Primary School
From Pre-Kindy to Year 6
The Primary School at St Brigid’s College is a co-educational learning community from Kindergarten to Year 6, committed to providing excellence in education within a Christ-centred environment. Guided by our positioning statement, Light the Way, we nurture and support every student to grow in faith, learning and character within the spirit of Mercy.
Through a rich and engaging curriculum, we develop the whole child spiritually, academically, socially and emotionally, empowering students to think independently, take responsibility for their learning, and become confident, compassionate contributors to their community.
| Pre-Kindergarten | 3 years old (2 x full days Tues and Thurs) |
| Kindergarten | 4 years old (3 x full days Mon/Wed/Fri) 4 years old (5 x full days) |
| Pre-Primary | 5 years old (compulsory full time) |
| Primary School | Year 1, 2, (still considered Early Years) Years 3, 4, 5, 6 |
Bush School
Our Bush School located on the College grounds amidst natural flora and fauna, provides students from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 6 with rich, hands-on learning experiences in a unique outdoor environment. Students are encouraged to be active, creative, and curious, embracing noise, mess, and sensory exploration as part of authentic, meaningful learning.
Bush School makes use of our Cottage, walking trails to the dam and creek, and open grassed areas, providing students with a variety of spaces for exploration, hands-on investigation, creative play, and reflection. These diverse environments allow children to engage with different natural elements, observe wildlife, conduct experiments, collaborate with peers, and connect meaningfully with the world around them.
These experiences support Science learning as students observe ecosystems, study plant and animal life, and explore natural processes. Mathematics skills are developed through measuring, counting, and estimating in real-world contexts, while Literacy is enhanced through storytelling, journaling, reporting observations, and engaging in oral discussions. Creative expression is encouraged through Art activities using natural materials, and Drama and role-play bring learning to life.
Outdoor learning also fosters Personal, Social, and Emotional Development, building resilience, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Students develop a deep respect for the environment and an understanding of the interdependence between people, plants, animals, and the land. Physical wellbeing is promoted through active play, bush walks, and exploration.
By integrating the natural environment across learning areas, Bush School nurtures curiosity, creativity, academic growth, and a lasting connection to the world around them, helping students become confident, capable, and responsible learners.
Primary School Curriculum
Religious Education is the cornerstone of learning at St Brigid’s College. It nurtures students’ knowledge and understanding of the Gospel and the Catholic faith, guiding them to follow Christ in today’s world. Through cultural, systematic and reflective exploration, students learn the teachings of the Gospels and develop an understanding of what it means to be a Christian, shaping how they live and act in their daily lives.
Our Religious Education program follows the Perth Archdiocese Religious Education Units of Work, which present concepts and topics in a progressive and age-appropriate manner. All students participate in daily Religious Education lessons, and each classroom features a dedicated Prayer Area to support reflection and daily prayer. Students also take part in regular Liturgies and Class Masses, with opportunities to receive the Sacraments of Penance and First Eucharist. Liturgical feast days are celebrated within the College and alongside the wider community, fostering connection and participation.
In Three- and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten, Religious Education is embedded throughout the day through prayer, Godly Play and biblical storytelling. At this stage, the program introduces children to the person of Jesus and explores foundational teachings of the Church in a meaningful and age-appropriate way.
Our Early Learning Centre nurtures children aged three to six within a safe, supportive and stimulating environment. We value each child and provide engaging experiences that extend their interests and skills, laying the foundations for confident, capable, and lifelong learners.
Our educators are committed to delivering high-quality, evidence-based teaching practices. Our curriculum aligns with the Western Australian Curriculum and is guided by the Early Years Learning Framework and the National Quality Standards, enriched through the Kath Walker Inquiry Approach and the Reggio Emilia philosophy.
Central to our approach is our image of the child as competent, capable and rich in potential. We value the knowledge and experiences each child brings and empower them to take an active role in their learning. Through a balanced approach that includes play-based learning, intentional teaching and explicit instruction, children are supported to explore, create and make meaning of their world. Learning experiences are carefully designed to provide a balance of indoor and outdoor play, giving children the freedom to engage, experiment and discover in a variety of stimulating environments. Our classrooms and outdoor spaces are thoughtfully arranged, recognising the environment as the ‘third teacher’.
Three-Year-Old Pre-Kindergarten
Our Three-Year-Old Pre-Kindergarten Programme, offered two days per week, reflects our commitment to nurturing the whole child, mind, body and spirit, within a Christ-centred environment. The programme emphasises the importance of early learning
through a holistic approach that supports children’s physical, personal, social, emotional, spiritual and cognitive development.
