Our Nova Pioneer Boksburg students took learning through play to the next level by participating in World Play Day to acknowledge the child’s right to play as outlined in article 31 of the United Nations Conventions on the rights of the child. Play is also a big part of Nova Pioneer’s learning model, our curriculum incorporates play into daily school activities.

 

 

Developing through play

World Play Day is hosted annually with the hope of incorporating exploration, language experimentation, cognition, and the development of social skills which are central to children’s learning as well as the foundation of adult achievement. UNESCO maintains that “the encouragement of creativity from an early age is one of the best guarantees of growth in a healthy environment of self-esteem and mutual respect – critical ingredients for building a culture of peace.”

 

 

 

The Reggio Emilia Approach

Nova Pioneer’s curriculum follows the Reggio Emilia approach, a play-based pedagogy and supports the Africa Reggio Emilia Alliance chaired by own Director of Academics, Des Hugo. The Reggio Emilia Approach is an innovative approach to early childhood education. It values the child as strong, capable and resilient; rich with wonder and knowledge. Every child has a deep curiosity and potential. Children are curious to understand their world, and their place within it. The fundamental principles of Reggio Emilia resonate with Nova Pioneer’s learning approach. Playful learning, curiosity and exploration are essential for building knowledge.

And so, all our Nova Pioneer campuses incorporate play as part of learning. At Nova Pioneer we value the child as strong, capable and resilient; rich with wonder and knowledge. We also understand that every child has a deep curiosity and potential.  By incorporating play into their learning, we give students the chance to honour their talents, create, explore and collaborate.

 

Harvard University and the Lego Foundation research learning through play

Nova Pioneer Schools have been directly involved in research on the pedagogy of play project with Project Zero of Harvard Graduate School of Education. They work with teachers from around the world to determine best practice for learning through play. Mardell and his research team visited Nova Pioneer to observe lessons. Nova Pioneer was a part of a group of three schools selected in South Africa chosen.

 

 

 

World Play Day was just another opportunity for us to bring this to life and to celebrate play in a fun and engaging way.

Nova Pioneer Schools have been directly involved in research on the pedagogy of play project with Project Zero of Harvard Graduate School of Education. They work with teachers from around the world to determine best practice for learning through play. Mardell and his research team visited Nova Pioneer to observe lessons. Nova Pioneer was a part of a group of three schools selected in South Africa chosen.

 

PRESS RELEASE: Ben Mardell is an optimist. Or as he explains, “Being in schools where children’s natural inclination to create, collaborate and care is supported makes me optimistic.” Ben is Principal Investigator at Project Zero, the oldest research group at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He investigates how children who learn through play develop social and cognitive skills.

Ben recently spent time at Nova Pioneer, a leading network of schools in South Africa and Kenya.  We got to ask him how the Pedagogy of Play teaches children emotional maturity. Children who learn this way are self-confident and prepared for the future.

Harvard University and the Lego Foundation research learning through play. They work with teachers from around the world to determine best practice for learning through play. Mardell and his research team visited Nova Pioneer to observe lessons. They loved what they saw, saying it was one of their most inspiring days in any school.

Mardell’s research shows that learning through play has many benefits including engaging children to be caring, creative and democratic citizens.  Play reconnects us and restores our sense of community while creating a generation of leaders. 

 

Developing more adaptive, active learners

At first, learning through play seems to oppose traditional school structures. However, learning through play is not devoid of rules and structure. It does not ignore the disciplines of reading, writing, mathematics and scientific method. Rather, it integrates with traditional schooling and offers the best of both worlds. 

Play is not unique to humans; in fact, we find it in all mammals. Play is part of our DNA, preparing us for unpredictable situations. “We instinctively learn through play. Imagine that one of our ancestors encountered a mammoth. This has never happened to our ancestor before. If he tried to figure it out in that moment, he would have been in serious in trouble. But, because he played hunting games as a child, he is adept at making spontaneous decision,” says Mardell.  In our fast-changing world, our children will certainly encounter a great deal of uncertainty.

