Howlett Academy

The Howlett Academy was founded in 2001 by renowned Australian educator Jan Howlett who, after immigrating to Canada in 1988, and working in the Canadian education system, saw the need for a more direct mode of instruction for Kindergarten, Elementary and Middle grade students than was available in Toronto schools.

Described by her peers as a “Picasso with Curriculum,” Jan created an integrated program for JK to Grade Eight that taught fundamentals in a structured but creative and highly engaging manner. Her goal was to create confident, organized, lifelong learners who were engaged with their community and respectful to their peers.

After Jan’s unexpected passing in 2013, the Howlett Academy has continued her legacy under the direction of her son, Court Howlett-Ben. Today, Howlett Academy comprises one hundred and thirty-eight students, all housed in two heritage district brownstones in the heart of Toronto. With a student to staff ratio of less than 7:1, a tried and true core curriculum and a staff mentored in the Howlett Way, Howlett graduates advance to the finest secondary schools in the city.

Students need a well-planned curriculum, one that teaches core skills in basic subjects, and builds on the mastery of those core skills, year after year, so that they can advance to the sophisticated demands of secondary school.

Students undergo significant physical, intellectual and emotional changes between JK and Grade Eight, changes that deeply affect their view of themselves and each other. These changes are acknowledged as factors in how they learn and function in a school setting.

Students develop at different rates. They require programs that meet their needs. Multi-age, fluid learning groups, particularly during the formative years, and personalized programs enable students to address gaps and move forward with confidence.

By selecting assignments that are relevant and meaningful, students discover that learning is stimulating and gratifying and offers scope for creativity and personal pride. Students require attentive supervision from teachers, teachers who provide useful and sensitive feedback. Everything is marked, corrected and discussed in a timely manner.

Organization and time management skills are cultivated in the classroom so that students learn how to manage the workload and have time for friends and family. There are no surprises. A personal homework journal ensures that there is daily communication between the teachers, the student and his or her parents.

We are committed to providing students with the finest education. Parents should not have to seek support outside of the school to fill in gaps in their child’s education. That’s our job.