We recognise that learning is a social and collaborative process, strengthened through positive relationships between children, families and the wider community. Opportunities to engage with the natural environment further enhance children’s understanding of the world around them and their place within it.
Kindergarten
The Kindergarten curriculum is responsive and engaging, building on each child’s prior experiences and current knowledge. Learning experiences are hands-on, purposeful and enjoyable, laying strong foundations across key areas including phonics, Literacy, Numeracy, physical development and social-emotional growth.
A strong emphasis is placed on early literacy through the implementation of Pre-Lit, supporting children to develop essential skills in phonological awareness, vocabulary and listening comprehension. Oral language development is a key priority, with rich opportunities for children to engage in conversations, storytelling, role play and collaborative learning. These experiences strengthen communication skills and build the foundations for reading and writing success.
Families can choose between a three-day or five-day Kindergarten programme to best suit their needs and routines. The three-day option provides a balanced introduction to early learning, while the five-day programme offers consistent engagement and supports family schedules, providing flexibility for children and parents alike. Both options are designed to support each child’s individual readiness and ensure a smooth, confident transition to Pre-Primary. Within a supportive and stimulating environment, children develop confidence, independence and the essential skills needed for a successful start to their formal schooling journey.
Pre-Primary
Pre-Primary marks the first year of compulsory full-time schooling and continues our commitment to excellence through evidence-based pedagogy. Literacy is explicitly taught through the InitiaLit program, providing a structured and systematic approach to reading, spelling and writing. This is complemented by a strong focus on Numeracy, while maintaining the importance of play-based and investigative learning to support curiosity, creativity and problem-solving.
Students are engaged through purposeful, differentiated learning experiences that cater for a range of abilities and learning styles. Oral language development remains a key focus, strengthening communication skills and supporting overall academic growth.
Students also benefit from specialist teaching in areas such as Music, Physical Education and Health, Science, Visual Arts and Digital and Design Technologies. They participate in interschool swimming lessons at the College Swimming Pool, developing water confidence, safety skills and teamwork.
These opportunities broaden students’ experiences and encourage the development of new skills and interests.
Pre-Primary to Year 2
From Pre-Primary to Year 2, our curriculum is designed to provide a strong foundation in literacy and numeracy while fostering curiosity, creativity and a love of learning. Literacy instruction is guided by the InitiaLit program, which provides a systematic approach to phonics, reading, writing and spelling. This is complemented by Talk 4 Writing, which develops oral language, comprehension and storytelling skills, ensuring students can confidently express themselves and engage with texts. Numeracy is delivered through Oxford Maths, providing structured, hands-on experiences to develop problem-solving, reasoning and number sense.
Differentiation is central to our approach, ensuring learning experiences meet the needs of every child. Students requiring additional support have access to targeted literacy intervention through MiniLit. In addition, further support may be provided through small group or one-to-one instruction, aligned with Tier 2 and Tier 3 intervention, ensuring explicit and targeted teaching to meet individual learning needs and support student progress.
Our classrooms maintain a balance between play-based and explicit teaching, allowing children to explore, experiment and make meaning of their learning in engaging, hands-on ways. Learning environments are rich, flexible and stimulating, encouraging collaboration, independence and curiosity.
Across these early years, students develop essential academic skills alongside social, emotional and creative capacities, laying a strong foundation for confident, capable, and lifelong learners.
Our Middle Years program is designed to build strong academic foundations while fostering independence, confidence and a love of learning. Students in Years 3–6 are supported through a rich, engaging curriculum that prepares them for a smooth and successful transition into Secondary School.
Academic Learning
Students follow a comprehensive academic program aligned with the Western Australian Curriculum. Learning is enriched through specialist teaching and collaborative classroom support to ensure every child is known, supported and challenged.
Specialist Learning Opportunities
From Years 5 and 6, students access a range of specialist programs taught by expert teachers, including:
- Art
- Science
- Languages
- Digital Technologies
- Dance and Drama
These specialist programs are offered across the Middle Years, providing students with creative outlets and opportunities to develop across all areas of learning and growth.
Health, Sport and Wellbeing
- A swimming program is held in Term 1 as part of Physical Education for Years 3–6
- Access to College sporting and wellbeing facilities, includes the College gymnasium and swimming pool located in the Sr Mary Rose Centre.
