Academic

KS3

In Years 7-9, girls develop their love of art through a curriculum that balances two-dimensional and three-dimensional work and generates two major projects per year. These theme-based projects are rooted in a variety of art movements, enabling a broad, enjoyable and purposeful experience of the subject and the use of a wide range of traditional and new media. They are further designed to equip students with the formal elements of art, craft and design skills and confidence in the subject.

GCSE

At GCSE, the opportunity to work on long-term projects based on an initial theme/line of enquiry gives students the opportunity to investigate the artistic process with more depth and rigour. Significant personalised learning and support draws out the unique artistic and creative characteristics of each learner. Intellectual curiosity is positively encouraged in order to complement core skills with independent thought and purposeful depth. Students benefit from a wealth of media, facilities and expertise, from Adobe CC software (Photoshop, Illustrator etc.) to the techniques and principles of fine art printing.

A Level

At A Level, girls work in their own studio space with an independence more similar to that of an established artist as they create their own practical portfolio of work. Additionally, students create a sustained, investigative and intellectual piece of written research that supports and aligns with their practice. They live and breathe the subject, immersing themselves in the world of art and design by visiting galleries and exhibitions as well as talking to visiting artists such as OHS Alumnae Amy Isles Freeman and Emma Bridgewater. Skills, knowledge and understanding are taught through personal tutorials, group crits and discussions and workshops inspired by the interests and learning needs of the cohort. Many students pursue an art-related route beyond Sixth Form for which mock interview and portfolio support is given.

Co-Curricular

Without a doubt our most popular co-curricular activity is art club, which runs before school, at lunch and after school. GCSE and A Level students love having a relaxed, supportive environment in which to consolidate their artistic practice, and KS3 girls are increasingly making use of this facility, too. We also run Animation Club, Observational Drawing Club and Digital Photography Club with the help of our expert Art technicians and Sixth Form art scholars. Visits to galleries and exhibitions are offered at GCSE and A Level, local and national competitions are promoted within the Department and OHS Alumnae such as Amy Isles Freeman and Emma Bridgewater regularly come back to give tutorials and talk to the girls about artistic life beyond school.

KS3

Every pupil in the school learns Latin in Years 7 & 8, and has the opportunity to make innumerable discoveries: the logic of Latin grammar, the truth about the last day of Pompeii, why the Romans loved to imitate the Greeks, how the Roman army machine conquered the known world and, of course, how Latin feeds into the English and romance languages through philosophy, medicine and science. In Year 8, students can choose to study a ‘Gratin’ course (Greek and Latin), with 67% pursuing this popular option. In Year 9, students follow newly devised courses for both Latin and Greek, comprising Language (Taylor’s Latin), Literature (translations of the Aeneid/Odyssey) and Civilisation (Roman and Greek lives and history).

GCSE

Latin/Greek GCSE provides an excellent preparation for many sixth form courses: the language work is detailed, requiring accuracy and firm application, and the rigour of the subject is widely recognised. We follow the OCR syllabuses because they share the emphasis between language and literature. Literature study begins in February of Year 10 with the verse set book: starting at this point enables girls to revise for a proper literature exam in the summer, which gives them confidence. We complete the prose set book by the end of the Autumn term of Year 11 in preparation for their mock exams.

A Level

The transition from GCSE to working at A Level contains no unwelcome surprises but plenty of new opportunities. The years of reading synthetic Latin and Greek are past and in Years 12 to 13 our students will read selections from many of the major authors: Caesar, Livy, Tacitus, Horace, Ovid and Virgil in Latin and Homer, Euripides, Plato, Xenophon, Herodotus and Thucydides in Greek. Some of these will be studied in depth as set texts for examinations, some will be read in preparation for unseen translation examinations and some for pure enjoyment, but all will raise as many questions about life in these ancient societies as they will answer. Most pupils find the experience of being taught in a small group hugely enjoyable and many students continue their studies at university, with 10 OHS girls in the past 9 years going on to read Classics at Oxbridge (and one at Harvard).

