Senior School
Confidence lies at the heart of successful learning. Small classes, an emphasis on individual needs, and teachers with outstanding subject knowledge who will go that extra mile to ensure your child receives the time and attention they need to develop the confidence and desire to learn for life.
Your child will be surrounded by adults who love to learn, love to share their learning, and strive for the very best in all they do. Teachers who will build a rapport with your child based on mutual respect, inclusivity, a genuine interest in them, and shared goals. The enthusiasm and example of our teachers, in class and beyond, is inspiring and underpins our modern and forward-looking approach.
Together, qualifications and qualities are what an education for today and tomorrow must deliver.
In our Lower and Upper Fifth, your child will study a maximum of 10 GCSEs. Core subjects include English Language, English Literature, mathematics, and double or triple science. An additional four or five optional subjects can also be selected.
The fine art route enables your child to explore a range of two or three-dimensional approaches to their studies, either as free-standing or related experiences.
Work produced for this specification will demonstrate the use of formal elements and creative skills, and give visual form to individual thoughts, feelings, observations, and ideas.
Computer science is an incredibly diverse subject that opens up a vast world of possibilities, including the study of robotics, cryptology, data analysis, data modelling, and computer games design.
Your child will develop an understanding of the main principles of problem-solving using computers, alongside a range of technical skills.
Design and technology offers a unique opportunity for your child to identify and solve real problems by designing and making products or systems.
By studying GCSE design and technology, your child will be prepared to participate confidently and successfully in an increasingly technological world.
GCSE drama helps your child develop as a confident, creative, and assured individual within solo, team, and leadership scenarios. They will gain experience of the history of classic plays, practitioners, and culture as they explore social context.
Your child will be given creative freedom in groups to devise their own drama performances, as well as performing classical theatre scripts.
In English your child will be entered for both English Language and English Literature. Though pupils work towards two separate and equally weighted IGCSE qualifications, each with their own examinations and coursework requirements, these subjects are taught side by side within the same groups and lessons.
These IGCSE qualifications are increasingly popular and very well-respected qualifications that are looked upon favourably by both employers and university admissions tutors, both of whom see these as academically rigorous and stimulating. One of the major advantages of IGCSE over the new GCSE courses is that it allows your child to complete traditional coursework rather than being assessed solely by examination.
This course offers your child a fantastic opportunity to explore how people think, what motivates them, and understand how they respond to questions relating to people, logic, history, and culture. It is a subject that will encourage them to challenge preconceptions, and is ideal for those seeking stimulating and lively discussion on a wide range of issues.
Throughout the course, your child will consider how religion and more secular societies have helped people in their quest to solve questions. They will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to think rigorously on ethical, philosophical, and theological issues in today’s society.
French GCSE is a dynamic, highly motivating course which strives to enthuse your child and enable them to communicate effectively in French.
The course is divided into three broad themes, with each divided into sub themes including youth culture, lifestyle, customs and traditions, home and locality, France and French-speaking countries, global sustainability, education, world of work, and jobs and future plans.
The course will provide your child with a relevant and dynamic insight into geographical processes, how they shape our world, and the sheer contemporary nature of the issues they will tackle.
German is Europe’s second most widely spoken language. A native speaker with German in their portfolio is an increasingly rare and marketable person.
The GCSE course is divided into three broad themes, with each divided into sub themes including youth culture, lifestyle, customs and traditions, home and locality, Germany and German-speaking countries, global sustainability, education, world of work and jobs, and future plans.
IGCSE history is wide-ranging, covering political, economic, and social themes, as well as a mixture of regions, from Europe to North America, Asia, and the Middle East. In particular, there is an emphasis on questions of peace and war: what factors determine which state of affairs exists at any time, and why have outcomes varied so dramatically over the past hundred years?
The course is skills-based and the techniques developed, such as the ability to explain causes and consequences, or to evaluate evidence, are vitally important to any objective understanding of the complex problems facing the world today.
GCSE Latin is the study of ancient Roman civilisation through its language, literature, and culture.
Your child will fine-tune and build upon their existing Latin language, acquiring high level cross-transferable skills of accuracy and problem-solving as well as a linguistic mastery invaluable both for their written English and the study of other modern European languages.
All pupils study mathematics at GCSE, with two entry tiers available: Foundation and Higher. Your child will be supported by their teacher to agree which is the best entry tier for them to pursue.
GCSE music is an ideal course for your child if they play an instrument or sing, and enjoy listening to music. The course is stretching and rewarding and will support your child to develop their musical ability through performing, composing and listening, and appraisal through four areas of study.
The GCSE caters for a wide range of interests; a variety of works are studied from Bach and Beethoven to Queen, the Star Wars soundtrack and the musical Wicked.
GCSE Spanish provides opportunities for your child to develop language skills within authentic and meaningful contexts, creating an independent learner with strong communication skills who can manipulate the language and express their own interests.
The course is divided into three key themes: identity and culture, local, national, and international areas of interest, and current and future study and employment.
Your child will be taught biology, chemistry, and physics as separate disciplines and will have the opportunity to take them as separate subjects. All three subjects follow Edexcel’s IGCSE specifications. All courses are linear in nature with a series of examinations taken at the end of the final year. All courses will encourage your child to be inspired, motivated, and challenged by following a broad, coherent, practical, satisfying, and worthwhile course of study.
They provide an insight into and experience how science works, stimulating your child’s curiosity and encouraging them to engage with science in their everyday lives. Your child will also have the option of completing the Double Award Science.
Download our guide to GCSE options
Your child will have an assigned tutor and be part of a House-based group of pupils of the same age who meet twice a week. The tutor is focused on supporting your child academically and there is a strong, continuous dialogue between teaching staff and tutors to ensure your child is supported at every stage of their education.
In addition, a highly experienced Learning Support team works across the College and works closely with teachers to ensure the support programme in place for each pupil is tailored to meet their specific needs.