Senior Curriculum
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The Senior School curriculum stimulates enthusiasm for learning by cultivating 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.
The curriculum is complemented by a plethora of academic enrichment activities, ranging from Mathematics Challenges and Science Olympiads to creative writing workshops and cross-curricular collaboration. There is a full enrichment programme for pupils in Years 10 – 13, including a Sixth Form speaker programme, whilst pupils in Years 7 – 8 enjoy TIPS Week (Thinking Innovatively and Problem Solving) and Year 9 participate in an interdisciplinary and collaborative project in conjunction with Harrow School. Our Sixth Form offers a full range of academic stretch and challenge opportunities.
Pupils are set by ability from Year 8 in Mathematics and French, with setting in the Sciences at GCSE. Pupils’ progress is monitored closely and there is always movement between groups.
Alongside their other subjects, all pupils receive a programme of Life Skills which complements the academic curriculum. Life Skills occupies a single period every week, with occasional extended lectures. Topics include health education, sex education, study skills, citizenship, environmental education and careers. Full details of this curriculum are available from the school office via email. Our Learning to Learn programme runs from Years 7 – 13 and ensures that pupils, parents and staff are all aware of and able to apply the latest research in metacognition so that pupils’ learning is as effective as possible.
In the first year of Senior School (Year 7), pupils study Theology and Philosophy, English, French, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Art, 3D study, Drama, Music, Physical Education, Computing, Touch-typing, Latin, and Life Skills. In Year 8, Debating is introduced and pupils choose a second modern foreign language, which may be either German or Spanish.
The compulsory core of GCSE subjects is English Language, English Literature, a modern foreign language (from a choice of French, German or Spanish), Mathematics and the Sciences (from a choice of three separate sciences or Double Award Science). Pupils choose further GCSE subjects from a list of options comprising Art, Classical Civilisation, Classical Greek, Computing, Drama, Geography, German, History, Latin, Music, Physical Education, Theology and Philosophy and Spanish. All pupils have lessons in Physical Education.
Inspired by the School’s vision to empower girls to become leaders, thinkers, innovators, designers, entrepreneurs, and game-changers, we have adopted the Microsoft Surface Pro and the Microsoft 365 apps for our digital learning provision and use them extensively across the curriculum to enrich pupils’ learning.Â
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At the core of our digital skills provision is our commitment to the seven Cs: courage, commitment, creativity, communication, collaboration, craftsmanship and confidence. Pupils learn to code, manipulate data and create new media, as well as how to stay safe online and become active digital citizens. These skills, essential for well-being and prosperity, are embedded across the curriculum. Â
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We have invested extensively in our digital infrastructure, improving Wi-Fi throughout the School, and developing our use of the Microsoft 365 platform including Teams and OneNote. Digital inking is an integral part of teaching and learning, allowing pupils to interact with resources in transformative ways, whilst audio recording is giving opportunities to become better communicators. Students are finding new ways to express their creativity too, making podcasts, videos and websites. We look to the future with excitement to explore the potential of emerging technologies including virtual reality, AI and adaptive learning. Â
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