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Learning & Curriculum

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Understanding learning at Empathy School

Our curriculum overviews explain what children work towards and how learning develops at Empathy School. Families can use them to understand the programme. Receiving schools around the world can use them alongside a child’s own records when discussing a transfer, placement or next steps.

We bring academic learning together with understanding ourselves and others, practical work, creativity and care for nature. The outdoors supports learning whenever it serves the lesson: a garden can become a place to count, measure, investigate, write and share responsibility.

What children learnHow we teachFor receiving schoolsCurriculum documents

Our curriculum and academic ambition

Through our partnership, we are moving to Indonesia’s Kurikulum Merdeka framework. We strive to ensure that all of our academics meet and exceed international benchmarks, including Cambridge, England’s National Curriculum and the Australian Curriculum.

The September 2026 overviews below describe learning goals within the Indonesian framework, alongside our English literacy and practical programmes.

What children learn

English language and literacy develop through conversation, stories, reading, writing and discussion. Mathematics moves from quantities, patterns and hands-on exploration towards calculation, measurement, data and algebra. Science builds observation and questioning into investigations, explanations and the use of evidence.

Bahasa Indonesia, local culture and citizenship help children understand the communities around them. Social emotional learning runs alongside academic work: recognising feelings, asking for support, considering other perspectives, resolving disagreements and taking responsibility.

Practical and creative learning includes physical education, STEAM, music, Balinese culture and clay, wood carving and painting, permaculture, nature exploration and community experiences. Activities and tools are chosen for children’s readiness and used with appropriate supervision.

How learning develops

Preschool & kindergarten

In Grasshopper, Dragonfly and Beetle, children learn through play, caring relationships, stories, practical exploration and guided teaching. Teachers adapt support to each child’s development, interests and language background. Selected Montessori principles, including hands-on materials, practical-life tasks and independence, contribute alongside inquiry and creative work.

Explore early years learning

Grades 1–2

Children build foundations in reading, writing, number understanding and working with others. Teachers explain and model new ideas, give children opportunities to practise, and connect those skills to practical questions.

Explore primary learning

Grades 3–6

Grades 3 and 4 develop connected writing, measurement, guided investigation and responsibility within a group. In Grades 5 and 6, children compare information, explain their reasoning, plan longer tasks and use feedback to improve.

Grades 7–8

The Grade 7 and 8 overviews extend this progression through sustained reading and writing, proportional reasoning and algebra, scientific investigation, source evaluation and purposeful discussion. Independence grows alongside the ability to seek support and work responsibly with others.

Explore middle school learning

Bringing subjects together

The documents include examples of connected learning. A younger group might care for a planter, count spaces, make labels and share watering turns. A Grade 4 example investigates water use in a growing area through measurement, a watering model, material costs and a written explanation. The Grade 8 example considers campus waste using data, possible responses and an evidence-based recommendation.

These are illustrations of how subjects can connect, rather than a record of projects every child has completed.

Information for receiving schools

We share these curriculum overviews with families and schools around the world to help explain our programme. A child’s individual progress is shown through their own reading and writing samples, mathematics work, investigations, conversations and teacher observations.

For a school transfer, share the relevant overview alongside:

  • Enrolment and attendance details, including the period of learning covered.
  • A progress report and selected reading, writing, mathematics or investigation samples.
  • Information about teaching language, support used and next learning steps.

Individual attainment is reported separately, and placement or recognition is confirmed by the receiving school or authority. Contact Empathy School to discuss the information needed for a particular transfer.

Curriculum overview documents

Choose the relevant stage below. These are the original September 2026 Word documents, with learning goals, teaching approaches, practical learning and ways to show progress.

The grade sequence and partner programme arrangements in the overviews remain subject to academic confirmation.

Early years

  • Preschool — Grasshopper

    Communication, early mathematical ideas, relationships, independence and caring for nature through play.

    View overview ↗
    Word document

  • Kindergarten 1 — Dragonfly

    Growing language, number understanding and cooperation through purposeful play, guided practice and creative work.

    View overview ↗
    Word document

  • Kindergarten 2 — Beetle

    Preparation for primary learning through early literacy, mathematical reasoning, practical exploration, independence and empathy.

    View overview ↗
    Word document

Primary

Middle school

  • Grade 7

    Independent reading, organised writing, ratios and introductory algebra, scientific investigations and responsible participation.

    View overview ↗
    Word document

  • Grade 8

    Source analysis, structured arguments, linear relationships, scientific evidence and evaluating choices.

    View overview ↗
    Word document

Questions about your child’s learning?

Read the school FAQs or arrange a conversation with admissions.