In the Primary school, where Montessori teaching groups span 3 years of traditional school grades, the group is split into two classes and there is a Directress and Teaching assistant assigned to each group. In  the Middle School class sizes rarely exceed 18 students. In the high school there are 10 specialist subject teachers, with a maximum of a 18 to 1 ratio. This ensures personal support for each and every one of our students.

Leading the way in online, Virtual Learning Environments, (VLEs) The Bay Academy has, for the last 6 years perfected the use of VLEs to support learning; using technology to enhance, rather than replace classroom learning. This approach of the “Flipped Classroom” allows students to access all the learning resources before the lessons commence, allowing for processing, application and mastery to happen in the classroom with the teacher as a guide.

While the Montessori focus is on learning and avoids standardised testing, our students are prepared at an appropriate pace with the skills to sit formal examinations in the High School. However, even here our focus is on FORMATIVE assessments, where they are free to learn from their mistakes, rather than SUMMATIVE assessment OF learning. The enquiry based, experiential learning approach is fundamental to the Montessori philosophy, and continues into the high school.

Every Parent can follow their child’s progress through our Parent’s Portal, where every observation, success, concern and individual learning plan is documented and available to see. In addition to this, high school parents can view the weekly learning objectives and assignments in order to support their child, and partner with us to ensure academic success. 

In the High School we use one of the most established and well-designed Virtual Learning Environments to support the most effective teaching methodologies. The “Flipped Classroom” is an approach whereby the students are provided with the Learning Objectives, Success Criteria and all the resources required to come prepared to the classroom. Here they process the information, acquire understanding through questioning, and attain mastery through application. This online resource also allows the student to catch up work missed through absence, and revise work for examinations.

The Primary school is a member of the South African Montessori Association (SAMA), and all learning resources and programmes are fully approved by SAMA. The Middle School follow a bespoke curriculum based on the standards of the UK National KS3 curriculum, but enhanced by specialised subject areas inspired by the Montessori approach and the UN sustainable Development Goals. The High School is an accredited  Edexcel International Examination Center – preparing students for the International GCSE and AS Level examinations; recognised by both local and international universities. 

No, although we encourage participation in our Extramural Programme. Physical education is a separate, compulsory part of our curriculum. The wide variety of extramural activities on offer, are either free as part of tuition fees, or provided by approved external service providers who are paid directly and will invoice you separately.