Co-Curricular

The Classics Department runs a veritable cornucopia of clubs, trips and visits to enrich the learning of our students. These include residential trips to Greece, Sicily, the Bay of Naples and Portsmouth (Year 8); visits to the Ashmolean and British Museums, day trips to Corinium (Cirencester) and Bath and to the Greek plays staged by UCL and Oxford/Cambridge. We enter pupils into many competitions including Oxfordshire Classical Reading, the Euroclassica Latin & Greek Language Olympiad and the Cambridge University Classical Myth Competition. Classics students also enter various Oxbridge essay prizes and attend the Bryanston Greek Summer School and archaeological digs in the summer.

KS3

Girls experience a mix of Computer Science alongside the more generic IT skills required in the Senior School (e.g. an introduction to the use of Chromebooks and Google Classroom). Topics include Cryptography with spreadsheets, patterns with Python, and physical computing with BBC Microbits and a range of other accessories.

GCSE

The GCSE in Computer Science provides an understanding of how computers work, how they store data and communicate, and how they are changing the world we live in. Alongside this students write programs to solve increasingly challenging problems, building on the skills they have developed in previous years. They are introduced to a new programming language and learn to write more robust programs.

A Level

In the Sixth Form students move to developing programmes with a graphical user interface, explore Boolean algebra, data structures and common search and sort algorithms, as well as taking material covered at GCSE to a deeper level. A significant component of the course is the programming project, where students are required to analyse a problem of their choice. The best projects solve real problems and are created to a professional standard.

Co-Curricular

Computing students enter a growing range of competitions throughout the year and have had some incredible successes. These include the Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge, the TCS Oxford Computing Challenge (for those in top 10% of Bebras competition), the CyberFirst Girls Competition, Cyber Discovery and the British Informatics Olympiad. Our clubs include the Code Club, Pi Club (using Raspberry Pis) and Robotics Club (using Arduinos and run by Sixth Formers). The GCSE students always enjoy their visit to the National Museum of Computing.

KS3

At KS3, Drama is explorative. Pupils work together in pairs and in groups on a wide variety of tasks during lessons, undertaking different workshops in physical expression, improvisation, and extended stage skills. Through creative and constructive teamwork, students also develop a practical knowledge of different types of theatrical genre, show creativity and spontaneity through improvisations and develop physical/vocal freedom and confidence.

GCSE

At GCSE, we follow the AQA Drama course, which enables students to develop their creative skills as dramatists alongside an awareness of the social, historical, and cultural factors embodied by the plays they study. Students hone their creative and analytical skills by analysing a set play through rehearsal to performance and by devising their own piece of theatre. Finally, in Year 11, girls sit a written examination. All Year 11 students are eligible to apply for a Drama Scholarship.

A Level

We follow the Edexcel Drama course at A Level, which has three key elements. First, all students are required to conceive an original devised performance inspired by an original performance text and a chosen practitioner. Second, students write a 3,000 word portfolio, evidencing their journey through the creative process. Third, students conduct an investigation of two separate performance texts from which they must then perform a monologue/duologue and a group performance to demonstrate their theatre-making skills. It is a thrilling, yet well-rounded higher level apprenticeship in the theatre and the perfect platform for further study.

Co-Curricular

All senior girls are encouraged to perform in dramatic productions during their time at OHS. There are two school musicals a year, one for the Upper and one for the Lower school (we often have 100 students in the casts!). Many students choose to help backstage, having learned production skills with our professional Theatre Manager. There exists a wide range of opportunities to produce, write, direct, and perform one’s own plays with the support of the Drama department. Finally, House Drama is a vital component of Oxford High School, providing a fun, annual opportunity to devise, direct and perform a self-written play.

KS3

The objective of our KS3 curriculum is twofold: first, we aim to instil a love of literature that will last a lifetime; second, we seek to lay the foundations of excellence for GCSE by introducing the key skills of close analysis, precise expression and reasoned judgement. We also take every opportunity to foster girls’ creativity; a lesson at this point is just as likely to share the experience of ‘pied-ness’ in Hopkins’ ‘Pied Beauty’ through the flavour of lemon drizzle cake as through the minute unpicking of imagery and sound!

