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Curriculum
YEARS 7 - 9 THE CORE CURRICULUM
Art
Biology
Careers
Chemistry
Design Technology (DT)
Drama
English
French
Geography
German
History
Home Economics (HE)
Information & Communication Technology (ICT)
Latin
Mathematics
Music
Personal, Social & Health Education (PSHE)
Physical Education (PE)
Physics
Religious Studies (RS)
Spanish
Textiles
GCSE - CORE SUBJECTS
The Sciences
English / English Literature
Mathematics
GCSE - THE BROADER CURRICULUM
PERSONAL, SOCIAL and HEALTH EDUCATION

The PSHE course in the Fifth Form is aimed at helping the girls to make informed decisions for it helps their development socially and personally.

Ground rules continue to play a significant part, so that individuals can feel ‘safe’ to share their feelings about some of these sensitive issues, in confidence, without fear of ridicule. The issues discussed relate to social issues, ‘Well-Woman’ and health education, citizenship, world awareness and self-awareness.

CAREERS EDUCATION AND GUIDANCE

Although Lower 5 pupils do not have timetabled careers lessons, they are welcome to use Careers Room resources and to make enquiries. The Head of Careers is available for individual appointments if required.

At the end of the Spring Term Lower 5 year, girls have the opportunity to take the Morrisby Profile aptitude tests and interest guide.

Upper Fifth pupils can use their Morrisby reports as a starting point to explore career ideas or alternatively can work through a computer-aided interest guide, such as Pathfinder H.E.

Pupils have a set of four careers education lessons designed to prepare them to make successful applications for work-experience placements. All girls complete a C.V. and are advised about covering letters and letters of application.

During the Autumn Term all girls have individual interviews with a member of staff, chosen carefully from a team of eight advisors. Wherever possible, the staff member will have subject specific knowledge related to the proposed AS choices.

Lower and Upper Fifth Formers can benefit at this stage of their career planning by attending the biennial Careers Convention to speak to practitioners of a wide variety of professions.

The Careers Room is always open to pupils at lunch-time and Miss Morgan is also available to see girls at other times by appointment.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

All members of the Fifth Form have 3 lessons of P.E. a week. The main focus of the lesson is on cardiovascular fitness and exercise and introduces pupils to a variety of training methods. The second part of the lesson focuses on non-cardiovascular strength and conditioning exercise such as aqua aerobics, core body workout, yoga and pilates. The girls thoroughly enjoy improving their fitness and enjoy their weekly workout.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

The Lower 5 will work towards a public examination in ICT. This will be a GCSE qualification short course. The emphasis will be on practical use of mainstream applications through the completion of coursework.

The Upper 5 will continue to study ICT to enhance existing skills and prepare for Key Skills in the Sixth Form.

RELIGIOUS STUDIES

In Lower 5 all students who have not opted for the full course GCSE in Religious Studies will follow the OCR GCSE short course in Religious Studies. Those students who choose to take the full course will not be entered for the short course examination and will not be required to attend the lessons. They will instead have supervised private study periods.

The course will be taught in one year and will be assessed by one two hour examination in the summer session. There is no coursework.

Students will be examined on four topics, namely:
• Religion and Medical Ethics
• Religion, Poverty and Wealth
• Religion and Science
• Good and Evil

These topics will be studied from the perspective of Christianity.

There will be no Religious Studies lessons in Upper Five other than for those girls opting for the full course GCSE.

GCSE OPTIONS
Art and Design

Design and Technology

Drama

English / English Literature

Food and Nutrition

Geography

Greek

History

Latin

Mathematics

Modern Languages

Music

Physical Education

Religious Studies

The Sciences

Textiles
Composition of L5 and U5 Curriculum
L5_and_U5_Curriculum.doc, 38
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AS / A LEVEL OPTIONS
Art and Design

Business Studies

Classical Civilisation

Design Technology

Economics

English

Food and Nutrition

General Studies

Geography

Greek

History

History of Art

Key Skills: Communication and ICT

Latin

Mathematics and Further Mathematics

Modern Languages: French, German, Spanish and GCSE Italian

Music

Photography

Physical Education

Politics

Psychology

Religious Studies

The Sciences

Textiles

Theatre Studies
AS / A LEVEL NON-EXAMINED SUBJECTS
Careers
PE
PSHE
RS