The Curriculum

Based on the National Curriculum, our girls enjoy a wide range of subjects, achieving standards significantly above the national average. Naturally, we place importance on English and Mathematics and Science and pupils will take their national tests in these subjects at age 11. Science and Geography are taught in two year rolling programmes. In History the Infant pupils study topics, while the Juniors tackle British history in chronological order along with Ancient civilisations.

Weekly lessons include French, Music, Dance, Drama, PE, Games, Art/Design Technology and ICT, RE and PSHE (Personal, Health and Social Education). The Infants tend to work on projects or topics, adopting an integrated approach, while the Juniors work in more discrete units.

Specialists work throughout the Junior School to teach PE. Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 girls access additional sports facilities at the Senior School site. Skills in Gymnastics, netball, hockey, swimming, rounders, tennis and athletics are developed with many opportunities to take part in both inter-house and inter-school events.

A specialist teaches a class Dance lesson every week from Nursery to Year 6, with extra-curricular opportunities offered in Modern Dance and Ballet Clubs. Class Drama is taught weekly from Year 1 with Speech and Drama offered as an additional activity. The Arts Council of England awarded an “Artsmark Gold” to the Junior School in June 2006 for our commitment to providing quality Arts education (Music, Dance, Drama and Visual Art).

To enable us to meet the needs of all our learners, Mathematics is taught in ability sets from Year 3 onwards. Teaching assistants are assigned to work alongside the class teacher in the Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 classes. In addition a teaching assistant will provide 1:1 or small group support to those pupils needing additional help in acquiring reading, writing, spelling or numeracy skills in Years 3-6. Dyslexia Action provides specialist staff for those pupils who have a diagnosed learning difficulty and these lessons take place during the school day.

Above all, we know it is important to teach our pupils skills. You cannot teach everything to a child by the age of eleven but you can give the key skills and the enthusiasm to want to find out – a love of learning. The GDST schools are renowned for teaching the girls to THINK for themselves, a vital ingredient for the future. We are looking ahead to foster transferable skills:

• ability to analyse and think logically
• good communication skills, both electronically and face to face
• flexibility for a fast changing world
• self motivation – able to have initiative and be a self starter
• a strong work ethic with the right attitude

 

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