Quick summary of key school information
School details
| Number of students |
900 |
| Most common nationality |
Canadian |
| Native English speaking teachers |
Yes |
| Language support for students not fluent in English |
English as a Second Language |
| Additional language classes offered by the school |
French, Latin, Mandarin, Spanish |
| Max. number of students per class |
24 |
| Average number of students per class |
17 |
| Is the school ready to use virtual classrooms when needed? (e.g. teaching lessons online if the school is closed, e.g. during COVID-19 closures) |
While we are not offering virtual classes at the moment, we are well equipped to so if required in any future situation. |
| Do students practice religion at the school? What religion? |
We are non-denominational. |
| External examinations or assessments available |
IB Diploma |
| Do teachers assign homework to their students? |
Yes. It may vary by teacher and subject, but in general, homework is to be expected. |
| Approximate hours of homework given |
Yes, homework begins in Grade 7. Each student is different with respect to how much time they spend on homework, but the expectation is approximately 20 minutes per subject in grades 7 and 8, and then as the grades increase, the amount of homework will as well. For the upper years, students might expect to spend 2 hours a night on homework, or independent work and projects. |
| Percentage of students who pursue further education post-graduation |
100 |
| Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs |
Learning Strategies team |
| Entry evaluation for students |
Interview and entrance exams. |
| Waiting list |
Yes for most grades. |
| Students can join after academic year begins |
Not typically. |
| Supervised care before/after school |
Yes |
| School bus service available |
No |
| School provided lunches |
Yes |
| Food alternatives for special dietary needs (ie. vegan, kosher, halal etc) |
Yes |
| Uniform required |
Yes |
| Extracurricular activities or clubs offered |
Some of the clubs the school offers are: ballet, cartooning, choir, swimming, irish dancing, jazz dance, portrait painting club, puppetry, tennis, frisbee, yoga, music, drama, Spanish club, culinary society, games club. |
| Sports activities included |
Basketball, cross country, field hockey, swimming, badminton, volleyball, rowing, softball, tennis, track and field |
| Sports teams or sport competitions available for students |
Yes, we compete through CISAA, Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario Athletic Association and OFSSA, Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations. |
| Facilities at the school |
2 Boarding Houses for students Grade 7-12, as well as state of the art classrooms, science labs, music rooms and resource library. |
| Sports facilities at the school |
2 saltwater pools, new double gymnasium in the Athletics and Wellness Centre, indoor rock-climbing wall, fitness centre with treadmills, weights and yoga equipment. 4 outdoor tennis courts, playing fields. |
| Grades/ages available for boarding |
Grade 7-12.
|
| Boarding facilities at the school |
Boarding Houses have comfortable common rooms with TV, video games, foosball, wifi, etc. as well as snack kitchens and laundry facilities. Bedrooms are typically shared by 2-3 students, some single rooms are available for Grade 12 students.
|
| Qualities and characteristics best defining the school |
Branksome Hall is an independent school for girls from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12, with a Boarding Program for students in Grades 7 through 12. It is a fully authorized IB World School. |
| Teaching approach of the school |
As an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, Branksome Hall offers a strong liberal arts curriculum that stirs the imagination, develops students' critical thinking and inquiry skills, and fosters a balance between academics and other activities. Branksome Hall has been expert and innovators in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs long before the STEM acronym became popular. Students enjoy a wide range of athletic, artistic, co-curricular and leadership opportunities that make school life vibrant. They also develop personally as they make a difference in the lives of others through the school's local and international community service efforts. |