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We often say that there is no such thing as a typical Putney girl and it’s true. Putney is a diverse community of fun, bright, ambitious individuals, but there is one thing that unites them all, and that is a genuinely enthusiastic love of learning.
Putney pupils are spirited, vibrant and learn to think for themselves, but they also know how to have fun, and most importantly, to really enjoy their time at school. Yes, Putney students are noted for their many wonderful achievements, but they are characterised by their enthusiasm for taking part, their huge capacity for making friends, and above all, for their willingness to grasp with both hands the many opportunities on offer here.
Our pupils have a voice and we want them to understand that there are no limits to what is possible, that all doors are open to them, now and in the future. Intellectual agility, hard work and academic achievement are keys to success, but equally important are common sense, emotional intelligence and integrity, qualities that abound in the pupils at our school.
We equip every one of them with the skills and confidence to become a woman of distinction, happy, healthy and with a strong sense of identity, ready to tackle the 21st century world in which they’ll play a part, and crucially, secure in the knowledge that they’ll make wonderful school memories along the way.
What will I learn?
The primary aim of this year is to inspire our pupils and to help them develop their skills, knowledge and understanding of the artistic creative process. They are introduced to MIKE, the assessment criteria used in Art at Putney High School: making, ideas, knowledge and evaluation. Pupils record their creative progress in a sketch book and explore the Basic Elements of Art. They are introduced to different techniques and processes, using a variety of media, as well as drawing and digital art.
Taking the subject further
Attend lunchtime and after school extension activities such as Art clubs, Drawing Matters and Click Photography workshops. The Art Department runs occasional lunchtime talks by artists and gallery curators and pupils are encouraged to attend.
Pupils participate in school Art and Photography competitions and commissions, as well as taking part in external Art competitions such as the Royal Academy Young Artists' Summer Show, where we have had a number of successful entries.
What will I learn?
The course is designed to cover a range of Greek myths, including the exploits of heroes like Theseus and Perseus and the story of the Trojan War, from its earliest origins to the final,
disastrous Greek plot involving the wooden mhorse. We also focus on the adventures of Odysseus on his way home from Troy.
We use a range of material in our studies, including modern and ancient sculpture painting as well as written texts to help us understand more about Ancient Greek society. We learn about how Ancient Greeks felt about the world around them, nature, and the role of the gods, war and heroism.
To complement our studies of mythology, we have the opportunity to delve into the language of this fascinating society, mastering the Greek alphabet and the basics of the language, as well as considering the impact Greek has had on our own language.
Taking the subject further
There is a Greek lunchtime club for those who enjoy taking the language work further. Advice on additional reading can be gained from Department staff.
What will I learn?
Computing is a wide field of study, and as such the Year 7 course spans topics from designing games for the Micro:bit to development of simple programs through text-based coding in
Swift Playgrounds.
Initially, you will familiarise yourself with the school's IT systems, and develop digital organisation skills in context using cloud storage to save and access work from multiple devices. You will also use iPads to further develop and practice digital proficiency.
E-safety and being safe online will be the focus at the start of the year; followed by an introduction to binary and digital image representation. In the Spring term, you will study an introduction to coding; learning about all key programming structures such as variables, selection, iteration, functions, etc. Students will use their programming skills to develop small programs and deploy them on Micro:bits observing the relationship between hardware and software.
Building key skills for the workplace and skills to support other subjects is a priority. You will complete a short course on spreadsheets which can then be applied in the subjects of Science, Geography, Maths, to enhance your work. Presentation skills will be learnt through the ‘choose your own adventure' developing a storyboard using flow-charts.
During the course there is an opportunity to take part in national competitions such as the BEBRAS Computing Challenge and the newly formed iDEA – Inspiring Digital Enterprise
Award.
Taking the subject further
A computing club focusing on developing your knowledge of coding and extending knowledge of web design and video editing occurs weekly.
What will I learn?
Over the course of this year you will learn how to construct and deliver an effective spoken argument. We begin with an introduction to the basics of debating procedure and speech
building. During this part of the course you will take part in lots of short debates, as far as possible these will be on topics of interest to you.