Play fuels learning  because players are engaged but not stressed. “ It encourages novel experiences, active engagement, and learning from peers and adults.”

 

The Reggio Emilia Approach

Nova Pioneer’s curriculum follows the Reggio Emilia approach, a play-based pedagogy. The school also supports the Africa Reggio Emilia Alliance, chaired by Nova Pioneer’s Director of Academics, Des Hugo.

The Reggio Emilia Approach is an innovative approach to early childhood education. It values the child as strong, capable and resilient; rich with wonder and knowledge. Every child has a deep curiosity and potential. Children are curious to understand their world and their place within it. The fundamental principles of Reggio Emilia resonate with Nova Pioneer’s learning approach. And so, the school incorporates play as part of  learning

The Reggio Emilia philosophy underpins Nova Pioneer’s learning model. Hugo explains, “Playful learning, curiosity and exploration are essential for building knowledge.”

“Project Zero’s research perfectly aligns with our work. We offer an African perspective to complement the research done in Europe,” says Hugo. “The pedagogy of play offers rigorous learning opportunities. Students engage in joyful, contextual learning.”

 

Playful learning at Nova Pioneer a school developing  innovators and leaders

Playful learning, curiosity and exploration are essential for building knowledge.  At the same time, respect, responsibility, and community underpin Nova Pioneer’s curriculum. 

The curriculum incorporates play into daily school activities. A typical day at Nova Pioneer has many opportunities to learn in pairs and groups. The children learn to collaborate and share ideas.  The transition times and classroom routines support fun and play while learning. 

Game- and play-based activities reinforce literacy and numeracy lessons and build core skills.  Exploration days develop deep, inquiry based learning, that is playful and joyful.

 

Balanced learning

A pedagogy of play helps balance play with traditional school structures. For example, in play, children take risks and try new things. In a school we want our children to be safe from physical and psychological harm. “Both of these things are true,” explains Mardell. “We want children to explore and we don’t want them to get hurt. Realizing that the two aspects are not mutually exclusive was a defining moment in our research. We need to figure out a way for teachers to do both.”

At Nova Pioneer, play is woven into the more traditional Cambridge curriculum. Literacy and numeracy games are often part of the morning meetings. Children get to practice their skills, and teachers get to assess progress.

Teachers introduce the children to literacy and science objectives through real-life scenarios. They learn the importance and use specific academic concepts in small collaborative groups.

 

It takes a village

Learning does not happen only in the hallowed ground of the schoolyard. As the saying goes, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Children are always learning. Parents can support teachers in a learning through play approach. “Ask your children questions and share in their wonder,” Mardell says.

Parents must become active participants in their child’s learning. Inquire about the explorations your child is doing at school. Find meaningful ways to support it. If they are learning about animals, plan a trip to the zoo. If they are learning about trees and plants take them out into the garden or a park.

“Ask your children questions; have conversations. Enjoy being curious and exploring with your child. This way, you lead your child by your own example. “A playful learning environment at home supports your children. It makes it more fun to be together and enjoy learning together,” says Mardell.

 

Adapting to change

There is a lot of hype around emerging technologies. The changes our children will need to adapt to are not in the far-flung reaches of science fiction. Self-driving cars and robots that perform surgeries already exist. It is only a matter of time before they become normal, for good or ill.

Nova Pioneer integrates technology into blended learning with Maths and Literacy. Hugo explains, “We use Mathletics and Reading Eggs programs for these rotations. These are game-based. Exploration Days also incorporate technology. Children learn basic coding, circuitry and even robotics.” 

“Our children are going solve problems using new technology,” says Mardell. “They cannot learn how to do this from a textbook because we do not know exactly what that technology is.  There isn’t a textbook about this.”

