MGGS Prospectus Information Booklet - 2014-2015

INFORMATION

Academic Year 2014-2015

The Curriculum

Our Curriculum Vision

At Maidstone Grammar School for Girls, our curriculum vision is to enable pupils to achieve academic excellence, in a caring and supportive environment. We aim to foster a sense of scholarship, the development of thinking skills and a love of learning.

The curriculum is underpinned by a broad set of common values and purposes. These are: • encouraging in pupils a deeper knowledge and understanding of key ideas and concepts through an enquiry based approach to learning • giving sufficient time to each Key Stage so that opportunities are made available for significant enrichment and extension to ensure that all students are intellectually challenged and develop as independent learners and thinkers • providing flexibility in curriculum design and subject choice so that students are able to personalise their learning with regard to their ability and interests whilst retaining breadth in their studies • ensuring that the delivery of learning and teaching is of the highest quality

Enquiry, enrichment and extension form the basis of our ‘Curriculum Extra’ programme both in timetabled lessons and extra-curricular activities. These ideas are embedded within the schemes of work.

Gifted and Talented In addition to ‘Curriculum Extra’, the curriculum has also been organised to accommodate the needs of very able pupils by: • Provision of designated enrichment lessons in Year 7 where a carousel of ‘Big Questions’ such as ‘What is truth?’ are explored by pupils over the course of the academic year • Immersion and Express Languages. Students have the opportunity to complete a MFL GCSE in KS3 and an AS in KS4. Some other lessons, e.g. P.E. are taught through the medium of French or Spanish.

• Provision of science courses leading to two or three qualifications in GCSE Science • The opportunity for pupils to study GCSE Astronomy • Setting in Mathematics • Enabling pupils in GCSE Mathematics top sets 1 and 2 to study free-standing Mathematics AS equivalent modules as well • Providing opportunities for sixth form students to follow a five A level subject route • Providing access to Open University degree modules and extended projects

Our Curriculum Aims We want all of the pupils at MGGS to be: • Successful learners: who enjoy learning, make excellent progress and achieve their full potential • Confident individuals: who are able to lead safe, healthy and fulfilling lives and who are capable of leading others • Responsible citizens: who make a positive contribution to society and use their talents and abilities for the benefit of others as well as themselves We want our pupils to be Independent learners, thinkers and scholars who can adapt their knowledge, understanding and skills to pose key questions, research wisely, articulate solutions and provide novel answers to problems. We have been accredited by the University of Exeter as a ‘Thinking School’. Thinking skills are widely recognized by universities and employers as being pivotal in helping people to be effective scholars and key members of an organisation. In addition, we want to encourage all our pupils to develop the capacity for lifelong learning, to have a love of learning and to make sure that the learning needs of all pupils, including those who are gifted and talented, are fully met.

The curriculum and our students Our curriculum structure provides all students with: • equality of access • an appropriate and challenging curriculum related to their needs • a broad and balanced curriculum which gives pupils significant experience of activities and content that develop key skills, knowledge, understanding and attitudes • a coherent curriculum which allows students to see how different parts of the curriculum support and complement each other and how acquired skills and knowledge can be applied across a wide range of contexts and situations • continuity and progression where learning takes account of previous experience, attainment and achievement, and where students have challenging but attainable targets

Citizenship, Personal, Social & Health Education (PSHE) and Work Related Learning (WRL).

School ‘Focus Days’, when the whole school timetable is suspended for a day, are held five times during the year. Such days provide the main way in which Citizenship, PSHE and WRL are delivered although it should be stressed that timetabled lessons also cover significant parts of these programmes of study.

Citizenship and PSHE include aspects of health, careers and political education, legal and economic issues, personal relationships and responsibilities, community and social studies as well as study skills. The programme recognises the importance of students’ lives outside and beyond school and provides the opportunity for individuals to develop the skills, knowledge, attitudes and understanding which are required as they pass through their teenage years and prepare for adult life.

