What is special about Barbreck? 

While it would be easy to assume that all schools are the same, those that have worked at, toured, or researched will tell you this is not the case. 

One of the first things I hear from parents after touring Barbreck is that the atmosphere of our Junior School is warm, welcoming, and friendly. This feeling comes from all the people they spoke to, the girls who led the tours and the interactions they saw between staff and students. They say it is unlike the feel they get from other school tours. 

In response, I talk about the wonderful staff that form our Barbreck Team, the girls who believe kindness is key to the world they want to create, and to our wonderful parent community that supports our School and girls so well. The triangulation of these three cornerstones makes for a great school – one where girls love to attend, learn, compete, and perform. 

When asked what is special about Barbreck I talk about the following: 

Our focus on girls succeeding through explicit instruction, highly qualified and dedicated teachers who build a stress-free love of learning, and the value-added bespoke programs designed specifically for Barbreck girls, means our girls succeed well.  

In Barbreck our programs benefit all girls and are personalised so the needs of every girl are met at their instructional level. This means all girls progress well and see themselves as successful learners. This is evident in all our classrooms from Prep to Year 6. 

Our Barbreck Blueprint for Successful Learners for Years 5 and 6. This Program assists our girls to be more effective, efficient, and organised learners. We know these skills provide a huge advantage for our Barbreck girls when entering the Senior School. Work has also commenced on our Years 3 and 4 Barbreck Blueprint for Successful Learners in preparation for the start of 2025 school year. 

Our Ambassador Program for Years 5 and 6 students is another value-added bespoke program teaching Barbreck girls about leadership – how to speak publicly, develop leadership skills, work as a meaningful part of a team, and organise, plan and implement a range of events that will prove useful not only throughout Senior School but into life beyond school as well.  

Our upcoming Wellbeing Day in Barbreck has been planned by our Years 5 and 6 girls. Work is currently underway creating the Barbreck Ambassador Program Workbook for the girls to use as a repository of learning they can look back on time and time again. 

Our Extension Programs in both English (Reading and Writing) and Maths (Number and Algebra) are unique to Barbreck, offering students who are achieving beyond Year level standards, the opportunity for tuition at their instructional levels. While Extension lessons (two per week) are delivered, girls in class are also being grouped to receive instruction at their particular learning levels as well. This differentiation caters for all girls and abilities. 

Our Physical Education Development and Sports Programs see our girls achieving well in the sporting arena as well. We proudly had 10 swimmers compete in the State Swimming Championships and our Relay Team broke the state record by five seconds. Recently a Year 4 student achieved well in the State Cross Country Championships. These achievements do not just happen – they are the culmination of many factors, one of which is our sports skills development programs. 

Our Music Program is extensive, and all girls achieve beyond the primary curriculum expectations by Year 6. We dedicate time and resources to ensuring our girls play and sing to a high standard. 

Lastly, I speak of the fact it is our girls that make Barbreck so very special. Our girls are kind, talented, and good learners who play and perform well. They love their school, and we could not be more proud of each and every one of them.  

Every day we work to make their education and life as a learner in Barbreck more engaging, meaningful, and purposeful!