Academic – Curriculum

The curriculum is designed with an emphasis on flexibility and individual choice. All girls take English and Mathematics at GCSE Level and are given a free choice for their remaining 7 subjects from a selection of 19, the only conditions being that they should include at least one science subject and a modern foreign language. They are also encouraged to include at least one humanity, (History, Geography, Religious Studies or Classical Civilisation) to ensure a breadth of knowledge and skills.

In the Sixth Form, girls are offered 23 subjects from which they choose 4. One of these will be normally followed to AS level only while the remainder are taken through as full A levels. Advice is given about the implications for their choice of university, degree course and career to ensure sensible combinations. Some girls choose to follow courses in subjects which are not offered at GCSE, e.g. Politics, Economics, History of Art. Over half the Sixth Form study at least one Science subject at A Level. To broaden their course further girls may take an additional subject to AS level in the Upper Sixth and some will continue their 4 AS choices to full A levels.

In addition, all Sixth Form girls take AS and A level General Studies which, in its recognition of the connection between the various A Level disciplines, acts as a link between subjects. Contemporary, social, philosophical and political issues are explored through lectures, discussions, debates, visits and essays in a rolling programme which focuses in turn on music, science, technology, history of art, art and philosophy.