GCSE

We follow the CIE 9-1 IGCSE courses in English Language and English Literature because these provide us ample opportunity to refresh our schemes of work with the greatest canonical and contemporary texts – the ones we know will really speak to the girls. Another advantage of the CIE course is that coursework constitutes 25% of the literature qualification. Language skills and critical literacy, meanwhile, are practised by examining a wide range of fiction and non-fiction texts.

A Level

A popular and academically successful subject, A Level English takes students on a journey of discovery and self-realisation that provides the ideal platform for University study across a wide range of Humanities subjects. We follow the OCR syllabus, which affords each teacher the freedom to share their passion for the subject and engage in rich, seminar-style discussion. Students also benefit from the opportunity to submit two pieces of coursework, including the option of a creative response to their chosen texts.

Co-Curricular

Students celebrate their passion for English in a myriad of ways. Some contribute to or edit the school magazine, others enter creative writing competitions or participate in the GDST’s Chrystall Public Speaking Prize. Others still join the Junior or Senior Debating teams, sign-up for book group, compose poetry in creative writing club or attend talks by visiting academics and authors. A Level students also have the opportunity of going on mind-expanding tours to literary locales such as Brontë country or Woolf and Tennyson’s South Downs, while the biannual writer’s retreat to the Arvon Foundation’s Shropshire hideaway is not to be missed!

KS3

The objective of the Year 7-8 curriculum is twofold: first, we teach the tools and skills needed for interpreting and appreciating one’s environment and, second, we help students lay the foundations for the GCSE course. Local fieldwork experience provides a vital part of this process and the girls can be found in Summertown, at the Henley River and Rowing Museum or at Rushall Organic Farm investigating hypotheses and collecting their own fieldwork data! In addition, in Year 9 a visit to The Natural History Museum London supports the popular ‘Tectonic Activity’ topic.

GCSE

The AQA 9-1 course is issues based and has a thematic approach, designed to develop an appreciation of the physical and human processes that shape our environment. Key themes include environmental hazards, climate change, glaciers, rivers, rainforests, deserts, urban challenges and development and resource management. There is no coursework, but fieldwork is a vital component where students will learn to undertake a geographical enquiry. We complete physical and human investigations exploring ‘River Systems’ with Amersham FSC and ‘Regeneration’ at the London Docklands; both of which are tested as part of Paper 3 ‘Geographical Applications’. There is also the opportunity to take part in our popular biennial trip to Iceland for students in Years 10-13.

A Level

At A Level, we follow the AQA course as this helps students develop a sensitive awareness of the environment whilst complementing any combination of A Level subjects to the benefit of the whole student. Units include physical cycles, changing places, population and the environment, hazards, global systems and governance. Another advantage of this course is that the coursework component (20% of the qualification) enables the girls to devise an investigation that is relevant to their personal subject interests and inspired by our residential fieldtrip to Slapton Ley FSC Centre in Devon.

Co-Curricular

We love competitions and encourage girls to pit their wits against other schools in competitions such as the Oxfordshire Geographical Association’s WorldWise Quiz (which our senior group won in 2018-19) and the Royal Geographical Society Young Geographer of the Year competition. Older students can be found attending monthly Geographical Association lectures by eminent local academics, running the ever-popular KS3 Geography Club and entering University essay writing competitions.

KS3

In Years 7 to 9, the curriculum provides a chronological survey of British, European and World History from 1066 to 1945. Year 7 students commence their studies with Medieval England (1066-1485), followed by Reformation and religious change under the Tudors. Year 8 students move on to the Tudor and Stuart monarchies before examining the British Empire and Slave Trade. In Year 9, students focus on the Industrial Revolution, Women’s suffrage, the First World War and the rise of Dictators prior to WWII. A key thread running throughout the KS3 curriculum is Diversity and Inclusion and as such we focus on the contributions made by British people from many different ethnic and religious backgrounds, and seek to explore the part played by Jewish people, Roma people, those from the LGBT+ community and people with disabilities in society.

