Curriculum Policy
Our policy is to provide a broad, balanced, relevant curriculum to stimulate the imagination and the intellect, to foster creativity, independence and a love of learning. To offer the highest standards of teaching, that is thought-provoking and enjoyable, and challenges each girl to reach her full academic potential. To complement the academic curriculum with an inclusive and varied programme of extra and co-curricular activities.
We do this in the following ways:
• Providing a broad and balanced programme of study.
• Providing appropriate and relevant courses to stimulate intellectual development and to foster creativity, independence and a love of learning.
• Providing courses and activities that develop and feed the imagination.
• Challenging each girl always to reach her full potential
• Maintaining awareness of pupil and parental expectation.
• To complement the academic curriculum with an inclusive and varied programme of extra and co-curricular activities
• Making use of the cultural opportunities that London has to offer.
• Encouraging curriculum development by being open to new ideas.
Monitoring and Evaluation
The whole curriculum is reviewed annually in the Spring Term for implementation in the following academic year by the Headmistress, Head of Fairseat, (the Junior School) and the Director of Studies.
Curriculum - general
Our aim is that this should be as broad and balanced as possible, to suit our traditionally mixed-ability intake. Girls should leave Channing, whether at 16 or 18, informed as well as qualified, having had plenty of opportunity to develop individual strengths. These may be academic, artistic, sporting or social skills; all should be identified and encouraged.
All staff draw up schemes of work, which are reviewed annually by Heads of Department detailing teaching methods and learning activities, achieving a co-ordinated approach to teaching throughout the school, ensuring breadth, balance, continuity and progression.
The Middle School (Years 7-9)
The Senior School is divided into three sections. Years 7-9 form the Middle School. There are parallel forms (of about 20) in each year group, but girls are taught in smaller groups in several subjects right from the start. The Middle School offers a very broad curriculum and an emphasis on taking part in a wide range of activities and on learning how to be part of a community. In Year 7, all girls study English, Mathematics, Science, French, Latin, Art, Geography, History, ICT, Music, Drama, PE, RE and PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education); in Year 8 girls choose Spanish or German also. They continue with the same curriculum in Year 9.
Science is taught in small groups in well equipped laboratories: the approach is largely practical. Years 7 and 8 follow an integrated science course; thereafter Biology, Chemistry and Physics are taught separately, by specialists.
All girls study French, Latin and either German or Spanish before making their subject choices for GCSE. Ancient Greek and Classical Civilisation is offered, from Year 10. Both the Modern Languages and the Classics department arrange a full programme of exchanges, home-stays and visits. Each year, Year 8 spend a week in Normandy, usually in the Summer Term.
ICT is taught in three specialist networked laboratories to every girl in Years 7, 8 and 9, before becoming a GCSE option in Year 10. From 2008/9 girls will prepare for a short GCSE course in ICT to be taken in Year 9. As girls go up the school there is an increasing programme of cross-curricular ICT delivery, encouraging girls to see their skills as tools to a further end.
The Upper School (Years 10-11)
Years 10 and 11 – the Upper School – are the GCSE years, when academic study has greater prominence. All girls study a common core of English, English Literature, Mathematics, double award Science, and a modern foreign language (usually French). Most take in addition three optional subjects, chosen from Art, Classical Civilisation, Geography, German, Ancient Greek, History, Business and Communication Systems (ICT), Latin, Music and Spanish. GCSE Business and Communication Systems is also offered as a class running after school, making a fourth possible option. GCSE Drama is also offered as one-year after school class making an alternative fourth possible option. All girls have (non-examined) RE, PE and PSHE, which includes a comprehensive study skills programme.
At both GCSE and A Level, our aim is to give girls a free choice of subjects, rather than requiring them to choose from groups of subjects as dictated by the timetable.
The Sixth Form
The very small Sixth form teaching groups foster friendly and supportive relationships between staff and girls. Subject choices include Art, Biology, Chemistry, Classical Civilisation, Drama and Theatre Studies, Economics, English Literature, French, Geography, German, Greek, Government and Politics, History, Information and Communications Technology, History of Art (AS only) Latin, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Music, Physics and Spanish. Girls have the opportunity to follow additional courses to supplement their A Level studies. We currently offer Financial Studies (IFS Certificate), Critical Thinking, General Studies, LAMDA (The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts) and Italian.
Careers and Higher Education
Virtually all our sixth formers go on to university or to Art College. Our careers provision begins in Year 9, with an introduction to the well-stocked careers library and careful help and advice on GCSE (later, A Level) subject choices. There are careers talks for Year 9 upwards each year, and a careers convention towards the end of the summer term, for Year 10 and Year 12. All Year 12 girls are encouraged to take part in work experience at Easter or in the Summer. The Head of Sixth Form organises a programme of visits, lectures and workshops to prepare girls for applying to university.
The Creative Arts
We see the creative arts as an integral part of personal development. Art, Drama and Music all reach impressively high standards and are central to the life of the school.
The Art and Design studios have facilities for work in a wide variety of media, including ceramics, computer design work, etching, photography, screen printing, textiles, and fine art. A very high proportion of girls take Art as an option at GCSE and A Level.
Roughly two thirds of the girls learn an instrument, and many, two. The Senior School has two orchestras, three choirs, wind and jazz bands and various string groups. Each term there are several concerts, some of them for solo performances and others for orchestra, choirs, etc. We join with Highgate School to perform a major choral work every Spring and to give a joint orchestral concert each May.
Drama is on the timetabled curriculum for Years 7-9, offered as an after school GCSE for Year 10 and offered as Drama and Theatre Studies at A Level. Each drama group in Year 9 presents a short play at some point during the year, so that every girl can have the experience of performing to an audience. Otherwise plays and musicals are rehearsed after school – there is a whole school production each Autumn, drawing its cast from year groups right through the school, and very often a musical in the Spring. Further plays will be set up and directed by the girls themselves, usually in the Upper School or in the Sixth Form.
Personal, Social, Health Education and Citizenship
PSHE and Citizenship is a compulsory element of the curriculum for all girls in key stages 3 and 4. It is taught by form tutors in one dedicated lesson per week. Sometimes the year group meets as a whole for discussion, and teaching is complemented occasionally by presentations from outside speakers. Additionally, in Years 8 and 11, girls follow a course of lessons in Sexual Health Education taught by specialist staff as part of a carousel.
Sports
There is a wide-ranging programme of Physical Education. A high standard of coaching is provided and options increase as girls move up the school. There are teams in each year group with regular matches against other schools. Activities include Aerobic Fitness, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Dance, Football, Gymnastics, Hockey, Multi-Gym, Netball, Rounders, Table Tennis, Tennis, Trampolining, Volleyball and Yoga.
Monitoring and Review
The Headmistress, Head of Fairseat and the Director of Studies monitor this policy regularly. It is reviewed annually.
