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Channing is a happy, purposeful place of intellectual enquiry and personal discovery for girls aged 4 to 18.
While we enjoy the benefits of our location in Highgate, we are not what you might expect from a North London girls’ school.
We are proud of our academically challenging and balanced curriculum which is delivered by committed staff, through inspirational teaching methods and the innovative use of technology. This is enhanced by a co-curricular programme of activities, trips and speakers designed to broaden the mind. What really sets us apart is our underpinning Unitarian values of free thinking, acceptance and inclusivity, which are encapsulated in the Channing Promise of kindness and respect. You will find Channing is a school where each individual is encouraged to understand their strengths and learn to mitigate their weaknesses, using their time at school to develop their skills and enjoy their success, however they may define it
The Art Department offers a wide-ranging visual experience in well-appointed, specialist studios. It comprises four specialist teachers, who are practising artists, and two part-time technicians.
While our curriculum is underpinned by the study and practice of drawing and painting, our facilities allow for much wider exploration and pupils are encouraged to embed their work in related critical and contextual studies through independent and directed enrichment.
Facilities:
- Four specialist studios equipped with dedicated Apple computers with scanners, a colour laser printer and a photocopy machine
- Printmaking facilities for engraving, dry-point, lino, wood cut, silk screen and relief
- Extensive construction and 3D facilities and the possibility to work with wood, wire, willow, and plaster
- Ceramics facilities offering skills in sculpture, hand-building and glaze techniques
- Sewing machines and associated equipment for textile design and batik
- Digital and video cameras, and a fully equipped darkroom for traditional photography
The Channing Experience
Life Class takes place each week after school. This is a popular activity, with pupils from Years 11, 12 and 13 taking part. Pupils have the opportunity to paint and draw from a model with short poses to develop observation skills, and longer poses for more ambitious studies.
We offer a variety of additional activities, including photographic clubs, where students can learn to use the school darkroom and develop their photographic skills in both traditional and digital photography.
Latin was the language spoken and written by the Romans two thousand years ago. Why, then, study it now? Latin is sometimes described as a ‘dead' language, but in fact is alive in the words we use today, with more than 20,000 of the 40,000 words commonly used in the English language derived from it. It is also a language from which many European languages derive and so will give you a good foundation for learning these.
Latin helps pupils develop their ability to analyse, judge and communicate and it will encourage them to be a lively and independent thinker; all of which are key skills in the world today. But perhaps the most important reason for studying Latin is that pupils will be able to read and appreciate some of the best works of world literature, in their original Latin written 2000 years ago.
The Channing Experience
The Classics Department at Channing certainly makes the most of its London location and we give our students every opportunity to extend their studies by visiting the British Museum, the Museum of London, and the National Gallery, as well as attending productions of Greek drama, lectures and study days. We also enjoy taking the girls on tour further afield and regularly run trips to Sicily, Rome, the Bay of Naples and Greece.
The Sixth Form Classics Society meets weekly to hear talks delivered by visiting speakers, Channing staff and the students themselves. Topics have ranged from Ovid's approach to love poetry to scent in the ancient world, and we also find time to play Latin scrabble and debate the future of the Elgin marbles.
Mythologers is a club enjoyed by the Middle School where weekly sessions allow students to learn about important mythological figures such as Penelope, Clytemnestra and Cassandra as well as producing their own creative work on the exploits of Theseus and Aeneas.
Annual events in the Classics Department also include the Classics Symposium, at which we hear from distinguished academics in Classics and enjoy a Greek-themed meal, and the Classics Schools Challenge, a Classics-based quiz to which we invite students from local schools.
GCSE
Exam Board OCR
This ‘twilight' course is studied as an after-school class and uses John Taylor's popular ‘Greek to GCSE' course. Additional time will be given to pupils to work on Greek in one Latin lesson per fortnight in Year 10 (with accompanying homework time) to help pupils to develop a proficiency in the language and culture. For this reason, it is strongly recommended that pupils also opt for Latin as one of their GCSE choices.
There is no coursework for GCSE Greek. It is an ambitious and highly rewarding course, which introduces students to the fascinating and important world of Greece. Throughout the course, we read stories adapted from Aesop's fables, Plato's dialogues and Arrian's life of Alexander the Great. We cover the linguistic material quickly over eighteen months before reading original Homeric Greek as our verse set text
GCSE
Exam board OCR
Two components make up this exciting and rich course: ‘Myth and Religion' and ‘The Homeric World'. In the first component, pupils explore Greek and Roman beliefs about the divine world, the nature of religious sites such as the Athenian Acropolis and the intriguing Lupercalia, Eleusinian Mysteries and City Dionysia that were highlights of Greek and Roman worship.
In their study of the Homeric World, pupils read sections of Homer's Odyssey, focusing on the hero's travels to return to his homeland of Ithaca and his revenge on the suitors who have been courting his wife in his absence. They also look at the Mycenaean civilisation to understand better the cultural context to the epic poem.
