The curriculum includes English, Mathematics, Science and Technology, Reading/Literature, Human Society and Its Environment, Religious Education, Art and Craft, Music, Physical Education, Health and Personal Development, Drama and French. Private tuition in Speech and Drama, Instrumental Music and some sports is also available.

A way of catering to the differing academic needs and abilities of the pupils is by streaming. At the beginning of Year 3 the girls are streamed for Mathematics and some Reading lessons. At most year levels an extra class is created in these two subjects by dividing the students into smaller groups, thus affording more individual attention for each girl. The resource teacher assists both the remedial learners and the gifted and talented students in these two key learning areas of Mathematics and Reading.

Language and numeracy skills are important and the school is proud that the performance of the students in both the University of NSW English Competition and the UNISCAN Mathematics Competition is consistently of a high standard and noticeably higher than the state mean.

ICT in the Junior School
Kambala continues to be at the forefront of developments in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and, as a result, has been recognised as a ‘School of Excellence’ by Apple. In the Junior School we have a computer lab with 28 Intel iMacs as well as small banks of computers in some classrooms and common areas. We also provide a bank of MacBooks that can be borrowed as complete class sets for small groups or individuals. The MacBooks are equipped with Aiport cards and connect anywhere on campus via a wireless network.

ICT is integrated across all key learning areas from years 3 – 6. The girls use technology confidently for a broad range of tasks. They use a variety of computer applications such as Microsoft Office, Dreamweaver, iMovie, Photoshop, Inspiration, to name a few, to create web pages, movies, animations, powerpoint slideshows etc. The girls use peripheral equipment such as digital cameras, video cameras and scanners comfortably to further enhance their work. Those girls in upper years take part in national and international Internet projects and competitions.

The School’s Intranet provides the opportunity to extend the classroom beyond its four walls. Girls can access their work saved on servers at school from home and continue to work on assignments.

Music
The Junior School Music curriculum offers two complementary programs. The Classroom Music Program offers one lesson per week and integrates singing, aural training, music theory, improvising, composing, playing and moving.

Every Kambala girl learns an orchestral instrument under group classroom tuition in the Junior School Instrumental Music Program, also offered once per week. In Year 3 our specialist music staff reinforce skills from the K-2 music program. Students are introduced briefly to all the major string and wind instruments, so that they may make an informed choice as to which ones they wish to learn. Then each student spends one term on a string instrument and one term on a wind instrument. By the end of Year 3, each student has committed to a particular instrument and continues to receive group tuition on this throughout Junior School.

Previously experienced and talented players will be extended through advanced parts in class arrangements and ensemble experience in our various instrumental groups. Students with an obvious aptitude are encouraged to begin private tuition. Instrumental Music Scholarships are offered to particularly promising young players, and the Old Girls’ Woodwind Award provides a year’s free tuition and instrumental hire.

By the end of Year 6, Kambala students are musically literate, experienced and confident performers who value the role of music in their lives, and who are well prepared for the challenges and opportunities in Senior School Music.