Children who learn through play have the confidence to handle uncertainty. We equip them with skills and empathy to work together in groups to solve common problems. 

 

Children who go to schools like this emerge as democratic citizens. They are adept at communicating, and creative. These children have learnt through doing long-term projects, and group work. They will be well prepared for the challenges they are going to meet in the future. 

The Pedagogy of Play – employed by schools like Nova Pioneer – will have a profoundly positive effect.  It will create a generation of engaged, caring and optimistic leaders. Leaders who are excited to tackle the challenges that may lie ahead.

Carla Hercules was recently appointed as the new Head of School at our newest Campus, Rumisig. This comes after the news that we would be opening a new campus in Ruimsig that will cater to parents with children in pre-primary and primary school, in January 2020. 

We are confident that with Carla’s extensive experience and her inspiring leadership, Nova Pioneer Ruimsig students will be developed into our future leaders and innovators. Carla is passionate about the unique Nova Pioneer learning approach which prepares our students to be globally competitive in the 21st century, and subsequently go on to change the continent and the world. As a long-time resident of the Roodepoort area, Carla has expressed her excitement to join the beautiful Ruimsig community and work closely with its residents to maintain the spirit and energy of their neighbourhood.

Carla and moved to join Nova Pioneer from her role at Sharonlea Primary School, where she had been Principal for seven years and deputy for six years prior. Before that, she was a teacher at Bushlands Primary, in KwaZulu-Natal, for just under ten years.  Along with a Diploma in Education, she also has two accreditations in organisational leadership – she is a lifelong learner and someone who exemplifies Joy of Learning.

These skills and her extensive prior school leadership experience will stand her in good stead, as she develops the team at Ruimsig, to welcome our first students to this new campus in 2020. Carla officially steps into this role in November 2019 to ensure the new Nova Pioneer Ruimsig campus is ready for a great start in January 2020.

Nova Pioneer Ruimsig will open its doors in January 2020 for students in Grades 000, 00, 1 and 2.

Nova Pioneer students launch drive to collect 2000 sanitary pads drive under the tag #TowelsForGirls.The drive is aimed at supplying sanitary pads to girls from Thabo-Ntsako Secondary School in Thokoza. The drive began on 8 March 2019 and will end on 5 April*. 

 

It’s all for a good cause

Nova Pioneer student, Lesedi Mnguni, says they want to live in a world where girls never have to miss school because of their period.

Masego Solomons, a fellow #TowelsForGirls teammate says that she and the other members of the founding team are passionate about helping girls their age.

“Having your period is a natural process that is unfortunately inevitable,” she says, “It doesn’t seem fair that girls have to miss out on their education because of this.”

Raising awareness on Periods

Nova Pioneer will also conduct talks related to sanitation and health care during assembly. The students are calling on all Nova Pioneer parents, students and community to help reach their 2000 pack mark. Anyone who wishes to contribute can drop off their sanitary pad packets at the Ormonde based Secondary School or any of the other Nova Pioneer campuses around Johannesburg.

Nova Pioneer has campuses in Ormonde, Boksburg, Paulshof, North Riding and Midrand. Weekly updates focused on the students’ drive to collect pads will be posted on the various Nova Pioneer social media accounts.

 

UPDATE

*The #TowelsForGirls drive ended with the girls collected more than 1500 packs of sanitary pads and they were delivered to Thabo-Ntsako Secondary School in Thokoza. The story was first published in the Southern Courier Read more…

Entrepreneurial skills can be taught but they can only be strengthened when you practice in real life, what you learn in the classroom. In an effort to further invest in teaching and honing our students’ entrepreneurial skills, Nova Pioneer introduced Entrepreneurs Day at all campuses. Entrepreneurship Day was specifically designed to expose students to real-life situations and life lessons.

 

Entrepreneurs create jobs

We know that, in order to thrive as adults, today’s children will need to know how to problem-solve, work collaboratively, and communicate well but more importantly. All these skills will be critical to develop a capacity to start a business and also to think creatively and ambitiously. 

