Since 2016, Oakleigh Grammar has proudly offered Cognitive Enhancement Education through the highly regarded Arrowsmith Program, dedicated to helping children strengthen their learning skills and overcome cognitive challenges. This program is designed not only to address specific learning difficulties but to empower students by enhancing their ability to think, learn, and grow.
What truly sets our approach apart is the close, supportive relationships that naturally form between students and teachers. In our classrooms, we cultivate a nurturing, family-like environment where every child is seen, valued, and understood. This sense of belonging and connection allows students to feel safe and confident, enabling them to fully immerse themselves in their learning journey.
This caring atmosphere, coupled with our targeted approach, helps students unlock their full potential by addressing a variety of learning differences, including:
All are Arrowsmith trained and specialists in the field of learning difficulties. Most students complete four cognitive exercises per day and two mainstream classes of their choice.
Rather than just providing accommodations for challenging tasks, the Arrowsmith Program works to enhance the brain’s ability to tackle them head-on. Students in the Arrowsmith Program develop important cognitive skills needed for reading, writing, math, emotional intelligence, reasoning, critical thinking, and other skills that are vital for success in school, work, and everyday life.
Our approach isn’t about lowering expectations; it’s about helping our students reach them.
At the heart of Arrowsmith is the focus on recognising and strengthening these essential cognitive functions, making success within reach. Our students are committed to improving their abilities by boosting the power of their most valuable tool: their own brains!
Parent sessions are conducted early each year to allow parents to experience their child’s Arrowsmith cognitive exercises. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to teach their parents, and demonstrate what they do each day at school.
Parent information evenings are held at the beginning of each year. This is an opportunity to learn about the program, meet other families, and ask questions.
Parent/teacher interviews are held twice yearly to discuss your child’s progress. Teachers also communicate with parents regularly throughout the year.
Upon completion, all students receive individualised pathway planning for transition to mainstream classes, further education, or work with the assistance of the Head of Arrowsmith, Head of School, and Careers Advisor.
To find out if our Cognitive Enhancement Education, powered by the Arrowsmith Program can assist your child, don’t hesitate to contact us via this form to discuss your child’s learning needs and suitability. Alternatively, you can reach us on (03) 8554 0014.
“I wanted to share with you that Flynn got offered a spot next year at a Technical College for Years 10 to 12. I am over the moon with excitement for him… The teacher interviewing said he stood out as a more unique application having moved from his local school to attend the Arrowsmith program to work on the cognitive areas, then returning to his local school… This is such a relief I finally feel the work that has been done has paid off to point Flynn on his journey to success. A big thank you again. Without the support, personal development and learnings he got from Arrowsmith at Oakleigh Grammar there is no way we would have this opportunity.“
LUCY (PARENT OF ARROWSMITH STUDENT)
“Arrowsmith has been a game changer for our son, who in Year 8 was struggling to stay in school let alone thrive. He started halfway through Year 8 and is finishing up at the end of Year 9. The transformation in terms of self-esteem, resilience and personal development have been amazing. The excitement he has felt with every accomplishment and mastery has been wonderful to watch. We are very confident come next year in Year 10 he will begin his new journey with confidence. This time 2 years ago we weren’t even sure we’d be able to keep him in school till Year 10 and here we are, it’s been amazing. We can’t recommend the Arrowsmith Program more highly.”
NINA & ANDREW (PARENTS OF ARROWSMITH STUDENT)
“It was so lovely to speak with you and to discuss Zoe’s progress both within the Arrowsmith program but also her general growth on a day-to-day basis. David and I have witnessed what can only be described as a monumental shift in her confidence, and also with her reading and attitude in general. Last week, for the very first time, Zoe indicated that she was ready to embark upon reading a short novel, one of the Billie B Brown series, and for the very first time has finished this book and read it clearly with about 85-90% accuracy. To say that we could hardly believe what we were hearing was an understatement – we are both just so proud of her achievements to date but equally just so grateful for the help, support and guidance that this program is providing her to achieve her goals. She is both happy and confident and is truly enjoying achieving goals within this program which is spurring her on to continue striving for success. We want to sincerely thank you and the team for all that you are doing to assist her but equally we want to thank you for making her feel so secure in her learning environment.”
