Upper School

During the next stage of their academic development, students are given more choice and begin to determine their own intellectual direction based on interests and with potential university choices in mind.

All students study a broad core of subjects which ensures that they are fully equipped for all university courses and any A Level choices that they may wish to make as, in practice, their academic interests often change quite radically between Year 9 and the start of their Sixth Form career. The core subjects consist of: English; English Literature; Mathematics; a Modern Foreign Language; Biology, Chemistry and Physics and one of the Humanities.

In addition to the core subjects, students opt to study two or three other subjects, to a maximum of 10. They may, for example, choose to do two more humanity subjects, or classical languages such as Ancient Greek or they may go down the more creative route and study Art, Design Technology, Drama or Music. All things appear possible at this stage and our students find the choice element of their education exciting.

In Years 10 and 11 the form tutorial periods continue and students also follow a specific PSHCE programme (covering religion and ethics, careers, health education, politics and economics, budgeting, European studies). There is a compulsory programme of physical activities designed to have a broader element of choice; while team sports still continue, students are given options such as dance, self defence and use of the fitness suite to introduce them to activities they may choose to continue out of school.