Jan Howlett knows the importance of providing students with a well-planned curriculum so that a solid foundation for future learning is secured.

Children in the middle grades need to master core literacy and numeracy skills and be moving towards a genuine understanding of the knowledge and skills required in the basic subjects before they can go on to the sophisticated demands of secondary school. This requires time during the school day for children to apply themselves to meaningful learning under the attentive supervision of teachers who can give useful and sensitive feedback. In a busy world it is more important than ever that realistic work loads, reasonable homework assignments and a relaxed atmosphere be provided for children and their families. Family time is invaluable for the all round development of the child and the well being of everyone involved with the child.

Howlett Academy believes in providing children with the necessary skills and knowledge so that they can make connections between many areas of learning. In addition to having the time to gain a solid grasp of the essential learning tools, students will be given opportunities to develop the highest degree of understanding whereby they have a sufficient grasp of concepts, principles and skills so that they can be applied to new problems and situations. Through overarching themes, students will be introduced to the ways of thinking in different disciplines. They will learn how to pose problems, take risks, collect and analyze data, investigate ideas, make fine judgments, undertake syntheses and come to tentative conclusions. By selecting assignments that are relevant and meaningful, students discover that learning is stimulating and gratifying and offers scope for creativity and personal pride.

Between grades one and eight, children undergo significant physical, intellectual and emotional changes that deeply affect their view of themselves and each other, and must be acknowledged as factors in how they learn and function in a school setting. Each child develops at a slightly different pace, creating a need for fluid age groupings during the "tween" years. The Howlett Academy will provide an environment where the realities of contemporary urban children, in a challenging phase of life, are taken seriously.