Careers support and guidance is an important and on-going process from Year 7 to Year 13. The school employs its own Careers Officer and works closely with the Connexions Service to provide extensive advice on choice of careers and Higher Education. As part of this package of support students are able to have one to one career guidance interviews.

They also gain a knowledge and understanding of work related areas through visits made to the school by employers and representatives of academic institutions, by attending careers based events outside of school and carrying out mini-enterprise, work experience and work shadowing placements during their time at school. There is a well stocked Careers Library and a wide range of other resources and services that can be accessed. A considerable amount of advice and support is also given to students making applications to Higher Education institutions.

The quality of our career guidance has been acknowledged to be of the highest standing and the school has been awarded Investors in Careers(Stage 3), the highest level of this award.

A Selection of Events from the School Calendar 2012 – 2013 September 2012 Year 12 visit to Carroty Wood Some year 9 design & technology students to Teen Tech Festival Year 12 & 13 sociology trip to Christchurch University, Canterbury Year 12 & 13 textiles trip to Milan Year 8 art trip to the Tate Britain October 2012

Year 11 art trip to the Tate Modern U19 Kent Schools Netball Tournament U15 ESFA Football cup competition U16 Kent Netball Tournament Year 12 art students visit to the Cork Street Galleries and Saatchi Gallery Orchestra members to ‘Outreach’ Concert at Sevenoaks School Year 7 Residential weekend to Marchant’s Hill, Surrey House Arts Competition - Drama

November 2012 Senior Team Mathematics Challenge at SLBG, Canterbury Kent Music roadshow Year 12 psychology students visit to ‘The Holocaust Exhibition’ at the Imperial War Museum Some year 13 students to ‘Debating Matters’ Competition Year 12 English students to ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ Gulbenkian Theatre Some chemistry students from years 12 & 13 to BA Gold Crest project Year 13 students to Cambridge interview training District Cross-Country Championships Year 9 Geography field trip to Herne Bay U14 Badminton Tournament Year 12 Sociology Conference Years 7 & 8 Football team to compete in NPower League Girls’ Cup Year 10 GCSE Maths students to ‘Engaging Talks on Maths’ University of London Year 12 & 13 Drama students visit to ‘Midsummer’, The Gulbenkian Year 7 Music Concert U14 Kent Netball Tournament December 2012 Year 7 students to compete in the First Lego League Regional Final Sports Presentation Evening GCSE Presentation afternoon Undergraduate English talk Year 8 language and culture trip to Aachen Christmas market Year 8 visit to Hever Castle Business Community Carol Service Carol Service at All Saints Church, Maidstone January 2013

Speech Day GCSE Drama students visit to ‘Goodnight Mr Tom’ at the Phoenix Theatre, London House Chess Week Year 11 GCSE Business Studies visit to Coca Cola Education Centre, Sidcup PE trip to International Netball Series, England v Australia at Wembley Year 12 & 13 Textiles visit to Henry Poole Tailors, Savile Row and V&A Museum U15 Basketball Tournament U13 Kent Cup Semi Final Girls Football Choir members to Young Voices at the 02 Arena Year 8 Art trip to Tate Britain Dance Evening

February 2013

Year 10 Art visit to Tate Modern U12 and U14 Kent Schools Futsal Finals National Schools Badminton Finals Intermediate Maths Challenge GCSE PE Orienteering at Shorne Country Park Year 10 Food technology trip to ‘Commonwork Land Trust’, Bore Place Farm School Musical ‘Fame Jr’ Spanish language and culture trip to Madrid French language and culture trip to Paris Year 8 Art students visit to Tate Britain, London Year 12 &13 RS trip to ‘Arguing for God’, Kings School, Canterbury House debating competition Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award training walk - Snodland U15 Indoor cricket competition

March 2013

Science Week Activities Science Inter-house quiz STEM Careers event Year 10 Big Reptiles Show Year 7 Maths / Science day ‘Risk It’ Enterprise Technology Challenge Year 12 & 13 Maths students to University of London, Mathematical talks

