Curro Heritage House

Curro Heritage House (previously known as Curro Embury College) is a co-ed, English-medium independent school on the Durban Berea offering excellent care and education for children from 3 months old to Grade 12. Curro Heritage House is passionate about growing learners in an atmosphere of total acceptance, love and support, and we believe that every learner will blossom and flourish where care and kindness abound.

Learners respond to positive expectations, so the school encourages a sound sense of self-worth and a caring attitude in every learner. A strong, positive value system underpins the development of fine, productive young ladies and gentlemen. Empathy for the community and a reverence for the past are upheld at Curro Heritage House. Values such as honour, loyalty, tolerance, understanding and commitment to hard work are encouraged in all our learners.

In the foundation phase, we focus on teaching the foundational skills, concepts and knowledge which are required for further learning. We offer a vibrant, invitational atmosphere where the learners enjoy coming to school and where they acquire a love for learning that will sustain them throughout their school years. We acknowledge the potential in each learner to reach optimum ability; therefore, there is less emphasis on competitiveness and more emphasis on individual achievement. We encourage opportunities for growth in independence and responsibility so that learners can take up the challenge of being personally responsible and accountable for their actions in the intermediate phase.

Our foundation phase at Curro Heritage House represents an energetic mix of young learners and enthusiastic and dedicated educators. It is here that the foundations of all learning are firmly rooted in a nurturing and loving school environment that caters and cares for each unique individual. Our staff attends numerous training sessions in order to maintain and foster professional development and growth.

Perceptual development forms an integral part of all learning in the foundation phase, and includes gross motor skills, sensory motor integration, perceptual motor skills and language development.

Skills from a variety of learning areas are included such as personal and social well-being, beginning knowledge, robotics, art, drama, music and physical education.

We have added Robotics and Science to this subject as it involves design and a deep level of cognition, which underpins the learners’ creativity in using software to program their Lego educational toys. Collaboration is encouraged by allowing learners to work in pairs.

In the intersen phase, the emphasis is still on establishing basic foundations, but learners are led into more abstract thought and independent work. Application of skills and concepts is also a focus area in this phase. This phase aims to prepare learners for the senior phase in the high school.

We aim to embrace 21st century learning by incorporating the use of tablets into our classrooms. We currently raise children who are ‘digital natives’. By embracing this innovative technology into our schools, we are speaking the language our learners understand.

Our ethos is governed by Christian values (ethics and morals), where learners are encouraged to explore and express their individuality within acceptable boundaries, and ultimately take responsibility for their actions. We guide them to follow their hearts and minds to develop into the best people they can be.

Our dynamic curriculum covers problem-solving, critical thinking and the development of skills and values. Both individual and group work are evaluated. Curro Heritage House produces a community of teenagers who know how to think innovatively, express their ideas and take charge of their own lives. Learners are prepared for the matriculation examinations set by the Independent Examinations Board (IEB).

In this phase the CAPS curriculum is implemented, with Mathematics allowing for a more focussed and problem-solving approach. The same literacy principles as in previous phases are included in the home language teaching, with a bigger emphasis on language. In the Science and Technology curriculum we focus not only on 21st century technology, but also on nanotechnology and a study of the Da Vinci inventions. This is all done with CAPS and the IEB in mind. This phase provides a solid grounding from which learners can make informed decisions about the subjects they will take in Grade 10.

The code of conduct at Curro Heritage House is aimed at establishing and maintaining respect for the ethos and values of the school. The code serves to create a set of guidelines for acceptable behaviour, as well as punishments that may be implemented if the code is violated in any way. It should be kept in mind that although the code is comprehensive in its structure and content, each individual punishment will be assessed in the light of the transgression committed. Learners at the school are expected to be familiar with the code and are required to maintain strict obedience to the rules it contains. Changes to the code may be made at the discretion of the school and learners will be notified immediately should such alterations be enforced.

Empathy for the community and a reverence for the past are rooted in the school. Values such as honour, loyalty, tolerance and respect are constantly supported and encouraged in all learners. The school has been established on a set of shared values upon which all policies and actions are based. For Curro Heritage House and its staff, the future means a series of challenges charged with innovation and a constant striving to achieve and maintain excellence.