We then continue by focusing on the details of an argument – how can you make an argument convincing? How can you spot and take advantage of logical flaws in an opponent's argument? Together we will identify and explore some of the key principles and questions which underlie specific debate motions. How, for instance, can an understanding of the ideas surrounding individual liberty help you debate whether the Government should impose a sugar tax?
Alongside the critical thinking skills necessary for debate, you will also be taught about argument presentation. You will read and listen to some of history's greatest speeches and
work out what makes them effective. You will learn about the different rhetorical ‘modes of persuasion' as well as some of the most effective figures of speech. You will then get
a chance to deploy this knowledge yourself during a mock election.
Taking the subject further
You are encouraged to join the Year 7 and 8 Debating Club at which you will be able to take part in more debates and play debating games. You can also try out to be on the teams for
the interschool competitions as well volunteer for the regular debating ‘friendlies' we hold against local schools. In the meantime, why not start by following this helpful debating blog written by a teacher: www.debatingforeveryone.com
What will I learn?
In Drama, we begin by introducing the key skills of voice, movement, physical theatre and characterisation and use these throughout the course to explore a variety of topics and texts. We look at issues in the world in which we live including fair trade and poverty, whilst developing our communication and presentation skills. You will have the opportunity to work with a range of stimuli including script-based work, theme-based and with Teacher-in-Role to understand how to create and sustain different characters. Texts include Much Ado About Nothing, Oliver and The Witches. The year will finish in a huge celebration of theatre and a Year 7 production that is performed on our outdoor Bluebell Stage. Past productions have been Jason and the Golden Fleece, Alice in Wonderland and The Jungle Book.
Taking the subject further
For those wishing to build their confidence or have more opportunities to perform in Drama we have our lunchtime House Drama Clubs, run by our Sixth Form students, where the pupils play Drama games and activities for one half of lunchtime a week. It is a great way of getting to know the Sixth Form students and is also where the pupils work toward putting on a performance based on a theme for our annual House Drama Festival. An external Drama professional judges this exciting event. Pupils who take part in the festival also have been given opportunities to go to a West End show in the Summer Term to celebrate their fantastic achievements. Past trips have included Matilda, Stomp and School of Rock.
We also offer private LAMDA lessons for those wishing to work on solo or duet pieces. These lessons are organised through Mr Andrew Pearson-Wright of Long Lane Theatre Company. Pupils have their lessons in Years 7–9 on rotation throughout the week and we have two exam sessions a year for all to work towards
What will I learn?
In the Autumn term, we go back to the roots of English Literature by studying Old and Middle English poetry from the 1st to 14th centuries. You could be studying Beowulf, the oldest surviving piece of English literature, The Canterbury Tales or Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. You will have lots of opportunities to flex your creative muscles this term, such as writing your own Canterbury Tale.
In the Spring term, we study a historical novel, such as The Lie Tree, set in the Victorian period, or Coram Boy, set in 18th-century London. You will be learning about the context of the period and thinking about the book's characters and themes. You will study the language of your novel closely and learn to write an analytical essay.
Shakespeare is the focus of the Summer term. You will study and perform parts of A Midsummer Night's Dream or Much Ado About Nothing. Your work will culminate in a creative group project.
Reading for pleasure is a key part of the curriculum in Year 7, too. We will discuss our reading, write book reviews and enjoy silent reading time in lessons.
Taking the subject further
Book Groups meet on a weekly basis, and students enjoy regular sessions of Ink, the creative writing club.
We also promote a range of competitions, including those run by the GDST and those held within school, such as the creative writing competition for Years 7 to 9. Our annual Poetry Festival is one of the most prestigious events in the school calendar, with a renowned poet invited each year to judge the best work during a celebration of remarkable student talent.
What will I learn?
In Geography, we look at links between people and the environment. You will study a wide variety of topics in order to gain a firm understanding of the subject during Year 7.