IGCSE

The Edexcel IGCSE course provides an opportunity for students to study a number of fascinating and important periods of European and World History, including Germany 1918-45, China 1900-89 and superpower relations, 1943-72. Building on the knowledge and skills of the Key Stage 3 History course, students will develop their essay writing and source evaluation skills. The teaching is lively and discursive and involves debate, group work, audio-visual presentation and textual analysis.

A Level

The Edexcel A Level course focuses on the theme of revolution across a range of periods from rebellion and disorder under the Tudors (1485-1603) to conflict, revolution and settlement in England (1625-1701) and the Russian revolution (1894-1924). In the process, the course develops independent learning skills that will equip students to face undergraduate study with confidence. Greater analysis of primary source material, the study of historiography and the challenging of preconceptions of the past build exponentially on GCSE skills while a coursework element provides scope for extended individual research.

Co-Curricular

We have a thriving Junior History Club for Years 7 to 9 which offers a range of fun activities. Students take part in visits to Hampton Court Palace to tie in with the study of the Tudors and the Black Country Museum to enhance their understanding of the Industrial Revolution. A highlight for A Level students has been the fiercely contested historical cake competition!

KS3

Our Key Stage 3 curriculum aims to lay a strong foundation of mathematical skills in all our students and instil in them the confidence necessary to achieve their mathematical potential. An emphasis on problem-solving encourages the girls to think outside the box and take risks in applying their knowledge to unfamiliar situations.

GCSE

We follow the Edexcel IGCSE 9-1 course which we start in Year 9. Delivering the course over 3 years means there is time to consolidate and deepen the girls’ understanding of the specification, as well as to broaden their perspective by introducing them to areas of Maths that push them beyond what is required. As they develop mathematically, the girls tackle increasingly complex problems and greater emphasis is placed on the need for carefully reasoned arguments and the precise use of notation.

A Level

Maths is the most popular A Level subject at OHS. We follow the Edexcel courses for Maths and Further Maths, which balance a core of Pure Maths with Statistics and Mechanics. Approaching problems creatively, logically and with an eye for detail, they meet a wide range of ideas and concepts from the abstract to the real-world (firing crossbows and analysing the habits of a ‘typical teenager’), providing them with a breadth and depth of mathematical skills suited to a huge variety of university courses.

Co-Curricular

Trips to venues such as Bletchley Park and the Museum of the History of Science enable students to explore real-life applications of their mathematical skills. We also take advantage of our proximity to the University by attending undergraduate lectures and study days, while eminent mathematicians are invited to speak at school. In school, girls enter the individual challenges from the UK Maths Trust, with many winning certificates or qualifying for the follow-on rounds.

KS3

The aim of the course in KS3 is twofold: we seek to stimulate lasting interest in the language whilst at the same time laying solid linguistic foundations. We achieve this aim by giving the girls every opportunity to communicate in Chinese, including writing Chinese characters on the computer, so as to develop both their confidence and linguistic/grammatical knowledge. At all stages the language will be linked in to the huge variety and diversity of the country’s culture, custom and history.

GCSE

We follow the CIE IGCSE course. Girls study a range of topics related to their daily life and study. They learn to deal with increasingly spontaneous dialogues and to discuss relevant issues, communicating their opinions resourcefully. In Year 11, the girls also receive (in addition to their classroom allocation of three lessons per week) conversation lessons in small groups. Competence in using Chinese-language ICT is an ongoing focus, with students practising typing characters and using both QUIZLET and GOCHINESE to read, listen and speak Chinese.

A Level

We take the CIE Pre-U Mandarin Chinese course, which equips students with the skills to survive in a Chinese environment. Students are also encouraged to develop their language skills through a critical study of a period of China history and a piece of authentic literature work. Topics of study are organised around Chinese current affairs and the course is complemented by a Pre-U student study workshop run by the GDST as well as talks from scholars and scheduled trips.