This course combines work with visual and material primary sources and the reading of literature in translation. Pupils with an interest in the ancient world and its literature, history and/or mythology will enjoy this course.
Looking to the future, information technologies continue to have a growing importance, with a huge demand from employers for people with a computer science skillset. Through our curriculum, pupils are made aware of current and emerging technologies and the impact that advances in technology may have on themselves and others in the future.
Through our curriculum pupils will: develop computational thinking skills; operate confidently in today's digital world; learn valuable problem-solving skills relating to control technology; work alongside the Science Department in developing the use of robotics to stimulate the minds of pupils.
The Drama department at Channing aims to provide a stimulating and rewarding environment where students are given the chance to excel. Our aim is to help each pupil: develop their creative potential and performing skills, learn to appreciate the craft of theatre; and understand the language of Drama and its major genres and dramatic forms.
Facilities:
- Two purpose-built drama spaces:
- a proscenium arch stage
- an intimate studio space
Our English curriculum is designed to encourage our pupils to become readers and writers who are enthusiastic, creative, critical and competent.
All study incorporates speaking and listening activities, analytical and creative written responses, responses that require IT skills and a mixture of individual, small group and whole class learning. We also believe that it is important to embed grammatical skills and to encourage girls in their independent reading.
Most of the world's problems on a local, national or global scale are relying on future geographers to understand them. Understanding these contemporary issues such as climate change, sustainable development, migration or natural hazards is what Geography is all about. It offers a variety of skills which complement other subjects and are valued by future employers with one of the highest rates of graduate employability.
At Channing, we teach Geography to help our pupils widen their horizons and become informed world citizens. Our aim is to provide pupils with a stimulating and enjoyable route to success in Geography.
Resources:
- Department membership of the RGS: online access to inspirational lectures from leading geographers and a host of educational resources
- Opportunity for Sixth Form Geographers to become Young Geographer members for entrance to the Society's prestigious Monday night lectures, a monthly copy of Geographical magazine and a wealth of online resources
The Channing Experience
We also lead optional international trips for Geography students to exciting geographical destinations. Recent destinations include Iceland and Morocco and help pupils to understand and explore different places and cultures.
Our History curriculum is designed to deepen and extend pupils' interest and understanding of the past, in order to help pupils understand the world we live in today. History helps pupils to think and write logically and relevantly, and to use evidence accurately and critically.
The Channing Experience
To aid students' learning and understanding, we have led to trips to Budapest, Berlin and Cuba.
There are many components in the make-up of a good mathematician. Mastery of the basic skills, particularly algebraic, is essential. Equally important is an appetite for a challenge, a desire to wrestle with problems where the solution is not immediately obvious and where tenacity, perseverance and imagination are needed.
The Mathematics Department at Channing is committed to helping each pupil reach her potential in the subject and hopefully to have fun along the way!
The Channing Experience
Competitions
Every year pupils enter several mathematics competitions. Pupils participate in the UK Mathematics Trust Challenges with an ever-increasing amount of medals awarded and several pupils progressing to further rounds. Channing pupils also participate in the UKMT Team Challenges, The Girls Olympiad as well as Hans Woyda, an inter-schools contest. The Mathletics Club meets weekly to hone pupils problem-solving skills and prepare them for the inter-school competitions
Maths Week
Maths Week is a well established and enjoyable fixture in the Channing calendar. It is now in its 12th year and has had a variety of themes from Women in Mathematics, Art, the Olympics, code-breaking and games. There are daily problems, quotes and jokes which all pupils and staff are encouraged to do. There is also an annual inter-house Mathematics competition for Year 7 and Year 8 as well as a programme of external speakers.
Modern Foreign Languages are central to the Channing experience. Our department recognises that being able to communicate and understand in other languages is of utmost importance in our global world and our commitment to languages at Channing is unrivalled.
Girls in Year 7 choose between French, German or Spanish, followed by an additional Modern Foreign Language (MFL) from Year 8 onwards. Senior school pupils are also encouraged to immerse themselves in European literature thanks to the Adelante Reading Challenge. This is run competitively so that pupils have the chance to win valuable house points in the process. There is also a dedicated MFL Room in the Library which is proving hugely popular.
We aim to foster a love of foreign languages and cultures alike. To this end, we encourage girls to travel widely to practise their languages and to gain first-hand knowledge of foreign cultures. It is expected that Sixth Form linguists will spend time abroad undertaking language courses or doing work experience.
The Department also organises regular outings to see foreign films and plays. Channing pupils benefit from a rich linguistic and cultural experience and each year several pupils go on to study languages at top universities, including Oxbridge.
The Channing Experience
Clubs
We offer a variety of clubs such as cine-club, conversation and pen pal clubs, beginners' Mandarin, and debating societies for both French and Spanish.
Competitions
In addition to these, pupils are encouraged to submit entries to poetry and essay competitions and to participate in the Adelante Reading Challenge for their Houses.
