Preamble

Cape Winelands International School is a registered Non-profit company, located in Robertson, in the Western Cape.

Our vision as a school is to uphold a holistic, integrated approach to learning that is dedicated to ensuring that each learner is instilled with a deep sense of curiosity, critical thinking and a focus to ensuring the value and enhancement of all communities.  Our focus is driven by student centred learning that values student integrity, emotional intelligence and the pursuit of knowledge through investigation and inter-connectedness across all platforms.

Our mission is to provide to the families of the Western Cape Winelands District an accredited, independent, parent-governed school and distance learning centre, from reception to high school, that supports the education and social needs of individuals as they become happy members of a local and global community.

Aims

1) To create a sense of community while catering to the specific and holistic development of individuals

2) To draw on internationally recognised curriculum, resources and examination boards to ensure access to further education and career opportunities

3) To adopt a teaching and learning approach that is informed by the best of education research and pedagogical practice

4) To employ excellent educators, leading small groups of learners

5) To ensure democratic parent control and active parent involvement

6) To pursue integration with the wider community

 Core Values

1) Knowledge: understanding and skill gained by experience

2) Integrity: aligning conduct with what we know to be excellent

3) Creativity: the execution of an idea that has both originality and value

4) Joy: delight or happiness caused by a satisfying learning process

5) Child-centred: focused on the student’s needs, abilities and interests with the teacher as facilitator of learning

6) Inquiry-based: a learning process that engages students by making real-world connections through exploration and high-level questioning

7) Sustainability: meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

8) Open-mindedness: willing and able to consider new ideas or perspectives or arguments

9) Cooperative learning: educators and learners supporting each other to achieve set goals

10) Respect: to treat others well, with equal consideration and kindness

Language Policy

English will be the primary medium of instruction. In consultation with parents, support will be provided for students who are transitioning from a home language (or previous language of instruction) other than English. The school reserves the right to refuse admission to a student if adequate support in addressing a language barrier cannot be provided. The final decision in this case lies with the principal.

The development of additional languages will be facilitated and encouraged. In phases 1, 2 and 3, at least one additional language will be taught at school. In phase 4, the option to study an additional language will be the final decision of the parents, after consultation with the principal, and in line with the student’s future study plans.

Admissions Policy

1) No student will be refused admission on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender or prior school results.

2) The principal may refuse admission to a student for which it has been decided that the school and/or parents cannot provide adequate support for overcoming a learning or behaviour barrier.

3) Children who are are aged five (5) years old at the start of a calendar year will be admitted to Phase 1.

4) Children who are aged eight (8) years old at the start of a calendar year will be admitted to Phase 2.

5) Children who are aged eleven (11) years old at the start of calendar year will be admitted to Phase 3.

6) Children who are aged fourteen (14) years old will ordinarily be admitted to phase 4, to begin the IGCSE (or similar) curriculum. Exceptions may be made, at the discretion of the principal, in the case of advanced students who can begin the IGCSE levels at a younger age, or in the case of students who may need additional time in Phase 3 to prepare for the more academic Phase 4.

7) Students will only be registered for AS or A level course/s, at the discretion of the principal, if:

i) They have completed and achieved satisfactory results in IGCSE level courses OR

ii) They have completed relevant Grade 10 or 11 subjects in a CAPS curriculum school and have achieved satisfactory results.

8) Foreign students will only be admitted if holding a current student or other applicable visa.

9) Parents / guardians will, on registration, sign a contract with the school in which they undertake to pay all school fees due to the school, within the due dates provided. If parents cannot honour this contract, steps will be taken to collect outstanding fees and/or to deregister the student from the school.

10) Parents and students will be required to agree to and sign the school’s code of conduct

11) At registration, the following documentation will need to be provided:

i) Certified copy of birth certificate of student

ii) Certified copy of vaccination record (or doctor’s letter explaining why government mandated vaccinations were not given)

iii) Certified copy of parent/s or guardian/s identity documents or passports

iv) Certified copy of relevant visas (if non-South African citizens

v) Previous school records and reports, or letter describing home-schooling curriculum and approach