Co-Curricular

In addition to weekly Chinese Cultural club for KS3, students are encouraged to regularly participate in national events such as reading/writing and calligraphy competitions. In Year 9, students embark on their annual trip to the British Museum and Chinatown to experience Chinese arts and Chinese New Year festivities. Best of all, we also run a biannual China trip which combines intensive language learning with cultural activities, a school exchange and excursions to some of the most famous sights in and around Beijing and Xi’an.

KS3

French is streamed in Year 7 according to how much French the girls have been exposed to at their junior schools. Whatever their level, the principal aim is to introduce students to the information and language that will help them to cope in a variety of situations whilst in France or to have a conversation with someone of their age. This entails a wide variety of fun projects and activities whilst teaching students to be rigorous with grammar and spelling. Grammar work occurs within the framework of topics and is revised and tested on a regular basis.

GCSE

We follow the Cambridge IGCSE specification, which enables us to develop greater fluency and complexity in handling both the spoken and written language. Topics introduced in Years 7 – 9 are revisited, but with the expectation that pupils will be able to express themselves with a complexity and maturity more appropriate to their age. More advanced topics are also covered, such as the world of work and future career plans, modern world issues and new technologies.

A Level

At A Level, we follow the AQA syllabus, which offers an exciting range of topics and a strong emphasis on personal research for the oral. Lessons are enriched through the use of recent resources from magazines, the web and other authentic stimuli, such as podcasts and recordings from French TV and radio. We also host workshops on translation with a professional translator and incorporate a strong emphasis on French cinema as part of the A2 syllabus. Many students go on to read French at top universities as a main subject or as part of a combined course.

Co-Curricular

We offer a huge range of co-curricular activities to enrich our students’ appreciation of French. These include the annual home-stay trip to Angers, lectures by French academics and professionals, a range of clubs, French-language plays and a spelling bee for Years 7-8 and a grammar drop-in clinic for GCSE students. Sixth Formers, meanwhile, benefit from our Oxbridge French Literature Club, Oxbridge competitions and a Sixth Form French Day outing to Oxford with Alliance Française.

KS3

By the end of Year 9 students are able to write and hold a basic conversation on topics including their friends and family, their school subjects and their plans for the summer. They acquire a broad working vocabulary, which they are encouraged to expand through wider reading. Magazines and readers complement class work, and there is an annual interactive theatre afternoon in German.

GCSE

We follow the Cambridge IGCSE syllabus at GCSE, supplementing text book materials with short stories, video clips, films, and interactive grammar and vocabulary practice with German websites and publications. In Year 11, a weekly small group lesson with a native Fremdsprachenassistent provides an exciting opportunity for girls to practise their speaking. There are reading clubs at lunch times, and in the summer term there is the option to attend German literature classes at Jesus College.

A Level

The A Level German course aims to develop awareness and understanding of other cultures and civilisations through the study of German society, literature and film, and by means of an individual research project. Students gain a thorough knowledge of German grammar and thus learn to speak naturally and accurately, and to write with clarity and precision. In the past four years, A Level Germanists have gone on to prestigious Universities to read German, often combined with other languages and specialisms such as Law, History and Linguistics.

Co-Curricular

The German Department runs a busy Co-Curricular calendar, including the annual German Exchange to Fürstenried West Gymnasium in Munich, inter-school German-language events, trips to the annual Oxford Liederfestival, competing in the Oxford German Olympiad and producing original artwork inspired by artists and writers of the German Expressionist movement with the Art Department. We also support Sixth Formers in entering the UK-German Connection competition, through which OHS Germanists frequently win places on summer language courses and conferences in Berlin, Bremen, Mönchen-Gladbach and Weimar.

Key Stage 3

At this stage students acquire a basic knowledge of Italian by studying topics concerning everyday life, seasonal events and topical experiences. From the outset, independent learning and rules for working out are encouraged, developing essential theoretical tools for understanding grammatical categories. Life in Italy, as well as Italian history and civilisation, are used as constant underlying themes throughout the teaching.