We begin the year by learning about place through an in-depth study of London and the surrounding area. This involves a field trip to Kingston-upon-Thames to collect data for an investigation. We then study two physical geography topics; by looking at oceans and plate tectonics, you will be able to understand the processes that form local and global landscapes. We also look at how natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis affect people and their lives.
The lessons involve many different activities and the staff aim to make lessons as fun and exciting as possible. You will become confident in using maps, photographs and satellite images and will begin to develop the fieldwork skills needed as you progress through the school.
Taking the subject further
We carry out fieldwork activities within the school and the local area. We also hold a House geography quiz during the year and encourage entry to national competitions. Each summer there is a booklet full of geographical tasks and competitions to keep you busy.
What will I learn?
In Year 7 History you will explore power and its changing location throughout the Medieval Period. The course begins with a detailed study of the events that led up to the Norman invasion of England and the Battle of Hastings. We follow this with an examination of the ways in which William established control over England. During this time, we will focus on developing your essay writing skills.
We then move to explore the Crusades, looking at it from both a Western Christian perspective and an Eastern Muslim one. This will be followed by a study of medieval life that will include a study of peasant life, medieval medicine, the Black Death and the Peasants' Revolt. This aspect of the course will develop your source analysis skills.
We then undertake an examination of medieval monarchs and the changing and evolving relationship between kings and their subjects. We finish the year by taking a wide-angled view of British history through exploring the concept of migration.
Taking the subject further
There will be many opportunities for discussion in lessons. Reading is essential; the Senior School Library is well stocked and has an excellent section of well-respected historical novels. For the more adventurous, we encourage pupils to participate in a variety of Historical Association competitions and to attend History Society.
What will I learn?
- Coordinates and graphs.
- Calculating with fractions, decimals and percentage.
- The arithmetic of everyday life and using estimation to check calculations.
-The geometry of shapes and their lengths and angles including areas and volumes.
- Transformations and symmetry.
- Simple algebra - manipulating expressions, collecting terms and solving simple equations
- Number patterns.
- The collection, tabulation and display of statistical data; the calculation of simple statistical measures; probability
You will be taught in mixed ability groups for three hours a week.
It is important that your written work is clear and well laid out. There is an emphasis on showing your method, not just on getting the right answer. There will be tests in September, December and February, and a summer examination based on the entire year's work (two papers).
Taking the subject further
Every pupil will take the Junior Maths Challenge, a national competition for able students. This tests creativity within mathematical thinking and is tough but fun.
Extension material at various levels is provided on a monthly basis and there is a club for Years 7–9 that aims to explore topics outside of the syllabus.
French, German, Mandarin, Spanish
What will I learn?
The main focus of language learning in Year 7 is to gain plenty of confidence across the four skills of writing, speaking, reading and listening.
You will learn how the language works: its sounds, spellings and basics of grammar. This will enable you to talk and write about a range of topics relating to yourself and others. You will also learn about the cultures of the countries where these languages are spoken. You will develop key skills for success in language learning, with the help of apps such as Quizlet, Linguascope and DuoLingo.
Even if you have been learning the language before, there will be lots of exciting new challenges and experiences throughout Year 7 and beyond and even the chance to take part in trips abroad as you continue with your chosen languages in Years 8 and 9.
Taking the language further:
All pupils in Year 7 will be studying one Romance language (French or Spanish) and one Non-Romance language (German or Mandarin) and will continue the study of these languages in Year 8, when they will also begin learning Latin.
In Year 9, pupils will continue with this combination but may also have the opportunity to take up a new language, such as Italian or Spanish, that they did not choose in Year 7.
What will I learn?
Music is an incredibly wide-ranging subject and one of the most diverse art forms in existence. Accordingly, we learn about it through listening to music from all periods of history, from medieval plainchant to film soundtracks and cartoons.
In Year 7 you will enjoy a curriculum that is very practical – no long essays – with most lessons including listening, composition, discussion and group work in order to discover the innermost workings of music – the ‘building blocks', and how an understanding of their form and function can forever change the way we listen to and appreciate music.
We employ visiting specialists to deliver workshops and practical courses in topics such as African drumming, gospel singing and Indonesian gamelan. You will learn about the instruments of the orchestra, their individual sounds and playing methods, and how composers across the ages have used them to create masterpieces in a variety of styles.
