The Montessori School Kingsley

Nurturing and equipping children from the age of 3 to 18 for a life of learning and a world filled with possibilities.

Contemporary education. Traditional Montessori values.

Nestled on the hill in leafy Kingsley, on Whadjuk Country, surrounded by native bushland and overlooking Lake Goollelal, our school is Australia’s longest-running Montessori school. What’s more, we were the first Montessori school in the world to offer the International Baccalaureate.

Today, we remain true to the Montessori philosophy, focusing on the holistic development – physical, intellectual, and social – of every child.

Our Classrooms

To an outsider, a Montessori classroom might look unusual: children are free to move around and work on tables or on the floor; unused material is kept out of sight, which makes the classrooms look almost pristine; each material has its own place on shelves, which are students’ heights, making it easier for them to access the material; children can choose to work alone or in a group, and, to most people’s surprise, the classroom is usually quiet.

We carefully prepare our learning environment to promote curiosity, resilience, independence, and connectedness, to self, to others, and to the natural environment. Montessori materials are designed so that the child receives instant feedback about their progress as they work, allowing them to recognise, correct, and learn from an error – without adult assistance. Putting control of the activity in the child’s hands strengthens their self-esteem and self-motivation as well as their learning.

Children are internally motivated to work until the task has been completed and they leave the work feeling invigorated not exhausted as adults do. If the work is appropriate to their developmental plane and they have the freedom to choose it, they will work happily and intensively paying attention to every detail. Observation is important as the adult makes this judgement and responds accordingly.

Our mixed-age classrooms mirror real life, creating a supportive culture that fosters empathy, mutual respect, and leadership.

Moreover, we tailor our ever-evolving programs to fire your child’s imagination and nurture a lifelong love of learning, and equip them to thrive as confident, capable young adults in a world filled with possibilities.

Our Motto

Our motto is: Help me to do it myself.

We believe, as did Dr Maria Montessori, that it is important for children to have the opportunity to do work for themselves, and adults should not do for a child something that the child can do themselves. When we take the time to show the child how to do something and have the patience and care to wait, our time, guidance, and encouragement show the child that we trust them and that we have faith in their ability. When we do the task for the child, we teach them that they can’t do it, that they are unable and inadequate, and they learn dependence, inferiority, and weakness.

Never help a child with a task at which [they] feel [they] can succeed.”

– Dr Maria Montessori

Our Structure

We currently cater to children aged 3 to 18, starting with pre-primary education until the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) and the International Baccalaureate Careers-related Programme (IBCP) for students in Year 11 and 12. Both qualifications are recognised globally and enable tertiary entry.

Our structure is as follows:

• 3 x Pre-Primary Classes (ages 3 to 6 years)
• 3 x Lower Primary Classes (ages 6 to 9 years)
• 2 x Upper Primary Advisories (ages 9 to 12 years)
• 2 x Lower Secondary Cohorts
  • Lower Secondary 1 (ages 12 to 13 years)
  • Lower Secondary 2 (ages 14 to 15 years)
• 1 x International Baccalaureate Cohort (Year 11 and Year 12)

The Montessori method is designed with and for your child, providing the structure, freedom, and guidance they need to learn at their pace, in a way that fosters respect – for self, for others, and for learning.

The importance of cursive handwriting.

Recent neuroscience and psychology research shows us cursive handwriting enhances brain development and function.

Handwriting activates multiple areas of the brain – areas associated with cognition, language, and working memory. The brain develops ‘functional specialisation’, integrating sensation, movement control, and thinking.

Cursive at all levels:

• At the pre-primary level, all children learn to write in cursive script, using cursive sandpaper letters and movable alphabets to master letter symbols and double sounds.
• At the lower primary level, students continue with developing control and legibility and learn more about how to lay out their work, and they are introduced to many different styles and requirements of writing.
• Once at the upper primary level, children begin to develop their own individual styles and can experiment with calligraphy.
• By the time the students get to lower secondary, they have developed their own individual style of writing, and most of them still prefer using cursive.

Child Safety

We support the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, which means that we have created a culture, adopted strategies, and have taken action to prevent harm to children.

Find out more:

Child Safety

Values

Our core values are the guiding principles that underpin everything that we do at our school, from our interactions with our students to curriculum development, excursion planning, and strategic planning.

These values are listed alphabetically, not in order of importance as they are all equally important.

• Community: Be an engaged school community that is connected by shared values and advocacy of pure Montessori methods.
• Integrity: Take an ethical and sincere approach to everything we do.
• Peace: Maintain a calm, harmonious, and courteous environment.
• Respect: Demonstrate grace and courtesy to all students, staff, families and the wider community.

Vision

To lead the way as an exemplar of pure Montessori education whilst inspiring the application of Montessori methods in modern society.

Mission

To provide Montessori education in an environment that inspires curiosity and a love of learning, improving life on our planet by respecting and nurturing the holistic potential of every child.

Our Priorities

1. Education: Provide Montessori education, nurturing purposeful, self-directed learning, the development of independence and a sense of community, complemented by International Baccalaureate programmes, for students up to 18 years.
2. Prepared Environment: Create and maintain pure Montessori environments, that are safe and engaging spaces for students to reach their full potential.
3. Staff: Attract, retain and support passionate, dedicated, and skilled professionals with a Montessori heart.
4. Governance: Set, guide and monitor the strategic priorities of the school to ensure it operates within its legal obligations and regulatory requirements.
5. Finance: Manage the school’s assets and funds, to assure long-term financial sustainability and growth.
6. Engagement: Foster positive connections and collaboration, within the school and the wider community.
7. Natural Environment: Conserve and manage the School’s bushland and surrounds for the benefit of the community.

If you prefer viewing these in a PDF, you can access the slides here:

2023 Vision, Mission, Values & Priorities

To consider the school as a place where instruction is given is one point of view. But to consider the school as a preparation for life is another. In the latter case, the school must satisfy all the needs of life.”

– Dr Maria Montessori