Years 7, 8 and 9

These are formative years as girls make the transition from junior school education to the rigours of preparing for their public exams in years 10 and 11.  Girls are taught a broad, academic curriculum that develops not only a solid foundation of knowledge but also their intellectual faculties of creative, conceptual and logical thinking.  Our girls thrive in an environment where the ethos of achievement is backed by knowing there is always someone to turn to for help.

Academic excellence in all subjects

The demands of 14 subjects can be daunting so there is plenty of interaction between subjects, especially in the first two years; it helps girls feel a sense of connectedness to their learning.  Project work is extensive as it encourages girls to work independently and consolidate their knowledge of a subject, and girls enjoy this opportunity to explore topics and ideas indepth and creatively.

Girls are managed by ability level in all subjects either by being put into sets or by having different work set within a lesson by the subject teacher.  Movement between sets is fluid and girls are encouraged to see the set they are in as the best one for their learning.

Towards the end of year 9 girls will make choices about which subjects to study for their GCSEs.  They will select between 9 and 11 subjects and, occasionally, 12 subjects.

Student development

Completing classwork and homework across the sciences, humanities, languages and classics, maths and English as well as drama, art, PE and music requires good time management and discipline.  That’s why all our year 7 students take a study skills course early in the year to help them acquire the skills of organised learning and disciplined self-study; skills that are reinforced by subject and form teachers throughout these years.  It means that girls start their GCSE years with good study habits and knowing how they learn best.

There are PSHE workshops for a day every term that address the issues teenagers face as well as provide them with a wider world view.  It’s a different approach to an area that is more often ‘taught’ in form time.  Our approach, gives our students the opportunity to explore subjects like internet safety and friendship issues indepth, allowing them to role play and to ask questions. 

Positive social and learning environment

Each year group has a Head of Year and there is a form tutor for every class who meets the girls every day and is in regular touch with subject teachers who will flag up any concerns directly to the form tutor.  This way form tutors make sure that girls are handling their studies well, learning the organisational skills essential to becoming a good learner and building the confidence to take part in the wider life of the school.  

Regular assessment and reporting keep parents in touch with their daughter’s progress. Form tutors are the main point of contact for parents and will always contact parents directly if there are any causes for concern.

Of course, this is also a time when friendship groups are fluid, forming and reforming regularly.  Form tutors are aware of the dynamics of the year groups and focus on helping girls deal with these changes as well as keeping a sense of unity across the forms and the year group.

Contemporary opportunities and experiences

Form tutors also make sure girls are informed about what is going on in the school and encourage them to find clubs, activities or projects to join.  There is a Clubs Fair at the beginning of the autumn term so that girls can sign up to join both after-school and lunchtime clubs.  There is also a suggestion box at the Fair so that girls can propose other clubs they would like to see that are not on the calendar.  That’s how our extra-curricular programme stays fresh and clubs stay well-attended.