What is Classical Education?
Classical education is a three-part process of training the mind which corresponds with the child’s natural development.
The first part is spent learning and memorising facts to lay a foundation of knowledge for all other learning to be built on. The middle years are spent learning how to think critically and logically. In the final years students learn to master the arts of persuasive writing and public speaking.
The classical education method has its roots in Ancient Greece and Rome. The baton was picked up by the medieval church and continued up until the dawn of the twentieth century.
It has trained some of the greatest minds in history including Plato, Aristotle, St Augustine, Isaac Newton,William Shakespeare and Winston Churchill.
Stages of
Classical Education
STAGE 1: GRAMMAR
We believe there is a “grammar” to learn for every subject. This is when we learn times tables, rules of speech, foreign language vocabulary, scientific facts as well as memorising poems and
songs.
We often teach through chants, stories and poems and because young children enjoy repetition they can learn and memorise a lot of information whilst having so much fun they
do not even realise they are learning!
The strength of a
classical education is that it aspires to give a breadth of knowledge in all disciplines.
STAGE 2: LOGIC
We don't just want students who know something is true, we want them to know why something is true. At stage two we begin to teach formal logic and apply it to every subject.
This is the time for scientific experiments, learning algebra, paragraph structure and analysing historical and literary texts. In short, learning how to think, not what to think.
STAGE 3: RHETORIC
Students now learn to express their thoughts in the written and spoken word in an articulate and compelling manner.
In stage three there is also time for specialisation. Students will be encouraged to think about learning a trade, Higher Education or simply pursuing an interest to enrich their lives!
Want to learn more about Classical Education?
To help you learn more about Classical teaching methods, we have compiled a list of useful videos and websites. You can also check out our curriculum. Click the button below to find out more.
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