Educating Girls for Success in a Changing World Lisa Laws Headteacher of Blackheath High School on 'thinking outside the box'
W
e are living in times of exponential growth and have the challenge of trying to educate young people for jobs that don’t yet exist and to solve problems not yet identified, with technology not yet invented. At Blackheath High School, we have been celebrating excellent A level results again this year – 91% of which were graded A*- C but, we realise that A* grades, on their own, are not sufficient to prepare students for working in a globalised work place with economic turbulence and rapid rate of change. Here, we do our best to ensure that our girls have all the opportunities and encouragement needed to develop all of the qualities, skills and competencies that they will need to be successful and happy in the future. Our girls enjoy school and make remarkably good progress in both their academic studies and personal development. We believe that our holistic approach to education, which delivers a broad, all-round education and is described by the Independent Schools’ Inspectorate as 'stimulating and and extraordinarily supportive, conducive to the highest standards of teaching and learning,' leaves students with not only excellent GCSE and A level grades but also with skills and personal qualities, such as confidence, enterprise, adaptability, resilience and courage, which will help them to make a success of their adult lives. It is essential to instil qualities of resilience and enterprise in our young people. Even our youngest pupils have a mantra ‘be brave and strong, when little things go wrong’ and,
throughout their school life, our girls are taught to think outside of the box, try new things and face challenges that push them out of their comfort zone. Girls are encouraged to participate in a wide programme of extra-curricular activities including: Music, Sport, Drama, Dance, Duke of Edinburgh Award, Enterprise activities and Community Service. We have inspirational teachers who deliver interesting and exciting lessons, with appropriately challenging tasks, pace, active pupil involvement and use of the latest technology. The innovative curriculum is broad and is enhanced by a programme of enrichment activities. All girls study at least one modern language, even in the Nursery where they start French. Mandarin is introduced from Y7 and all senior girls study two modern languages, plus Latin. They also study Philosophy and learn to cook. Pupils are prepared for the three separate sciences at GCSE and most sixth formers include either maths, or at least one science subject, in the four subjects that they study at Advanced level. Each pupil is inspired to ‘aim high’ in all that they do, academically and otherwise. We look forward to meeting you and your daughter at one of our Autumn Open Mornings – come and see for yourself, what makes Blackheath High School so remarkable. Lisa Laws, Headteacher Blackheath High School www.blackheathhighschool.gdst.net 020 8853 2929 Open Morning Events throughout October and November, check website for dates and times
www.meridian-magazine.co.uk l 27
<p24-29_Education_October 2013.indd 27
02/10/2013 14:55