GCSE

We study the AQA syllabus at GCSE, which comprises a paper each on reading, listening, writing and speaking. Girls become confident in the use of tenses and in developing accuracy in the active and passive application of the language. Translation to and from Italian as well as speaking practice in realistic scenarios equips girls for exam success – but we also make time for music, history and current affairs so as to cultivate an appreciation of Italian culture.

A Level

Studying the Edexcel A Level syllabus, students deepen their knowledge of Italian language and culture through a diverse range of topics including changing families, immigration and the media, as well as historical subjects like Fascism, the Resistance and its relevance to the foundation of the EU. Students also study literary works and cinema such as Pirandello’s Sei personaggi in cerca d’autore (‘Six Characters in Search for and Author’) and Tornatore’s Nuovo Cinema Paradiso – both of which provide excellent springboards for developing interdisciplinary awareness and general knowledge.

Co-Curricular

While studying Italian, students are encouraged to seek and develop interdisciplinary links to other subjects and interests from Music to Art, from English to Science, from Classics to Geography, from History to Religious studies. Their learning process is supported whenever possible through educational visits to galleries, museums, theatres, cinemas and lectures, as well as exchange trips to Italy and social events usually involving pizza!

KS3

Students can choose to do Russian as their additional language from Year 8 and lessons at this stage are filled with fun, yet highly challenging activities which rapidly draw students into the world of beautiful Cyrillic handwriting, Slavic accent and Russian culture. By the end of the first year the girls can converse freely on a number of basic topics, such as hobbies, family, personal information, and describing their house etc.

GCSE

Following the Edexcel syllabus, students rapidly acquire a deeper command of grammatical structure and vocabulary through such topics as the Environment, Media and Entertainment. Conversation skills develop rapidly through regular sessions with native speakers and our popular Russian Exchange offers a unique opportunity for students to stay with a Russian family for a fortnight and consolidate their learning. Some of our “Russianists” are offered work experience placements in Russian companies and even at the Russian department at BBC.

A Level

Russian is a very popular option in the Sixth Form, with a broad spectrum of cultural, cinematic and literary study engendering deeper understanding of the nation’s language and culture. The girls achieve fluency by the end of the A Level course, enabling them to hold conversations with native speakers across a plethora of topics. The girls participate in the Sixth Form Russian Conference organised by OHS, where they encounter University-style workshops and attend the lectures of leading Russian academics and cultural commentators.

Co-Curricular

Beyond the curriculum, we run theatre and ballet trips, lectures, clubs and various exciting events to support our students’ passion for Russian language, culture, history and literature. Our girls participate in various national Russian language competitions, including the Russian Essay Competition, with OHS girls often winning the top prizes.

KS3

The Year 8-9 course offers a lively, communicative approach underpinned by clear grammar progression. Students are introduced to at least one past tense (the preterite), the immediate future tense and the concept of compound verbs. They become confident through using Spanish in imaginative ways, such as role plays and creative writing, which helps prepare them for the oral, listening reading and writing components at GCSE. Students further enrich their learning by conducting research projects on Spanish and Latin American culture, sampling Spanish food and enjoying Spanish films.

GCSE

We follow the Edexcel IGCSE, which is ideal for developing greater confidence and fluency in the language as well as cultivating knowledge and understanding of the culture and communities in which Spanish is spoken. In Year 11 students have an extra lesson per week in small groups with the Spanish Assistant: these lessons with a native speaker allow extra oral practice and help students to feel much more secure when speaking Spanish.

A Level

We follow the AQA A Level, which permits students to study two works of literature and learn about artistic culture, regional identity, political life, and multiculturalism across the Spanish-speaking world. Students also deepen their love of Spanish by conducting a research topic of their choosing, which is presented as part of the oral exam at the end of the year. Together, these elements enable students not only to flourish academically (generally several students each year go on to study Spanish at universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Durham and UCL), but also to communicate fluently in Spanish so they can use their language skills in later life.

