St Alban’s curriculum offers a solid academic foundation in its programme of study. Using the time-honoured “trivium,” (three-fold way) and its three stages of learning as a guide, curriculum materials are carefully chosen to ensure that students in the Grammar stage (Year R- Year 5) acquire the necessary phonetic, reading, arithmetic, and writing skills in traditional core subjects.

Similar to Classical Conversations, Claritas, and Invictus Press, we have developed our very own Classical, Christian, and British curriculum that includes 24 weeks of memory work over 4 years (Cycles) in Maths, English, History, Latin, Timeline, Monarchs and PM, Science, Scripture, Hymns, and Bible Facts. This provides the necessary classical structure and culture from Western Christendom. Memory work mastered in the Grammar stage is built upon in subsequent study in the Logic and Rhetoric stages (Years 6-7). We call this Grammar Stage our ‘Primary Grammar’ level at St Alban’s Grammar, which is fit for children ages 4 to 11! Primary Grammar runs once a week, 24 weeks in a year, for 3 hours for academic mornings (Memory Work, Hands On Activity with Science and Fine Arts, and Student Presentations) and another 3 hours in the afternoon for Conversational Latin, Choir, and Physical Exercise. The parent needs to supplement a Maths and a Phonics/Reading/Spelling Curriculum with this part of the curriculum.

‘Secondary Grammar’ is the next stage that overlaps with Primary Grammar. Students ages 9-11 take an extra two-hour a week class that teaches English Grammar, Writing Skills, and Mental Arithmetics. This is also 24 weeks, once a week, for only two hours. Students attend both Primary and Secondary Grammar at this stage. We use Shurley English Homeschooling Curriculum, IEW’s History-Based Writing Lessons in conjunction with the theme of the Cycle (this year is Cycle 3, Modern World), and Mental Arithmetic games like Number Knockout. The only thing a parent needs to supplement with this part of the curriculum is a Maths curriculum.

In the Logic stage, emphasis is given to developing critical reading and thinking skills through the use of original sources. The Rhetoric stage focuses upon the cultivation of effective and persuasive communication skills in original research, reports, and presentations. These stages start at age 12 and continue until a student is ready for college or university! We will be likely be using the Masterpoint curriculum; however, it is in our plans to continue Anglicising all Classical Christian material we use from the states.