Year 8 STIXX challenge Year 9 Chemistry ECO day Psychology film screening Primary schools quiz and Big Bug Show Year 11 Psychology and Triple Science day BAE systems engineering careers event U15 Indoor Cricket County Finals Inter-House Badminton Tournament U13 Kent Netball Championships Year 7 talk and presentation by author Cathy Cassidy to celebrate World book Day Some year 7 students visit to ‘The Big Bang Fair’, London Excel U16 Kent Netball Tournament at Benenden School U14 & 16 Volleyball competition Year 13 visit to the Bank of England and ifs Headquarters Years 7 – 13 to National Rowing Competition PFA - Welsh Male Voice Choir Year 10 Express Languages Trip to Queens’ College, Cambridge University West Kent Book Awards Presentation Evening U12 Kent Netball Tournament Year 12 Geography field trip to Swanage, Dorset Careers event: Routes into Law Some Year 8 students to ‘Risk It’ Regional Final, BAE Systems Year 9 Gifted & Talented Kent Science and Technology Challenge Day Year 12 Sociology Seminar Year 7 Medieval Day Years 8 & 9 Team Maths Challenge Interhouse Netball Tournament April 2013

Duke of Edinburgh Silver Qualifying Expedition Year 11 & 12 Biology trip to the British Society for Gene and Cell Therapy Public Engagement Day Careers Talk: Law Some students from years 10 – 13 to ‘Into the Loop’ Dance performance and workshop Whole school Photograph Maidstone Area Book Awards MGGS Dance Showcase Junior Maths Challenge Higher Education Convention at Kent University, Canterbury PFA Barn Dance Year 12 Business studies students visit to Coca Cola Education Centre 15 yr 7 – 10 students to Dance show, Lila Dance: The Incredible Presence of a Remarkable Absence

May 2013

Year 7 Gamelan Kent School Games Championship Year 7 Rowing at Maidstone Invicta Rowing Club Mayor Making Ceremony Year 9 Oxjam Concert Baroness Emerson visit Year 9 study trip to Normandy Year 10 Food Technology Master Class Year 9 & 10 Gifted & Talented students’ visit to St Hugh’s College, Oxford U14 Tennis Tournament Year 7 & 8 Athletics Gifted & Talented Dance students to South East Dance Studios to watch a performance by the Lila Dance Company

June 2013

2 year 9 students to DUX Award Scheme at Oxford University Year 7 students to compete in Kent School Games Athletics Year 10 GCSE Geography fieldtrip to Canterbury Year 10 Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Qualifying Expedition, Cranbrook Kent Schools Tennis Championships, Bromley Tennis Centre U15 Street 20 Cricket Competition Year 10 GCSE Business Studies trip to a packaging manufacturer, Sheerness Sports Day Year 8 History Day MGGS 125th Quasquicentennial Celebration

Forthcoming Events July 2013 Some students from years 8, 9 & 10 to watch Wimbledon Tennis Championships Year 12 Sociology visit to Equilibrium Event at the University of Kent 3 year 12 students visit to BAE Systems, Engineering taster week Year 7 Food technology trip to Commonwork Land Trust, Bore Place Farm Some year 12 students to visit the ifs Headquarters, London KS3 Celebration Arts Award Evening Art and Design Exhibition Year 12 Careers trip to VINCI Construction at the Kent Institute of Medicine and Surgery

ACCESS TO FURTHER INFORMATION Each year, in addition to the School and Sixth Form Prospectuses, we produce a variety of other publications. A regular newsletter is distributed to all parents.

Details of information contained in statutory orders, DFE circulars, the OFSTED Report (2009), school policy documents (e.g. the Governor’s Charging Policy; Health and Sex Education) and schemes of work are available on request from the school.

BUCKLAND ROAD MAIDSTONE

KENT ME16 0SF TELEPHONE: 01622 752103 FAX:

01622 681947

WEBSITE:

www.mggs.org

EMAIL:

central@mggs.org