Trips
Pupils have the opportunity to attend online and in-person events that further enrich their studies and, most noteworthy, all Year 8 pupils benefit from an annual trip to practise the languages in their respective countries.
‘Music for all' is our mantra. Through studying music, pupils will: foster creativity and individuality as well as discipline and commitment; develop higher ordered thinking skills; understand their cultural heritage as well as other past and present cultures; and express their emotions and thoughts.
The Music School provides a friendly, enthusiastic and stimulating environment in which musical excellence is encouraged and celebrated. We help our students develop their musical potential and respond to a variety of musical challenges. Students are given the opportunity to perform individually and in ensembles – irrespective of age or musical ability.
Facilities:
- 13 practice/teaching rooms with high quality upright pianos, mainly Yamaha or Kawai models
- A fully soundproofed percussion studio for rock bands to make music
- A Music Technology room equipped with 23 iMacs with Garageband, the latest version of Sibelius and full-sized Yamaha keyboards
The department aims to promote positive attitudes towards participation in Physical Activity and Sport. Through a broad curricular and extra-curricular programme, we aim to encourage each pupil to develop their potential, whether at a recreational or competitive level.
This is an exciting time for Sport at Channing as we enjoy the exceptional facilities and expand on the already wide-ranging programme of physical education at Channing. The School has a growing reputation for success in Netball, and we employ professional coaches for this and many other sports. Regular matches are held against other schools and there are teams in each year.
Facilities:
- New Sports Hall
- Large floodlit outdoor court area
- A full-sized football pitch (used for athletics and rounders in the summer), 10 minute walk from school
- 4 badminton courts
- A fitness suite and modern changing rooms
The Channing Experience
Girls in Year 11, 12 and 13 can experience an even wider variety of physical activities, including, yogalates, outdoor games, use of the fitness suite, high impact aerobics, street dance and zumba.
Bronze Duke of Edinburgh
Girls are introduced to Outdoor and Adventurous Activities. Pupils learn the skills necessary to undertake a self-sufficient expedition at Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Level (camp-craft, map and compass skills, navigation, route planning, cooking and first aid). Every summer year 9 travel to the New Forest to complete this expedition and to take part in numerous adventure activities. Girls then have the options to complete their bronze Duke of Edinburgh by completing an additional expedition and three months of a sport, skill and community service.
PSHE, Personal, Social, Health and Economic education typically includes subjects such as road safety, life online, relationships and sex education, drugs and alcohol awareness, nutrition, body confidence, economic wellbeing, mindfulness, bullying and mental health awareness. At Channing it is a comprehensive programme of study delivered throughout the entire community, starting in the Junior School and running through to Sixth Form. It is taught by form tutors, school nurses, Sixth Form students and a range of expert guest speakers.
Every year we celebrate Healthy Schools Week with a range of activities and guest speakers for students and parents, which really helps to place health and wellbeing at the centre of all that we do at Channing.
We have recently added topics including families, teenage relationship abuse, child exploitation, extremism and violence against women; all of which bring us in line with the National Prevent Initiative. We have also updated the Relationships and Sex Education programme following the new government Statutory Draft Guidelines. New topics are added and updated on a yearly basis and promote the Fundamental British Values of democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, tolerance and respect of those with different faiths and beliefs.
Religious Education provides a platform for pupils to explore the most pressing and polarising issues, from matters of faith to morality. At Channing, we teach Religious Education to build emotional intelligence, awareness, and resilience, by empowering pupils to form and express their views and have them questioned. It can also provide pupils with a detailed awareness of the diverse beliefs and values which are located not only globally, but also evident in our local communities.
By equipping pupils with the ability to build, critique and interrogate arguments, they will begin to understand causal links between beliefs, circumstance and religious practice. Much time is devoted to the development of independent enquiry skills as well as those of an evaluative and analytical nature concerning topical issues, with the rise of religious extremism being an area of particular focus.
Science is the study of living things, materials and physical processes. At Channing, we use the sciences to stimulate a spirit of enquiry through the development of natural curiosity and reasoning. Pupils develop the skills of observation, investigation and interpretation and equipping them with a valuable knowledge and understanding of the world in which they live.
With eight full-time and four part-time subject specialists, and three full-time technicians, we aim to provide a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum. Science is all around us and ever-changing and so it is vital that the students are aware of their environment, the huge advances that have been made and the challenges that we face in the future. Helping pupils to understand as much as possible about science will give them a passion for the subject and encourage them to care for our environment.
Facilities:
- Seven fully-equipped laboratories
- Lab technicians
Year 7
In Critical Thinking, we begin to understand persuasive reasoning, construct basic arguments by considering structure and argument elements and develop flexible thinking/problem-solving.
Pupils move on to write their own fables around principles and morals, examine assumptions in reasoning, gather evidence to form judgements, consider credibility and construct complex arguments.
Later in the year, we enter the Community of Enquiry and introduce the fundamentals of Philosophy: questioning and listening skills, analysing stimulus material and developing arguments. This is informed by the examination of famous philosophical theories.
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