Learning & Teaching at St. Thomas

Religious Education is at the centre of the formal and informal curriculum at St. Thomas. While Religious Education is given paramount importance as a classroom subject, it also underpins the culture of our school, where all members of our community are encouraged to live by the teachings of Christ in their daily lives. Our teaching of Religious Education is based on the Melbourne Archdiocese framework for Religious Education and incorporates the Faith Life Inquiry Approach.

The Victorian Curriculum is the basis for planning all other curriculum areas. These include the major learning areas of English, Mathematics, Health and Physical Education, Science, Technologies (Digital and Design), the Arts, Languages (Italian), and Humanities (History, Geography, Economics and Business, Civics and Citizenship). These areas are often integrated, with two or more areas being the focus of a unit of work. This allows students to practise and apply varying skills in meaningful contexts.

Our approach to implementing these guidelines involves various teaching methods and learning styles. A developmental approach is adopted to meet each child's intellectual, social, emotional and physical needs. 

As we plan the curriculum, we take into account:

1. the breadth and balance of what we are able to offer 

2. the learning and teaching styles that are appropriate 

3. the current policy guidelines 

4. the priorities as designated by our School Improvement and Annual Action Plan 

5. the school’s approach to assessment and reporting.