Co-Curricular

We offer a Beginners’ Spanish Club for those who wish to get a taste of Spanish as well as a Drop-In Club for those who want a little extra help. Outside the classroom, we host a Spanish-language play once a year and students in Years 9-10 compete in the recently launched Oxford University Spanish Writing Competition. We have run study trips to Spain in the past (Madrid and Barcelona), and plan to offer further such trips in the future.

KS3

In Years 7 and 8 Music forms part of the ‘Circus’, and is rotated with other subjects. Project work in Year 7 introduces fundamental concepts such as rhythm, pulse, key, melody and how to link musical ideas to stories and emotions. In Year 8, pupils learn about chords, chord sequences, scales and improvisation in a project based on the Blues. Music is optional in Year 9, and features a range of topics including Baroque Music, Opera, the Origins of Pop and Fusions, all of which provide scope for individual research and composition.

GCSE

Pupils who opt for Music at GCSE follow the Edexcel specification. This comprises three units:
(i) Performance – one solo and one ensemble performance which account for 30% of the marks;
(ii) Composition – two individual compositions, which account for 30% of the marks; and,
(iii) Appraising – a listening paper based around eight set pieces, which accounts for 40% of the marks. This course provides a lot of scope for pupils to pursue their own interests in Music, rewarding both creativity and academic thoroughness.

A Level

Music A Level develops the ability to explain and link complex concepts, master technical vocabulary and display both creativity in composition and communication in performance. This combination of skills provides an excellent foundation for other subjects at degree level as well as for studying Music itself. At A Level we follow the Edexcel specification which breaks down into the following elements:
(i) Performance – an 8-12 minute recital of music of at least Grade 7-8 standard (30%);
(ii) Composition – advanced harmonisation and an extended piece of composition (30%);
(iii) Appraising – a critical evaluation of set works testing students’ ability to write accurately and incorporate context (40%).

Co-Curricular

Our Music Department is a buzzing hive of voices, instruments and harmony, offering a packed calendar of choirs and orchestras for all ages and standards of player as well as smaller groups such as string quartets, chamber choirs and a cappella groups. Each term we present a major Lower School and a major Senior School concert, using venues such as Oxford Town Hall, the Sheldonian Theatre and a number of Oxford colleges. There are frequent chamber concerts and tea concerts, Open Mic nights, masterclasses with guest artists and a biannual whole-school musical staged in conjunction with the Drama Department. Music scholarships and exhibitions are available on entry to Years 7, 9 and 12.

KS3

At KS3, we have created a well-rounded curriculum that includes the topics of justice, looking for God, ancient religion, places of worship, spirited arts, Lao Tse, Confucius, the Buddha and Jesus. We also debate current issues and tackle contemporary non-literate beliefs, Creation, the numinous, festivals, karma, mysticism, pilgrimage, relationships, religion and art.

GCSE

The Department currently follows the OCR J625 Religious Studies GCSE (9-1) course, which includes papers in Christianity, Hinduism, Philosophy and Ethics. “Religion is playing an increasingly important role in state politics, international relations, and social actions. The fostering of religious understanding has immense implications for individual, national and international well-being. By developing your knowledge of religions, you will take valuable skills into whatever career you choose”. (University of Cambridge)

A Level

At A Level, the Department follows the Edexcel 9RS0 Religious Studies course, which includes papers in Philosophy, Ethics and Theology. The skills developed in philosophy, ethics and theology are those that employers and universities value most: those of analysis, textual criticism, empathy and an ability to clearly express one’s own opinion in order to persuade others of your point of view. Mastery of these skills represents a clear benefit when entering the adult world and, furthermore, our students will be exploring life, the fundamental and ultimate questions in the process. It’s really quite fun.

Co-Curricular

The Department organises opportunities for foreign exploration and local visits, whilst visits to Amsterdam, New York and Washington are planned, as are more local visits to the Oxford University Centre for Hindu Studies and Christ Church Cathedral.

KS3

Our Key Stage 3 syllabus covers all three sciences and has been designed with experimentation in mind. Students are encouraged to question and discuss science-based issues. This is a hands-on, practical subject that will spark the imagination through experimentation, with the focus in the first two years on developing and evaluating explanations through empirical data and modelling. We use these two years to develop students into young people who are willing to take risks and not afraid to make mistakes, to see that the experiment they planned did not work, and, rather than feel defeated, look at the problem and explore ways in which to make it work. Experimental design is therefore at the heart of what we do, with the two years culminating in a student-led bronze CREST award.

