Main school curriculum information booklet 2016-2017

Curriculum Information 2016 - 2017

A Tradition of Excellence

Our Curriculum Curriculum Vision At Maidstone Grammar School for Girls, our curriculum is designed to deliver our core values and purpose. It enables students to achieve academic excellence and to develop wider social awareness in a caring and supportive environment. Through the curriculum we want to nurture and foster in our students a scholarly approach to their academic studies, to support them in becoming articulate and effective thinkers, and for them to have a life-long love of learning.

The world will undoubtedly be full of change in the years ahead and have its own unique challenges and opportunities. We wish to prepare our students for this future so that they will be able to make valuable contributions to society and use their talents and abilities for the benefit of others as well as themselves.

Curriculum Vision into Practice We have a broad and balanced curriculum - students study a wide range of subjects from across the academic spectrum. Our curriculum programmes link well with each other, helping to ensure continuity and progression. They are underpinned by a set of common principles which:    

ensure that all students have access to a curriculum which is appropriate, challenging and related to their needs encourage students to gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of key ideas and concepts through an enquiry based approach to learning give sufficient time to each Key Stage so that opportunities are made available for significant enrichment and extension ensure that all students are intellectually challenged and develop as independent learners and thinkers.

Learning and teaching are the cornerstones of the curriculum and as a school it is our central focus for these to be of the highest order.

Learning and Thinking We recognise that learning takes many forms and includes the acquisition of knowledge, the nurturing of understanding and the development of a range of skills. Cognitive processes underpin all aspects of learning and for learning to be truly effective, embedded and with the potential to be applied in different contexts, an understanding of the importance of these processes is essential. This is why we are an accredited Advanced Thinking School. We want our students to be able to use their intellectual abilities to the full; to be articulate, fluent and creative thinkers who can perceive the core issues of an argument, understand the subtleties and nuance of language, be able to ask astute questions and critically evaluate material. And of course, we want our students to enjoy their learning, make excellent progress and achieve their full potential.

Literacy and Numeracy across the Curriculum We recognise the importance of literacy and numeracy. These skills are delivered and taught across the whole curriculum and not just within the subject areas of English and Mathematics respectively. We want all of our students to be highly literate and numerate individuals so that they can fully engage with their learning at School and be well prepared for the world of higher education and employment.

Teaching All of our students are intellectually able. We have high expectations of them, and encourage everyone to realise their full potential by ‘teaching to the top’. We ensure that our students are sufficiently stretched and challenged in their learning and are aspirational in choosing their career pathways. As an accredited Advanced Thinking School students will be supported to develop their higher order thinking skills as much as possible and to have highly effective dispositions and strategies for their learning.

Our curriculum provision includes:      

all students study two languages from Year 7 designated enrichment lessons in Year 7 and 8 where a carousel of ‘Big Questions’ such as ‘Where does my language come from?’ and ‘What makes a great thinker?’ are explored by all students over the course of the academic year the option to follow a Key Stage 4 Science course leading to qualifications in GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics is available the opportunity for some students to study GCSE Astronomy setting in Mathematics enabling students in the Key Stage 4 top sets in Mathematics to also study some additional topics as well as GCSE Mathematics providing access to Sixth Form students to complete a range of enrichment programmes including the Extended Project Qualification, the Level 3 Institute of Finance qualification in Personal Finance, and Oxford University modules.

Special Educational Needs Provision Students with special educational needs are well supported. We ensure that they can access and fully engage with our curriculum. Support may range from the provision of additional resources, differentiated learning and teaching strategies in the classroom. A modified timetable, staff or older student mentoring and the inclusion of recommendations and guidance from external organisations may also be provided where appropriate. Do contact us if you would like further information.

Pupil Premium and Financial Support It is important to us that all students have access to the curriculum programmes on offer. We are keen to ensure that subject option choices by pupil premium students are not restricted because of financial concerns such as in the purchasing of any resources or materials. If you would like more information about how we can support you if you are experiencing financial difficulties do get in touch with us.

Our Broader Curriculum Sex and Relationship Education, Citizenship and Personal, Social, Health & Economic Education School ‘Focus Days’, when the school timetable is suspended for a day, are held regularly during the year and enable a range of elements of these programmes to be covered.

Timetabled lessons also cover significant parts of these programmes of study. Timetabled Religious Studies lessons, assemblies and other school activities play a key role in the school’s Religious Education programme.

Careers We want our students to make informed choices about their career pathways into higher education, training, employment and apprenticeship programmes, have high aspirations and a good understanding of the world of work. The school is a holder of the nationally recognised Investors in Careers Award which acknowledges the high standard of our Careers provision.

We have a full-time Careers and Higher Education Co-ordinator, a well-resourced Careers Library and a comprehensive virtual classroom about Careers that all students can access.

We are committed to providing a series of carefully planned programmes of Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance for all students, in partnership with external agencies and organisations as appropriate. These programmes include as appropriate; Careers Education sessions, Careers Guidance activities, information and research activities, work related learning (including a one week work experience placement in Year 11 and a three day work shadowing placement in Year 12) and Careers based lessons and activities during some of the school’s Focus Days.

Other events such as Year 12 students attending a Higher Education Convention, a UCAS, and Post 16 Options Evening for parents and Year 12 students, ‘ASPIRE’ employer events, Virtual University event, alumni visits and subject specific activities occur throughout the school year.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Our Examination Results 2015 GCSE Grade A*-A A*-B A*-C 5 A*-C including English and Mathematics 8 A*-C including English and Mathematics Expected or more than expected progress in English Expected or more than expected progress in Mathematics A* - A in English Language A* - B in English Language A*-C in English Language A* - A in Mathematics A* - B in Mathematics A*-C in Mathematics A* - A in Science A* - B in Science A*-C in Science Students gaining the English Baccalaureate

% 54 84 97 97 97 95 93 53 93 98 64 89 99 42 72 95 92

A2 Grade

%

A*- A

28

A*- B

62

A*- C

86

3 or more A*- A

10

3 or more A*- B

37

3 or more A*- C

66

Student Destinations Post Sixth Form 2015 We are delighted to provide a summary of the destinations of our former Year 13 students which reflects the rich diversity of choices and career pathways they have taken or are considering. For those starting university our students are based throughout the country from Exeter to Glasgow and Portsmouth to York studying a very wide range of degree courses including Fine Art, French and Spanish, Theology, Law, English, Media and Communications, Nursing, Mathematics, Medicine and many more! In employment, students are working in areas such as accountancy, hospitality, sales and catering. Other career pathways include taking a gap year travelling. As a school we wish every student to maximise their full potential and to choose the post sixth form route that is the right one for them.

Destination

% of Year Group

University*

79.6%

Employment

4.6%

Foundation Course

2.6%

Drama

0.5%

Apprenticeship

0.5%

Gap Year

5.1%

Other Destinations

7.1%

* 17.9% of the Year Group are at Russell Group Universities with 2% studying Medicine.

A Tradition of Excellence Buckland Road, Maidstone, Kent ME16 0SF

T: 01622 752103

F: 01622 681947

E: central @mggs.org

www.mggs.org