Co‑Curricular Opportunities
Students can further develop confidence and creativity through extracurricular dance programs:
- Sparks – Years 1 & 2
- Ignite – Upper Primary students
College Life and Transition to Secondary
Years 3–6 students are actively involved in all College events, fostering a strong sense of belonging within our K–12 community.
From Year 5, students are gradually introduced to a Secondary School framework, supporting readiness and resilience.
An intentional independence‑building program prepares students for the academic, social and pastoral expectations of Secondary School. Confident, well‑prepared students transition more smoothly and are better equipped to manage change.
Our Middle Years teachers and Head of Primary work in close partnership with Secondary Deputies and teachers, ensuring each child’s learning and wellbeing needs are understood and supported.
Year 6 Leadership
From 2027, all Year 6 students at St Brigid’s College will actively participate in committees, with no designated leaders of committees. This new structure recognises that every student is a leader, and each individual’s unique leadership qualities are acknowledged and celebrated through their leadership badges.
By ensuring that all students play a leadership role, we value the contribution of each child to the life and culture of the College. Leadership is no longer seen as a title held by a few but as a shared responsibility, where every student has the opportunity to develop confidence, initiative, collaboration, and a sense of service.
Through participation in committees, Year 6 students engage in meaningful responsibilities such as supporting younger students, assisting in school events, and contributing to community initiatives. This approach fosters a strong sense of belonging
and purpose, helping students understand that leadership is about influence, action, and care for others.
By embracing leadership in this inclusive way, students develop essential life skills, deepen their personal growth, and are empowered to transition from primary school as capable, responsible, and compassionate young leaders.
At St Brigid’s College, we recognise that parents are a child’s first and most important educators. We value their knowledge, insights and active involvement in supporting each student’s learning, growth and wellbeing throughout their primary years.
Our open and collaborative approach encourages parents to engage with teachers, discuss progress, and participate in school life. Parent Information Evenings and workshops provide opportunities to explore aspects of child development, learning strategies, and school programs, strengthening the vital partnership between home and school.
When families and educators work together in a supportive relationship, students develop confidence, resilience, and a positive sense of self. They thrive in a learning community that values collaboration, respects individual differences, and fosters strong social and emotional growth.
There are seven Holy Sacraments, three of which are celebrated during a child’s primary school years. Sacraments are sacred events, a sign of God’s presence and are vital expressions of Catholic life. Each time people receive a Sacrament, there is a deeper response to the call of Jesus to discipleship. Since Sacraments are so important they are taken very seriously and there is a need to prepare to receive them thoughtfully and thoroughly. The Sacramental Programme at St Brigid’s College includes the following:
| Penance (First Reconciliation) | Year Three |
| First Eucharist | Year Four |
| Confirmation | Year Six |
Celebrating a Sacrament for the first time is an important step in the life of a Catholic child. Preparation for the Sacraments is a partnership between the family, parish and school. Whilst preparation for these Sacraments is school based, there is an expectation that parents play an active part in this preparation by attending Sacramental information nights, commitment masses and Sacramental workshops. Catholic schools assist parishes in their responsibilities to parents by providing the knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith, including knowledge about the Sacraments.
At St Brigid’s College, all students are supported to learn to the best of their ability. We recognise that every child has unique strengths, interests and learning needs, and we aim to provide personalised support that enables each student to thrive academically, socially and emotionally.
We use Curriculum Adjustment Plans (CAPs) and Individual Education Plans (IEPs) to tailor learning programs to meet individual needs. These plans guide teachers in providing appropriate challenges, scaffolding and resources so that students can engage meaningfully with the curriculum. Data is regularly collected and analysed to inform teaching, ensuring that instruction is responsive and targeted. Ongoing assessments allow us to monitor progress, identify areas for growth, and track each student’s learning journey over time.
Communication with parents is a key part of our approach. Families are kept informed about their child’s progress, achievements and areas where additional support may be required, fostering a strong home-school partnership.
Through this comprehensive approach, students receive the guidance, encouragement and adjustments they need to build confidence, independence and resilience. By supporting every child to reach their potential, we cultivate a positive learning environment where all students can succeed and develop a lifelong love of learning.
Primary School FAQs
We do not currently have an Outside of Hours School Care Service. However, we work in partnership with various local child care providers, who have availabilities for before and after school care, and provide a transport service to the College.
Our full range of fees and charges can be found on our fees page.