a multi-age classroom. Benefits include more holistic, child-responsive curriculum practices that consider the understandings, capabilities and dispositions that children need for future work. Children of today will in the future be working in diverse environments that seek workers who are multi-skilled, literate, cooperative, creative, adaptable, independent and resourceful; and multi-age groupings enable children to develop these, and many other, skills