There will always be a need for teachers, doctors, lawyers and accountants but the job market will change significantly over the next two decades and many of the jobs which we rely on for employment may not exist. Children need to learn the skills that will position them to innovative in order to invent and shape their own careers.

For example, in May this year, South Africa’s unemployment rate increased to 27.6% in the first quarter of 2019, according to Stats SA. The jobless rate at the end of the fourth quarter of 2018 was 27.1%, meaning the rate increased by half a percentage point. We need to prepare students to be self-starters if we want to see the rate of unemployment drop. Entrepreneurs create jobs.

Learning the three r’s (reading, writing and arithmetic) are no longer sufficient to prepare today’s children for their future. Furthermore, in addition to these basic skills, all children need a thorough grounding in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Yet, children will need more than academic skills to succeed as adults, no matter what field they work in.

 

 

Putting the entrepreneurial skills into practice

Nova Pioneer has introduced an initiative across all its classes which focuses on fostering a solid understanding of entrepreneurship while supporting students in developing skills such as goal setting, working with money, people skills and basic marketing principles.

Entrepreneurship education benefits students from all socioeconomic backgrounds because apart from teaching core business skills, it trains students to think outside the box and nurtures unconventional talents and skills. Putting this into practice, our Primary schools students got an opportunity to host and participate in their own Entrepreneurs Days. 

Learners are encouraged to actively identify gaps to provide services/products that meet a need and are required to set a goal of the amount of money they aim to raise, as well specifying the cause or goal the funds would be used for. Learners take ownership of the marketing around the school and raise awareness of the event, supported by teachers who oversee the process and guide the students throughout this initiative. 

 

 

Finding the gap and filling it

Entrepreneurship day was specifically designed to expose students to real-life situations and life lessons. They were asked to identify a goal (what they would like to buy with the money they will make), and duties were distributed amongst one another.  On the day, they set up and sold the products and services to the rest of the school. 

They are encouraged to actively solve problems by using principles from the engineering design process:  research, brainstorm, select a solution, develop a prototype, test and revise it if necessary and then communicate the offering and benefits.  Through this process students develop skills like communication, presentation, pitching, understanding risk-taking, failure and building resilience, using models to solve problems. All schools across the Nova Pioneer network actively promote and develop entrepreneurship skills as part of its curriculum.

We’re not just showing and talking to our students about entrepreneurship as a concept. We are creating real-to-life opportunities for our students to be future-fit in a way that combines creativity, real-world skills, enjoyment and a true sense of accomplishment. If we plant seeds of entrepreneurial thinking early enough and nurture them constantly, today’s students will become tomorrow’s leaders and will be well-placed to meaningfully contribute to society and the economy.

This article was published in The Young Independents 

Did you know that our Nova Pioneer Ormonde Secondary has introduced a Year 13 programme that will allow students to sit the full Cambridge A-level exams.

Our current Grade 12 students are preparing to write the Cambridge AS exams which is the normal exit point after 12 years of schooling. It is important to note that Year 13 is an optional year. There are four possible scenarios where a parent should consider extend their child’s High School career to 13-years.

So, why consider doing A-levels next year?

 

Build a stronger academic portfolio

You are uncertain about your plans for 2020 and would like to do a bridging or academic gap year. Doing A-levels is a good way to structure your year and end with a strong academic portfolio. 

 

Your passport to International Studies

You would like to have access to top international universities. A-levels are essential for those. A-levels are your passport to a global study. 

 

Your passport to local Studies

Depending on how your child performed, their results at IGCSE and AS levels may not be sufficient to see them get accepted at a University in South Africa. Or, they may want to improve their options of getting into their preferred course. Doing three A-levels (and passing them) improves chances of admission greatly. 

