Academic curriculum

Academic life

The academic curriculum

Lower School (Years 6–8)

Learning how to learn

In the Lower School, our pupils study a diverse and inspiring curriculum. It introduces them to new ideas and ways of understanding the world, stimulates debate and establishes firm foundations for future academic success with training in study skills and good work habits.

Hill form (Year 6)

Pupils in Year 6 follow a broad and balanced curriculum involving the study of: English, Mathematics, Science, Geography, History, Religious Studies, Music, Art, Computing, Design and Robotics (CDR), Drama and PE. In Modern Foreign Language lessons pupils have taster courses in French, German and Spanish. There is a double period PE lesson, a Games afternoon and a Life Education lesson each week.

Year 7

Pupils in Year 7 study: English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics (as three separate, timetabled sciences), Computing, Design and Robotics (CDR), Geography, History, Religious Studies, Art, Drama, Music, and three languages: French, Latin and German. (They will have the opportunity to substitute one of these languages for Spanish in Year 8 when they will go forward with two languages from these four.) There is a double period PE lesson, a Games afternoon and a Life Education lesson each week.

Pupils in Year 6 and 7 also have a weekly lesson called ‘Ethos’; this is an introduction to critical thinking, informed discussion and debating, aiming to develop independence and resilience in our younger pupils.

Year 8

Pupils in Year 8 study: English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, Computing, Design & Technology, Geography, History, Religious Studies, Art, Drama, Music and two languages; these are chosen from four possible languages: French, Latin and German (which were studied in Year 7) and Spanish which is added to the curriculum as a language option from Year 8. There is a double period PE lesson, a Games afternoon and a Life Education lesson each week.

All pupils in Year 8 have one lesson a week called ‘Social Entrepreneurship’. This is an approach taken by groups to develop non-profit solutions to social, cultural, or environmental issues. Throughout the year pupils learn by hearing from a selection of guest speakers and, in collaboration with a variety of departments, develop, plan, and organise a marketing campaign for a business idea. The course begins with pupils learning about personal finance, including topics such as budgeting, in order to improve their financial literacy.

Middle School (Years 9–11)

Year 9

In Year 9, pupils develop further the skills needed for their GCSE courses and broaden their subject knowledge. We understand the importance to future success of making informed choices and during this year they continue to study the full range of available subjects before selecting a combination of optional subjects to continue alongside their core subjects into Year 10. Pupils in Year 9 study: English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, the two languages selected in Year 8, Geography, History, Religious Studies, PE and Life Education. Art, Design & Technology, Drama and Music are studied on rotation. One period per week in Year 9 is dedicated to Computing in a carousel arrangement.