Academics
In all departments, we define our approach through a single, punchy statement that we call the “O’Way”.
The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls is a forward-thinking, ‘cutting edge’ all-girls school with a focus on learning. ‘Strategy 2025’ defines – the key objective of the academic team – the provision of excellent and high-quality education, and skills that will prepare the girls for the future. In this regard, we take academic rigour very seriously but acknowledge that in the pursuit of this rigour, we must also develop a girl into a young woman who takes her future and that of her surroundings equally seriously. As such we promote the development of a well-rounded young woman through pursuits extending into the arts, sport and the environment.
The Academy will continue to grow its technological and robotics initiatives through a range of exciting projects and initiatives. We aim to develop our students into strong, critically focussed and motivated women leaders.
Our goals are centred around the iteration of our Mission and our Vision and wholly align with the Values of the Academy. We pride ourselves on an impressive academic record in which all the students who have graduated from the Academy have qualified for and registered for university courses. Academic rigour from Grade 8 to Grade 12 determines that each student must meet the Academy’s minimum standards.
These are outlined in our Academic Standards document.
In the GET phase, our Grade 8 and Grade 9 students study the following subjects:
Home Language: English
First Additional Language: Afrikaans, isiZulu or Sesotho
Mathematics
Life Orientation
Natural Sciences
Economic Management Sciences
Social Sciences
Creative Arts
Once a student has successfully met the promotion requirements of the Academy she will study the following compulsory subjects:
English Home Language
First Additional Language: Afrikaans, isiZulu or Sesotho
Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy
Life Orientation
Accounting
Business Studies
Computer Applications Technology
Dramatic Arts
Geography
History
Information Technology
Life Sciences
Music
Physical Sciences
Visual Arts
At OWLAG we aim to develop students into creative, imaginative individuals who appreciate the Arts and who have the basic knowledge and skills to participate in Arts activities as well as to prepare them for possible further study in the art form(s) of their choice. The value of Arts education goes further in that it has been shown to assist students in their personal, social and academic development. Involvement in the Arts is associated with gains in mathematics, reading, cognitive ability, critical and creative thinking as well as verbal and nonverbal skills. Arts learning also improves motivation, concentration, confidence, and teamwork.
THE INTENTION OF THE ARTS IS TO:
- develop creative, expressive, and innovative individuals and teams;
- provide students with exposure to and experiences in dance, drama, music, and visual arts;
- provide access to basic arts education for all students;
- identify and nurture artistic talent, aptitude, and enthusiasm;
- equip students with adequate basic skills to pursue further studies in the art forms of their choice;
- develop an awareness of arts across diverse cultures;
- expose students to the range of careers in the arts;
- develop arts literacy and appreciation;
- develop future audiences and arts consumers; and
- develop life skills through the arts.
Helping students to appreciate a diversity of human attitudes, cultures and beliefs, as well as human ingenuity & technological development.
The term Humanities encompasses many disciplines and at OWLAG, it includes the study of Accounting, Business Studies, Economics, Geography and History, as well as CAT, IT and Technology. These disciplines help students to appreciate a diversity of human attitudes, cultures and beliefs, as well as human ingenuity and technological developments.
There are contexts that students must address and skills that must be developed over the five years of high school, which prepare students for their Grade 12 examinations as well as the world of work. In Grades 8 and 9, these subjects encompass aspects of interdisciplinary learning and include a strong focus on collaboration. Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) includes: Accounting, Business Studies and Economics. Social Sciences includes both History and Geography.
In Grade 10, students may elect to study any one of the subjects in this group (Accounting, Business Studies, Economics, History and Geography) to Grade 12. Accounting is only offered to students from Grade 10 to Grade 12. Students electing to study Accounting will acquire the skills and knowledge to record, analyse and interpret financial and other relevant data in order to make informed decisions; relate to real world situations in order to balance theory and practice, and learn to manage their own finances responsibly and effectively.
Developing young people who are critical thinkers and important and useful members of the societies in which they live.
As a Languages Department, we aim to develop young people who are critical thinkers and important and useful members of the societies in which they live. Concepts that are crucial to our involvement with our students are facilitation, collaboration, and reflection.
Students complete the Independent Examination Board’s (IEB) curriculum and are assessed according to marks, percentages, and symbols. As our medium of instruction is English, this is offered as the Home Language and students then choose a First Additional Language from isiZulu, Sesotho, or Afrikaans. When deciding which First Additional Language, it is our policy, as far as possible, to promote the study of Home Language and to recognise other home languages. Furthermore, the department promotes the Advanced English Programme.
This is a relatively new subject offered from Grade 10 to Grade 12 and examined at the end of Grade 12, which further enhances critical thinking skills and a deeper engagement with both Literature and Poetry.
*Over the last 7 years (and we have only written matric for 8 years), the IsiZulu division maintained an A -Aggregate in Matric results.
Contributing to developing South Africa by developing young scientifically-minded African women leaders. As the economic health of a developing country hinges on the ‘mathematical literacy’ of its citizens to drive and support science and technology, Mathematics at OWLAG remains committed to contributing to developing South Africa by developing young scientifically-minded African women leaders who will lead the charge to use Science and technology in transforming the economic status of South Africa.
The ‘teaching’ of Mathematics at OWLAG, therefore, entails much more than the teaching of methods and techniques to solve routine, predictable high school Mathematics problems.
The teaching of Mathematics entails equipping students with the necessary skills, knowledge, beliefs, and values to develop thinking processes that are mathematical. The development of mathematical thinking encompasses the development of mathematical autonomy; the correct use of mathematical vocabulary, and an investigative approach to Mathematics that enables students to pose and solve problems. The ability to listen, communicate, think and reason logically when applying mathematical knowledge forms of studying. Our primary objective is to empower students who are able to do more than that which is taught by the teacher.
In the 21st century, we find ourselves living in a technological era. We use a variety of machines and gadgets to entertain ourselves and to improve our everyday lives: cell phones, computers, washing machines, cars with electric windows and automatic gears, and even electric toothbrushes!
Our young people should know how to manage new inventions and the explosion of knowledge grabbing their attention on a daily basis. When our students have a basic understanding of how such things work, and then develop an interest in how to make use of scientific principles, they will have the tools they need to be able to join the industry as technologists or research scientists.
The Grade 8 and 9 science courses develop skills of observation, recording data, planning and designing investigations, analysing information, and coming to reasoned conclusions. The girls also learn how to interpret and solve problems related to Chemistry, Physics, and Biology (Life Sciences).
Science is an integral part of our everyday lives. It forms part of all the other disciplines. For example, through an understanding of science, the power of steam was discovered and developed, with steam engines doing the tasks of men and horses – the Industrial Revolution. Events in history have been shaped by scientific inventions, alongside political and social developments.