specialists in Boys' Education

For over fifty years, Blackfriars Priory School has built a commanding reputation for the education of boys. In 1953 the Dominican Friars responded to a pressing community need to provide a Catholic school specialising in teaching boys in northern Adelaide. Since then, thousands of young men, guided and nurtured by the friars and teachers of Blackfriars, have successfully reached their academic, spiritual, physical, social and emotional potential.

A growing body of research is showing what most parents of boys already know - that boys need the right kind of environment to learn and develop to their full potential. Pastoral care that builds self-esteem, classroom activities that teach literacy, and learning by seeing and doing, all boost learning outcomes for boys (Biddulph, 1997; Hawkes, 2001; Pollach, 1999 & 2000; Rowe, 2001).

Blackfriars knows what works, taking full advantage of years of accumulated wisdom as well as the most up to date scholarship on Boys' Education.

THE RIGHT CURRICULUM

A boy entering Blackfriars in Reception embarks upon a sequenced three-tiered educational program, delivering relevant and contemporary learning experiences. From boyhood, through adolescence, and into manhood, Blackfriars' educational framework adapts the best in educational design and delivery, and focuses on the developmental needs of boys through their different stages of growth and maturity.

In the Junior Primary years particular emphasis is placed on developing literacy and numeracy, which are the foundations for future educational success. The curriculum framework in the Primary school is aligned with the Primary Years Program, authorised for delivery by the International Baccalaureate Organisation. The principles of guided inquiry underpin classroom methods, but allow students to develop a critical and analytical view of their world from an early age and to develop their role as citizens in a global community.

In Years 7-10, boys are given access to all areas of learning via the key eight learning areas (KLA's) now recognised across Australia, which provide students with the opportunity to learn widely and prepare for the specialisation required in their senior years of schooling. In conjunction with the South Australian Curriculum Standards and Accountability Framework (SACSA), boys are also provided with a full and stimulating Religious Education program.

As they enter their Senior years, Blackfriars' students have been able to develop a solid educational foundation in the basics, as well as an extensive introduction to a wide range of subject areas. Completion of the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) opens up the full breadth of post school options such as University, TAFE, apprenticeships and the workforce in general.

CLASSROOM Methods

Boys have particular learning styles. Therefore Blackfriars' teachers design learning tasks that meet these needs, particularly 'hands-on' (kinaesthetic) learning experiences and 'visual' learning opportunities.

These methods provide the key which can open the door to new knowledge for many boys and they are augmented by text, electronic and auditory learning.

The classroom needs to be more than 'chalk and talk'. The use of varied teaching methods stimulates multi-sensory activity, the interest of the boys increases, and they learn more and grasp more.

THE NEED TO READ - LITERACY

Increasing evidence both in Australia and overseas points to boys lagging behind girls in literacy (Program of International Students Assessments, PISA, 2000). As a consequence, Blackfriars has been making the improvement of literacy standards among our boys a major priority. The ability to use language well is a major indicator of educational success.

All teachers have undertaken significant in-service training in the explicit teachings of literacy, particularly critical literacy and the new conventions surrounding functional grammar. This is being incorporated in teaching programs from Reception - Year 12, to enhance the students' command of the English language.

THE TEACHER MATTERS

What has the biggest impact on the educational success of boys? Recent research is pointing increasingly to the teacher (Rowe, 2001). Our teachers know their subject matter well, they use teaching methods that suit boys, and cultivate a relationship of warmth and mutual respect between themselves and the students.

The professionalism of Blackfriars' staff and the emphasis on quality relationships between teachers and students, are hallmarks of the school. Teachers recognise their impact as role models, and that each individual student, from across the student body, has a place and an identity.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

The process of goal setting and personal development are central principles in Boys' Education, and they are essential for educational achievement. Time management skills are developed in boys from their earliest days at Blackfriars. Personal development is incorporated into the primary years and time is set aside for specific lessons in the critical years of adolescence and schooling. In class, on the sporting field and throughout the complex events of school life, boys are assisted in using time effectively, to set, achieve and evaluate goals.

CARE OF BOYS

The care and well being of every boy is more than a responsibility at Blackfriars, it is central to our mission as a school. In the primary years the nurture ethic lies at the core of classroom relationships. It is promoted by teachers, expected of boys and is a living reality. Every boy is cared for and monitored by his class teacher, and in turn the boys are encouraged to care for each other.

This fundamental principle carries into the secondary years. A vertical House system ensures that boys have a 'home' from Year 7 to Year 12, within one specific House. Through these years a dedicated group of staff have the role of overseeing each boy's development and progress as they grow and mature, until their day of graduation.

CO-CURRICULAR - MORE THAN SPORT

Being active and involved outside the classroom is central to the philosophy of Boys' Education. There needs to be opportunities for all boys to participate, from the sporting fanatic to the music buff. The key is being involved.

Blackfriars boasts a proud tradition of competition within the Independent Schools Sports Association (ISSA) and fields many teams in both summer and winter sports. International tours of Water Polo, Soccer and Cricket have strengthened the tradition of sport in the school.

The music program has produced a long line of talented and successful ensembles and bands. Drama, debating, chess and many other activities are popular among a large number of our students, and these feature prominently in the co-curricular life of the school.

LEARNING TO LEAD

To be a student at Blackfriars means developing maturity, confidence, responsibility and humility. From the Student Representatives in Primary School to the Prefects in Year 12, the school has a well-established and ongoing program which develops the qualities needed for leadership in civic, community and church life. Students learn to represent and serve their peers, to use their initiative, stand up for their values, negotiate outcomes, and work with teachers and the administration for the good of the whole school community.

BOYS AND SPIRITUALITY

Personal spirituality is an important aspect of boys' development. At Blackfriars the religious and spiritual dimensions are part of our culture; from young boys in Reception learning prayers and receiving their First Communion, to young men in Year 12 grappling with complex ethical and moral issues. Time is given both for the rituals and practices of faith, and quiet contemplation of matters of the spirit. To neglect these would be to ignore an important dimension of boys' education. Just as Blackfriars is a school for boys with a range of abilities, it is a Catholic school with a place for boys with a variety of beliefs and levels of faith. In essence, Blackfriars is a place where boys can recognise the spirit within, and grow in faith.

SEE FOR YOURSELF

No one school is the same as another. Blackfriars is distinctive and diverse; and we have introduced you to those aspects of our vision that are aligned with the principles and best practices of Boys' Education.

Boys' schools have changed much over recent years, and at Blackfriars we have absorbed the best of those changes. Of course, direct experience is the best measure for parents making decisions about their sons' education.

Please feel free to contact the school to seek further information, or take advantage of the opportunity to visit the school and see for yourself.