Curriculum and Teaching
Pilgrim School continues to deliver the Australian Curriculum from a Christian worldview, integrating biblical principles throughout all teaching and learning.
In 2025, our staff continued to deepen their practice through professional learning and instructional refinement, ensuring that every student is supported to thrive academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.
A sustained focus for the year was the ongoing embedding of evidence-based pedagogical approaches aligned with the Science of Learning. The Pilgrim Playbook - our shared language and framework for high-impact teaching - has become increasingly embedded in daily classroom practice, providing consistency and clarity across year levels. Coaching continued to be a cornerstone of our professional culture, with coaching roles expanding in 2025 to include staff across our Administration and Inclusive Education teams. Coordinators in both teams completed coaching methods training, extending a culture of reflective practice and growth beyond the classroom.
Key curriculum programmes in 2025 included:
- Prime Mathematics - continued implementation of this structured programme supporting deep mathematical understanding and fluency
- Jocelyn Seamer Literacy Approach - ongoing use of this evidence-based sequence for building strong reading and writing foundations for Foundation to Year 4
Playberry Laser - introduced in 2025 for Year 5/6 students as a complementary literacy programme, further strengthening reading skills in the upper primary years
In line with our commitment to cultural awareness and reconciliation, our Reconciliation Action Plan was reviewed and updated in 2025. A highlight of the year was the installation of an Indigenous food trail on our school grounds, developed under the expert guidance of Trent Hill from the Adelaide Botanic Garden. This living feature enriches our Campus and provides a meaningful, ongoing learning resource for students and families alike. To celebrate National Reconciliation Week, students participated in a rich program of activities including damper cooking over a fire pit, kangaroo mince bolognese, lemon myrtle playdough, storytelling videos, and flag protocols.
Learning at Pilgrim is enriched through co-curricular and competition-based opportunities. In 2025, students participated in:
- The Oliphant Science Awards (17 entries - individual and group)
- The Premier's Reading Challenge and beActive Challenge
- A variety of SACSA and SAPSASA sporting events
Staff-led Flourish Enrichment activities during lunch breaks
We were also proud to celebrate two outstanding achievements in 2025. Pilgrim School received an Every Generation Award from the City of Onkaparinga Council in recognition of our Grandbuddies programme - a wonderful affirmation of the intergenerational connections we nurture between our Foundation students and the seniors at Seeds Church, Aberfoyle Park. Additionally, one of our Year 4 students was awarded a medal in the ICAS Digital Technologies competition, a terrific individual achievement that reflects the quality of learning in our Digital Technologies programme.
Our Language Teacher, Kate Tretheway, made a recipricol visit to SD Kowang in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, including participating in Kartini Day celebrations and delivering student letters, strengthening our partnership with the school through the BRIDGE program. Pilgrim School also continued to offer language learning beyond the classroom through our partnership with the School of Languages, with both Mandarin and Auslan classes available after school.
In the Early Years, our Belong and Blossom Playgroup continued to grow in 2025, with strong attendance across both weekly sessions reflecting the warm reputation this programme has built within our community. Our Little Explorers at Pilgrim (LEAP) school readiness programme continued to support both mid-year Foundation students and families preparing for 2026, providing an invaluable bridge between home and school life.
Throughout all curriculum planning and delivery, our focus remains on helping each child flourish - equipped with the knowledge, faith, and character to explore their world with confidence and compassion.