GCSE

At GCSE, all students study the Edexcel International GCSE. Students start this in Year 9, with Biology, Chemistry and Physics being taught by subject specialists. Most students at the end of Year 9 will commence the triple award, which culminates in three separate science IGCSEs. Some students opt for the double award, which involves studying the core principles of chemistry, biology and physics. This gives them the option of taking an additional GCSE to increase the breadth of their subjects (e.g. an extra language). Both courses provide a solid foundation for science study at A level.

A Level

The sciences offered at A level are the OCR Biology A, AQA Chemistry and AQA Physics specifications. Biology provides an excellent introduction to a wide range of biological principles, and has practical investigation at its heart. Naturally, the theoretical knowledge required is much greater than at GCSE, but it is also more satisfying and interesting, and students relish exploring topics in greater depth. Chemistry provides an excellent range of physical, inorganic and organic chemistry. The ability to think logically, express ideas coherently, and gain competency with a range of key practical techniques is also at the heart of this course. Chemistry is essential if you wish to pursue a medical-related or science-based career. Physics involves discussing the fundamental, elementary laws from which we can explain the bigger picture. It requires firm grounding in Mathematics, for the expression of all physical principles are given this way. Physics is also a highly practical discipline, with keen focus on experiments to promote genuine scientific exploration and curiosity. Physics is essential for engineering or similar subjects. Please see the Sixth Form academic page for further information on each individual science.

Co-Curricular

The Science Department offers a wide range of clubs, including Junior Science Club, Biodiversity Club and Go Apiary, (the school bee-keeping club), to name but a few. We also compete in a wide range of competitions such as the traditional Olympiads, a variety of essay competitions and competitive subject-specific activities. For trips and visits, we take advantage of our proximity to Oxford and Brooke’s Universities and the Science parks to run day-trips to locations such as the Rutherford Appleton laboratories, while residential trips to sites such as Cern are a high-point of the scientists’ calendar! Our participation in programmes such as the Ionic Liquids IRIS project and the bronze, silver and gold CREST projects is complemented by our BioMed and STEM Societies, which invite prominent speakers from fascinating scientific fields to give pupils a taste of the scientific life beyond school.

KS3

At Key Stage 3, students follow a creative course that allows them to experiment with different approaches through a variety of processes, such as printing, machine stitching, dye work, appliqué and embellishment. Themes will encourage research imagery and can be inspired by the natural world, stories or views of a landscape. Findings will be developed into a variety of textile outcomes such as cushions, puppets, bags and fabric panels.

GCSE

In Years 10 and 11 students produce a coursework folio accounting for 60% of the GCSE. Sketches, personal photographs and observational studies document personal creative investigations, and ideas are refined via experimentation with different working methods and visits to galleries and museums for inspiration. Costume pieces, accessories and fashion designs are always popular, but there is also scope to work in a conceptual way through wall hangings, panels and 3D textile forms. In Year 11, a timed practical accounts for the remaining 40% of the course.

A Level

At A Level, students present their studies, research and design developments through worksheets as well as annotated sketchbooks. Themes are selected that focus on personal engagement and ideas are explored through analytical observation and individual study. Technical skills are extended and honed, while materials are used in inventive ways in a variety of personal responses. An extended essay of 3,000 words explores an aspect of textiles, costume or fashion relating to the individual creative journey. All work is exhibited at the end of the course with 60% of marks allocated to folio work and 40% to a timed personal project.

Co-Curricular

The studios are open for students to use both before and after school, during lunchtimes and private study lessons. This provides additional time for work on existing or diverse projects and allows for the development of complex technical skills, as well as the opportunity to attempt work on a larger scale. A number of students continue their studies to degree level in Fashion, costume or textile design. Others work in a wide variety of creative industries across the world.