 

Improve your employability 

Whether you go to university or not, A-Level qualifications will impress future employers and help you to stand out. And, if you decide not to go to a university, that is ok! Possessing A-Level qualifications will demonstrate that students are educated, independent and self-motivated… all qualities that potential employers value. 

 

What kind of schooling will your little one need for the world of tomorrow? Lisa Witepski investigates how parents and schools can help educate children for the future. (This article was first published in Living and Loving)

 

Hands up if you remember memorising key dates in history, or making sure you could rattle off the times table in your sleep. For most of us, this type of rote learning was the alpha and omega of the school day. Of course, we were being prepared for a world where factual recall would stand us in good stead. Our children, on the other hand, are unlikely to need this skill, because robots will do the memorising and regurgitate information for them. However, our children will need to develop other skills to help them succeed in careers we can’t begin to imagine.

 

Reading, writing and arithmetic

 

As Sameer Rawjee, founder of the Life Design Lab at Google and CEO of O-School, points out, reading, mathematics, biology and science are the building blocks of education. You can build on them and augment them, but if they’re not in place, you won’t be able to go very far.

Then again, they’re not the only requirements for success in our children’s world. Bailey Blake, head of schools at SPARK Schools says, “As the world becomes more automated, what differentiates us is the ability to collaborate and corroborate. Adaptability is also key, because our children will need to be able to fit into an ever-changing context.”

Linked to this is the notion of grit, perseverance and passion – but it doesn’t end there. Lisa Illingworth of Futureproof maintains that the skill set of the future, is encapsulated by an entrepreneurial mindset. Not just in terms of having the qualities required to start a business (although those are undeniably useful, too), but the accompanying abilities, like “being able to see the world as an integrated set of systems, and to navigate between those efficiently; being able to spot opportunities and capitalise on them to earn an income; to be able to work with, and learn from, others”. These are skills that should be taught early on. Lisa insists children as young as six years old are able to identify opportunities and qualify ideas.

 

For Xolisa Luthi of Future Nation Schools, it all comes down to problem solving. This might sound like a lengthy list but, says Bailey, as long as you instil a love of learning in your child, you’re halfway there . Their craving to know more about the world around them will drive them to do the rest.

As Kate Groch of the Good Work Foundation puts it, “The biggest shift that has to happen is to stop thinking in compartments where you go to school, and then go to work. Learning isn’t a period of 12 years while you’re at school, and then it’s done. Rather, there is an ecosystem of learning and working. Learning should be ongoing, so you continuously look at where you are, then reinvent yourself.”

 

The why and how

Bez Sangari of Sangari Education, a company which distributes augmented and virtual reality simulation for education, says “We need to stop equating education with knowledge acquisition. Education, not knowledge transfer, should be every school’s goal.”

Xolisa agrees. He suggests an emphasis on application in place of theory; highlighting the relevance of each topic and showing how it fits into their daily lives.

“Students need to transform from passive recipients of information to active participants in a personal learning process. They need to be able to construct their knowledge actively, rather than mechanically ingesting it from the teacher or online sources,” says Bez.

As part of this, Bailey says schools need to take into account the different ways children learn. While one child might thrive on visual stimuli, another might need auditory input before they can process information effectively – and, in an ideal learning environment, each of these children is accommodated.

Xolisa says that if education can be likened to a table, traditional models have been balancing (make that teetering) on two legs: students and teachers. The involvement of parents (the third leg) will make for greater balance, as we’re entering an era where parents need a little extra help when it comes to raising kids. The fourth input comes from corporates: “We need to know what kind of skills they require so we can be sure we are helping our children develop relevant attributes,” he explains.

 

The ideal classroom

So, what does the ideal future education model look like? Des Hugo, head of academics at Nova Pioneer, says it starts with an environment that reflects the children’s ideas, wonderings and thinking, rather than a teacher’s template.

