Senior Curriculum

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The Senior School curriculum stimulates enthusiasm for learning, curiosity and creativity. It is balanced and broadly based, and it is designed to promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of all pupils. Schooling for Life is at the core of our curriculum: through the academic curriculum, the Life Skills carousels and the many additional opportunities for collaboration and creativity our pupils develop the cognitive, interpersonal, leadership, economic and digital skills that will enable them to thrive in the future.

The curriculum is complemented by opportunities for extension activities, including participation in the UK Mathematics Challenge, creative writing workshops, participation in national competitions, play readings and preparation for extension papers in the Sixth Form. Pupils are encouraged to extend themselves both within lessons and through co-curricular opportunities. The Life Skills carousels and cross-curricular initiatives provide opportunities for pupils to make links between subjects, conduct independent research and engage with global issues. There is an emphasis on independent research, critical thinking, creativity, innovation and oracy throughout the curriculum.

Pupils are set from Year 8 in Mathematics and from Year 10 in the Sciences. There is usually setting in languages from Year 7, where pupils take two languages of the four languages on offer (French, Italian, German and Spanish). Pupils’ progress is monitored closely and there is always movement between groups.

Key Stage 3 (Years 7 - 9)

For their first three years in the school, pupils receive lessons in Art and Design, Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Drama, English, Geography, History, Latin, Mathematics, Music, Physics, Physical Education and Religious Studies. Pupils study two languages from the first year, choosing from French, German, Italian and Spanish. Pupils are introduced to the four languages during the first half term of their first year (Thirds) and select two of these languages to continue with during their first three years in the school. We also offer clubs for native speakers of German, Italian and Spanish. Throughout the school, pupils follow courses in Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE).

In the third year (Upper Fourth) girls will begin their IGCSE courses in three separate Sciences to enable them to continue with Triple Science over the following two years. They can also choose to continue with Latin or study Latin with Greek or Latin with Classical Civilisation.

Developing life skills, including creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and communication, along with careers education and guidance are an important part of the curriculum. In the first year, students are taught about careers options, living a healthy balanced lifestyle and digital safety. They also have lesson on study skills and oracy. In the second year (Year 8) girls receive lessons in critical thinking, careers, research skills, economic wellbeing, and citizenship as part of a weekly carousel. In the third year, the girls will have the opportunity to apply their critical thinking skills across the curriculum through the Cross Curricular Projects where they will write a response to an enquiry question which draws together their learning across a range of subjects. Careers guidance forms part of the PSHE carousel in Year 9 alongside current affairs, first aid, study skills and financial awareness.

Key Stage 4 (Years 10 - 11)

At GCSE level (Years 10-11), pupils follow a core curriculum in English Literature, English Language, Mathematics, a Modern Foreign Language and the three Sciences as well as a choice of three or four other subjects, one of which, at least, is a humanity chosen from Classical Civilisation, Geography, History and Religious Studies. Art, Computer Science, Drama, Latin, Music and Physical Education are also offered. Students can study two Modern Foreign Languages. There is the opportunity for students to extend their curriculum by studying an eleventh GCSE or equivalent qualification in Greek and Further Mathematics.

In History, Italian and the three Sciences, pupils study for the IGCSE examinations. Pupils start to prepare for the GCSE Mathematics course and the three IGCSE Sciences in their third year (Year 9).

Pupils normally take 9 GCSEs and participate in Physical Education and PSHE lessons in both Year 10 and 11. Careers education and guidance is delivered through bespoke workshops in Year 10 and through the PSHE carousel in Year 11. The Global Perspectives carousel in Year 10 develops pupils’ soft skills (including research and presentation skills) through the exploration of a range of global issues. The Perspectives carousel in Year 11 focuses on life skills, including creativity, current affairs, oracy, self-defence and digital developments such as Artificial Intelligence.