The Pittwater House Preparatory School for boys was founded late in 1961 by Rex Morgan, AM MBE. It opened in the Thomas Vickers Church Hall in Curl Curl in February 1962 with just six little boys. Pupil numbers quickly grew leading to the purchase of land in Collaroy in 1964 that today houses the extended Pittwater House Schools campus and associated facilities.
To meet popular demand the Junior Girls College was founded in 1977. Small class sizes and commitment to the individual by the dedicated teaching staff are the key factors by which the two Junior Schools are judged to be one of the best environments for Kindergarten to Year 6 education in the State.
The boys and girls are taught in single-sex classes throughout the Junior School but join when streaming occurs for gifted and talented activities or for stage groupwork in literacy and numeracy. The Junior School encompasses the Early Childhood Centre through to Form 4 headed by Mrs Ruth Achurch.
The aim at Pittwater House Schools is to provide education for well-rounded young people leading to their future success in their chosen fields. This is achieved by providing excellent facilities such as the Early Childhood Centre, staff who are passionate about the children in their care and pupil leaders who set an excellent example to their peers.
Parent support is very valuable and parents are encouraged to visit classes, attend regular activities such as Chapel and School Assembly and participate in special events that are scheduled throughout the School year. The most rewarding thing for staff and pupils is to hear from parents who are happy with the progress of their young son or daughter. Pupil progress is carefully explained in the School Reports which go home at mid-year and end-of-year for all boys and girls from ECC to Form 6. Parents are interviewed at least twice a year by their child's teacher. Communication is also achieved through the School Diary & Planner and notes and letters to and from home, all of which add up to a knowledge system that both pupils and the School use for the benefit of the pupil's progress. There is an expectation that the new layer of communication through the internet will play a greater role in school/parent dialogue in the future but this can never replace the all important face-to-face meetings, interviews and attendance at events.
The Junior School is fortunate to have a strong philosophy of small class sizes that assists in the individualisation of the programmes so that class teachers have the opportunity to design learning to suit the range of needs in each classroom. Small class sizes have been recognised as important and the School is proud of the fact that Pittwater House adopted this policy across the whole School, K to 12, many years ago thanks to the philosophy of the Founder, Mr Rex Morgan.
Pittwater House has developed a reputation as a centre of educational excellence where pupils consistently achieve outstanding academic and sporting results. The pupils also have the opportunity to participate in a diverse range of extra curricular activities and cultural events in order to focus on the full development of individual talents and their own unique potential.