“In a classroom environment, this shows up as artwork that is very clearly based on a child’s creativity rather than what the teacher has told them to do.” In fact, she adds, teachers should be doing a lot of asking, rather than telling, giving learners a sense of autonomy in a democratic learning environment. “It’s about getting the children thinking. The teacher may pose a question, but she’ll listen to their suggestions – and encourage them to do the same – before sharing a possible solution.” She places heavy emphasis on that peer-to-peer listening because she says, debate and discussion are central to co-constructing knowledge. It all comes back to the kind of collaboration that will be vital going forward – and it’s more likely to happen if classroom tables are arranged in groups, rather than rows that prohibit conversation.

There’s another reason why discussion is important, says Des. The journey of learning is as important as the outcome. That’s why feedback and critique should be encouraged. They’re mechanisms that show your child there are other ways of doing things, while simultaneously highlighting failure as a necessity of the process.

Finally, don’t underestimate the importance of play. Contrary to long-held beliefs, play and learning don’t fit into either/or camps. In fact, says Des, children learn best if they’re having fun. “A playful approach makes them realise the joy of learning, and gets them excited to come to school,” she points out.

 

The case for technology

It goes without saying that technology will be a part of the new world of education. But, to what extent should it shape the environment?

Xolisa is excited about the worlds opened by tech: “It doesn’t matter if children are accessing information on a tablet or in a book, they’re still developing a love of reading,” he notes. He’s equally enthusiastic about what tech means for teachers: “With screens and Skype, I don’t have to be in my classroom to reach my students.”

But Bailey takes a more cautious approach, warning that although technology has undeniable allure, it should not be seen as the tool that defines education. Rather, it must be viewed as one of several options and used only when it is the best vehicle for relaying information. “We can never forget the fact that sound learning hinges on a solid relationship with a teacher,” she says.

Dean McCoubrey of MySociaLife doesn’t downplay such concerns, but his view is that technology evolves so quickly that there is simply no way traditional education models are able to keep up. The best way to help children adapt, he says, is by layering digital education so that they first get to grips with a digital foundation: not only the what of technology, but the finer nuances, such as what online bullying looks like and why empathy is critical in this kind of environment. With these basics in place, children can move on to exploring the possibilities presented by the Internet, through tools like apps, AI and robotics. Only once they have mastered these basics should they move on to more advanced skills.

Informed use of technology makes all the difference, agrees Corrin Varady of IDEA Digital Education – and the key here is self-direction. Once children understand how to conduct research online, how to filter out what they don’t need and apply what’s relevant, they’re able to take full advantage of technology’s many benefits. But, Corrin reiterates, they first need to be taught that they can’t simply watch a video on a certain topic and imagine they now know it all. They need to be taught how to identify the best channels for their purpose, and how to leverage them.

 

A rounded approach

In all the talk of academics and skills, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that education impacts people – and they’re small, vulnerable people, at that. Ashleigh Sacks, educational psychologist at Crossroads School, cites US research reporting that one in 10 children experiences some form of anxiety.

There are many factors shaping our current “age of anxiety”, but the outcome is all the same: “Threats or danger trigger an internal ‘worry alarm’ that is wired into our biological makeup for survival. This is known as the freeze, fight or flight mechanism. When a child’s ‘worry alarm’ goes off, the more mature and emotional part of the brain takes over and the newer, more logical part of the brain is put on hold, making it hard to think rationally, because the brain’s main priority becomes survival.” Simply put, an anxious child isn’t learning as well as she should be.

With learning impeded in this manner, Ashleigh believes that schools have a major responsibility to address anxiety since this is where children spend the larger part of their day. She, therefore, calls for a more holistic approach to education; one which acknowledges the importance of wellness.

This sentiment is echoed by Carol Surya, co-founder of WISE (Wellbeing in Schools and Education), who argues that “A holistic approach is one that recognises the full potential of the child. Not just their mental capacity and scholastic achievement, but also their emotional, social, physical and even spiritual development.

