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ACADEMIC PILLAR
The School unambiguously regards the Academic Pillar as central to its approach to education.
Academically the school caters for learners in two phases:
• The General Education and Training phase (GET) (Grades 8 and 9, ages 13 – 15). • The Further Education and Training phase (FET) (Grades 10, 11 and 12, ages 15 – 18) at the end of which students will write the National Senior Certificate university entrance examination.
The General Education and Training Course (GET)
All students in the GET phase follow a course which lays a broad foundation for more detailed study encountered in the FET course.
GET subjects offered at Wynberg: Grade 8 and Grade 9 • English Home Language • Afrikaans or isiXhosa (First Additional
Language) • Mathematics • Natural Sciences (Physics, Chemistry and
Biology) • Social Sciences (History and Geography) • Technology (IT, Construction, Electronics,
Drones) • Creative Arts (Drama, Music, Art and Dance) • Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) an introduction to Accounting &
Grade 10 is the first year of a three year National Senior Certificate course. The following subjects count toward university entrance on offer: The four core (compulsory) subjects: • Home Language - English • First Additional Language - Afrikaans or isiXhosa • Mathematics • Life Orientation Students are required to choose three more elective subjects: • Accounting • Construction • Economics • Digital Electronics • Electronics • Engineering Graphics & Design (EGD) • Geography • History • Information Technology • Life Sciences • Music • Physical Sciences • Visual Arts
Advanced Programme Mathematics is outsourced to AdMaths, an independent organisation off campus. The school serves as an intermediary only. Qualifying immigrant students may arrange to substitute another subject for the compulsory additional South African languages.
Other academic initiatives
Examinations and tests The entire school writes standardised tests every Tuesday and selected Friday afternoons during a designated test period. There are formal examinations at the end of the second and fourth terms for all grades. In addition, at the end of the third term the Grade 12s write their Preliminary Exams. Students are encouraged to work consistently throughout the year, as the cumulative year mark is increasingly important in determining their final results. Formative quizzes are ongoing and recorded as part of the School Based Assessment (SBA) on a termly basis.
Technology All students are required to bring an electronic device, preferably a laptop, to school. A cell phone does not count as an electronic device for academic purposes. Our drive towards a paperlight system for downloading textbooks, tests, and worksheets has revolutionised the way we teach at Wynberg. Our first step in the paperlight process was the use of electronic devices, the next step is the universal use of eBooks. We’ve entered into an agreement with Snappify, and since 2021 all textbooks are available to order online through the Snapplify platform. We are justifiably proud to be recognised nationally as being at the forefront of the application of technology in education, and to be a Microsoft Certified School. • Free wi-fi available throughout the campus • Free MS Office suite available to all learners • Free Office 365 account available to all learners on all devices (maximum 10 copies).
Microsoft Office 365 The Microsoft environment provides the full suite of products, with those most regularly used being Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook for email, and Microsoft Teams and Onedrive. Every subject at Wynberg creates a Microsoft Team in which boys communicate with one another and their teacher regarding theory with interactive questions about the subject matter. The Team page is essentially a digital resource which can be used to stay on top of termly progress in the subject. Onedrive Cloud storage of all subject content allows for daily use on any device. Files stored in Onedrive can be shared with anyone allowing for collaboration on projects. Minimum Performance Level (MPL) To calculate your aggregate points, add together your subject averages excluding LO and AP subjects. Subjects below 40% are not counted. • In Gr 10–12, six subject six subject percentages (excluding LO) are added together to get the aggregate points. • In Gr 8 and 9, the percentages for Maths,
English, Afrikaans/isiXhosa are compulsory in calculating the points. To determine the MPL, the best 3 marks out of Natural
Sciences, Social Sciences, Creative Arts and Technology/EMS combined are added together. • University entry requirements are loosely based on this system. 480 points results in a guaranteed acceptance at first choice universities for popular degrees (excluding Medicine and some Science degrees) while a score of 390–420 will gain acceptance at 2nd or 3rd choice universities. Criteria for Wynberg Pass / Bronze - 290 points
(minimum required for Bachelors pass) Criteria for a SILVER Pass - 360 points Criteria for a GOLD Pass - 420 points Criteria for a BLUE Pass - 480 points