EMMA & DAVID (PARENTS OF ARROWSMITH STUDENT)
Our Cognitive Enhancement Education, powered by the Arrowsmith Program, harnesses the principles of neuroplasticity through the application of targeted cognitive exercises to overcome specific learning difficulties. The premise of the Arrowsmith program is that the weaker cognitive functions which contribute to learning difficulties can be strengthened through targeted cognitive exercises, resulting in increased mental capacities and strengthened learning abilities.
Students from Years 6 to 12 with:
Note: These are guidelines only. Applicants will require further assessment to ensure their suitability for the program.
Cognitive Enhancement Education is delivered on-campus at Oakleigh Grammar, in Melbourne’s South-East. Our school is a co-educational mainstream independent school catering for students from our Early Learning Centre through to Year 12.
Our Cognitive Enhancement Education is capacity-based, in that its goal is to change the cognitive capacity of the student to learn (rather than compensatory, which tries to work around the problem). Strengthening weaker capacities increases the overall functioning of these specific cognitive areas, allowing them to be used more effectively for learning.
$31,040 (including Arrowsmith Program fee, and School fees).
Mrs Sarah Boardman
Head of Early Learning
As an educational leader, I feel privileged to be able to work alongside children as they build their knowledge and understanding of the world around them at school. Celebrating the diverse range of “Wow” moments that occur with our students each day, brings great joy to me both personally and professionally. I strongly believe in the importance of building solid foundations for children’s ongoing learning, focussing on developing thinking and inquiry skills in partnership with literacy and numeracy skills, in a meaningful, rigorous and authentic way for all children. Furthermore, I value the opportunity to build beneficial, ongoing partnerships with families, working together with them to encourage all children to consistently challenge themselves, as they holistically develop a solid understanding of how they learn best.
I studied a Bachelor of Education at the University of Tasmania, before working in a range of different school settings, both nationally and overseas. This hands-on experience with a range of educational approaches, supported by my ongoing work at the University of Tasmania as a Unit Coordinator as part of the Bachelor of Education degree, has given me the opportunity to continually reflect upon evolving current best practice in education, based upon relevant, research. I have been part of Oakleigh Grammar since 2014, working as the Early Learning Centre Coordinator before becoming the Acting Head of Junior School in 2018. Within these educational leadership roles, I have developed in many ways whilst working within Oakleigh Grammar’s dynamic and collaborative community of learners.
Mr Peter Cummins
Deputy Principal – Teaching & Learning
Peter Cummins took up his position as Deputy Principal in 2012. Prior to this he was Deputy Principal (Curriculum) at Leibler Yavneh College (2008-12) and Head of Curriculum at Mentone Grammar (2004-08). He began his career at Scotch College Adelaide and later returned as a boarding housemaster after teaching in the UK at Bromsgrove School and Wellington College.
Peter is passionate about developing the learner in every child and giving them a sense of responsibility to play an active part in making the world a better place for all human beings. He believes that the focus must be on our students developing the agility and imagination needed for living productively in a complex world.
Peter is married to Sharon (Kindergarten Director) and has three adult sons: Andrew who is a senior project manager in construction; Tom who works at Michigan State University in communications; and Alex an industrial designer.
Mr Luke Preston
Business Manager
Luke Preston is an experienced business and finance manager with a background in Not for Profit, specifically Education and Sport. Luke has most recently been the Finance manager at Melbourne Grammar School (2016-2019) and prior to that, the Business Operations manager at Tennis Victoria (2012-2016).
Before moving into the education sector in 2016, Luke worked in sport for 7 years – at Tennis Victoria and Cricket Australia – in financial and operational roles.
He worked in the corporate sector for 15 years prior to that, at major organisations across multiple sectors in both Australia and the UK, covering banking, consulting, retail and logistics.
Luke is passionate about the Education sector and the important community role played by schools and not for profit organisations.
Luke is a CPA and a UK ACMA and also holds a BSc (Social Science) from the University of Southampton.
Outside of work, Luke enjoys spending time with family and friends, and is alway kept busy with his two school age children: Alex and Jessica, and his lovely wife Kellie.