By focussing on these other important areas, for example by building emotional intelligence, mindfulness and fun age-appropriate physical activities, the child’s full development is promoted, and learning (including concentration and memory) is made easier.” Her suggestions include adding disciplines like yoga, biodanza (a system of self-development that uses music, movement and positive feelings to deepen self-awareness) and games that build self-esteem to the current curriculum.

 

Careers of the future

Forget law and medicine. According to Crimson Education, these are the potential hotshot careers of the future:

• Commercial space pilot
• Extinct species revivalist
• Organ or body part creator
• Landfill worm operator
• 3D-printed food engineer
• Mind-transfer specialist
• Digital rehabilitation counsellor

Article published in Living and Loving

Living our vision of Innovation and Leadership on a Global scale

 

The Financial Times and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, have announced the winners of the 2019 FT/IFC Transformational Business Awards. At a gala dinner hosted in London, the awards gathered senior investors, innovators, social entrepreneurs and other thought leaders for this event.

This year’s programme marked 14 years of collaboration between the FT and IFC on awards that have had a substantial impact on the way financial and non-financial organisations approach sustainable investment.

The awards highlight ground-breaking, long-term private sector solutions to major development issues, with the programme’s core categories all directly related to global efforts to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A record 270 entries were received from 246 organisations working in all regions of the world. During the event, there was a particular focus on human capital and the use of technology to boost inclusion, and special sessions on climate change and the geopolitical environment.

In the Transformational Solutions in Education, Knowledge and Skills category, the SIS Budget Schools Vertical Collaboration Ecosystem program scooped the award. However, Nova Pioneer received a special commendation in the category. On accepting the award, one of Nova Pioneer’s founders, Oliver Sabot, shared how Nova Pioneer gives young Africans the chance to access world-class student-centred learning at an affordable price. 

“With schools in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, Nova Pioneer has focused on creative and project-based pedagogies that have been specifically designed to develop leaders and innovators for the 4th Industrial revolution.” Said Sabot. He shared how we do this by developing strong local talent and leveraging economies of scale. Nova Pioneer is currently educating over 4,000 students at an 80 per cent lower cost for parents, and we have plans to expand our reach ten-fold in the coming years.

Choosing the right school is a significant step for any family. Whether you’re exploring a nurturing environment for your young child or seeking a future-focused senior school, you may be wondering: What happens at a Nova Pioneer Open Day – and what makes it unique?

Our Saturday Open Days are exactly what they sound like – an opportunity for families to visit our campuses, meet school leaders and experience first-hand what it means to be a Novaneer. They go beyond brochures and websites, offering a personal look into our classrooms, culture and community.

For those wanting to experience a Nova Pioneer school in action, we hold Campus Experiences on selected Wednesdays. 

 

What to look forward to at our next Open Day?

 

Sign in

You’ll be welcomed at our registration table where we’ll confirm your attendance and provide a Starter Pack with helpful information. If you haven’t pre-registered, don’t worry – our team will assist you on the day.

 

Assessment

All students from Grade 000 to Grade 13 are invited to complete an academic assessment aligned to the grade they’re applying for.

• Younger children complete a fun, interactive 60-minute session focused on early numeracy and literacy.
• Senior school students sit a two-hour laptop-based assessment that gives us valuable insight into their readiness for the Cambridge curriculum and helps us guide potential academic pathways (IGCSE, AS, or A-Level).

 

Leadership Talk

Hear directly from our School Leader or Deans about what makes Nova Pioneer different. This session covers:

• Our student-centered teaching philosophy,
  
• The structure and benefits of the Cambridge International curriculum, including how it is appropriately applied across Upper Primary through to A-Levels,
• How we support student wellbeing and personal growth,
• The sports and campus-specific co-curriculars available – from football and netball to robotics, drama, coding and debate,
• Our vision to develop innovators and leaders for the African Century.

Whether you’re exploring early learning or high school, this is your chance to ask questions and understand how our model sets students up for long-term success.

 

In-depth Curriculum Overview

If applying for Senior School, we’ll share:

• A comprehensive breakdown of the Cambridge curriculum and how it is implemented at Nova Pioneer. Our academic team will walk you through the progression from Lower Secondary to IGCSE, AS, and A-Level qualifications, as well as what to expect academically and administratively – both during the senior school years and when applying for university or other post-secondary opportunities.
• We’ll also introduce you to our Innovation and Leadership Hallmark Programme – a weekly class designed to develop socially conscious leaders. Starting with inward reflection and personal values, students gradually take on real leadership challenges, grounded in African history and innovation.
• We will also share more about our Post-School Success (PSS) programme, which supports students from Grade 10 to 13 with career exploration, university applications and post-secondary planning.

 

School Tour

Join a guided walk through our campus to see learning in action. You’ll explore:

• Child-friendly, grade appropriate classrooms designed to support engagement and collaboration,

• Science labs and innovation spaces in our senior schools,

• Sports facilities used in our co-curricular and Tier 1 sports programmes.

You’ll leave with a clear sense of how our environments are built to inspire growth, curiosity and wellbeing.

 

Classroom Experience

This is a Nova Pioneer signature. During the Classroom Experience, families get a front-row seat to our teaching approach:

• Junior school families will observe playful, hands-on learning activities that build core skills.

• Senior school families may join a demo Cambridge lesson, coding activity, or student-led discussion showcasing the depth and dynamism of our academic experience.

Whether it’s your child’s first school or their final school years, the Classroom Experience helps you see the Nova Pioneer difference in action.

Our Open Day (Saturday) programme kick starts at 9AM sharp, while our Campus Experience (Wednesday) starts at 8AM. You can RSVP to attend an Open Day or Campus Experience here.  Should the Open Day and Campus Experience dates not work, you can reach out to admissions.sa@novapioneer.com to arrange a personalised tour.

 

Grade 11 Nova Pioneer Ormonde student, Lesedi Mnguni (16), was chosen as Allan Gray Entrepreneurship Challenge Top 20 Finalist (AGEC2018).

 

PRESS RELEASE: The Allan Gray Entrepreneurial Challenge (AGEC), organised and facilitated by Mr Anthony Selley, is a competition that encourages learning about entrepreneurship for high school learners in Grades 8 to 12 in South Africa.

The challenge seeks to inspire learners on how to influence change in their community, their country and the world. Learners were required to complete weekly micro-challenges that further exposed them to a variety of entrepreneurial skills, which were then applied to real-world scenarios. 

Lesedi’s mentor and business studies and accounting teacher at Nova Pioneer, Samson Mwaghore, explained how Lesedi and her peers were encouraged to bring and share their creative and innovative ideas in and outside of the classroom.

 

“We invest heavily in the future of our students by offering a real entrepreneurial environment in our classroom experience.”

 

The use of the unique, inquiry-based learning approach that encourages students to ask “why” instead of telling them the “what”, allows them to develop their own thinking through exploration, investigation and collaboration,” he said.

During weeks one to three, learners began their entrepreneurial journey by exploring local challenges and opportunities in the areas of social entrepreneurship, transportation and healthcare. In weeks four to six, the competition shifted focus to global themes of climate change, artificial intelligence and blockchain technology. The final event wrapped-up six weeks of inter-school and inter-pupil participation across the country.

According to Anthony Selley, AGEC’s head of Gameplay, entry participation doubled for the 2018 season, from 4,000 in 2017 to more than 8,000 in 2018. In addition, more than 600 schools across the country participated in this year’s challenge. The challenges are designed to engage participants to act and think like entrepreneurs and rewards those who finish among the top performers.

Lesedi was awarded with AGEC2018 certificate for being a Top 20 finalist. The school is proud of Lesedi and all Novaneer participants for the efforts they put in during the competition.