Taking the subject further
We encourage those with either specific interests or performing experience to participate in as wide a range of musical activities as they can. Fancy taking up another instrument? Come and try the trombone, or the bassoon, or become an orchestral percussionist. Like the look of conducting and being in control of a barbershop group, choir or orchestra? We can offer trial sessions in that too.
For keen composers, there is a Composition Club and the chance to enter national competitions at venues such as the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, where Putney students have long been successful in getting their fanfares performed by the orchestra.
What will I learn?
The range of activities on offer will enable you to enjoy physical exercise and understand its value and contribution towards health and wellbeing. We aim to improve your level of skill, success and achievement and provide the opportunity to develop both as an individual and as part of a team. You will learn to enjoy exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle. We hope that you will continue to participate in sport and value the importance of health and fitness into adult life.
The Year 7 course includes netball, lacrosse, gym, dance, football, badminton, volleyball, athletics, cricket and tennis.
Taking the subject further
There are clubs for netball, lacrosse, gymnastics, dance, cross-country, badminton, athletics, tennis, cricket.
The school has teams in netball, lacrosse, gymnastics, cross-country, badminton, volleyball, football, rowing, tennis, cricket and athletics and we enter many local, Trust, County and National tournaments. Practices are held before school, during the lunch break and after school. Matches against other schools and tournaments are held after school and at
weekends
What will I learn?
During the Product Design – Resistant Materials course, you will develop and build on your problem-solving skills to design and manufacture a range of functioning products using a variety of resistant materials and processes. You will be shown how to recognise materials and apply technical principles to create these solutions.
Using a range of tools and machinery, we focus on developing your design and practical skills and confidence in unfamiliar settings that expect you to perform new and exciting tasks in a safe and controlled environment. Alongside your practical work you will record your research, ideas and planning in an A4 portfolio to show your design planning.
At the end of the course, you will be able to work independently and safely to produce a creative and exciting product. Current products include sheet metal development and fabrication, a stationery storage desk clock and a mechanical toy. You will be invited to attend the CAD/CAM Workgroup where you will be introduced to the principles of computer aided drawing through 2D Design and SolidWorks and computer aided manufacture with the aid of a lazer cutter and 3D printer. Electronics and programming are exciting new developments, you will have the opportunity to create simple circuits that can be used to drive machines, such as a vehicle that you will cut on the department's lazer cutter, then assemble.
Taking the subject further
Lunchtime clubs include
- Creative Corner – making individual projects
- For the more adventurous – CAD/CAM Workgroup
What will I learn?
The overall aim of Religious Studies is to enable you to develop your knowledge and understanding of major world religions and to reflect on your own beliefs and values, in the light of the beliefs and values of others.
In Year 7 we look at what we mean by religion and the things all religions have in common, for example special places, special actions, and special writings. Your study will include aspects of Judaism and Islam and philosophical enquiry on topics such as the nature of belief; sacred writings as sources of authority, and the importance of symbolism in religious
expression.
We visit the Jewish Museum in Camden to take part in workshops about Jewish food and diet.
Taking the subject further
Issues about religion in the news are raised in lessons, whether directly relevant to the Year 7 syllabus or not, for example the ban on wearing the burqa. These issues are discussed, enabling development of evaluative skills, so reading and watching the news is important. Clips from TV programmes are used to stimulate interest and discussion and suitable documentaries are recommended for viewing, eg the science behind the plagues on Egypt.
What will I learn?
In Years 7 and 8, Science lessons cover the three main branches of Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics). You will have one teacher for all Sciences, to allow you a broader insight of the history and philosophy of Science. We aim to include as many experiments and competitions as possible to make you feel more comfortable using scientific equipment, as well as to make you familiar with the scientific method.
In Biology, you will study the structure and functions of cells, the building blocks of life. You will also learn about how organisms reproduce, with an introduction to genetics.
In Chemistry, you will use the particle theory of matter to explain how materials can change. You will also learn about the chemical elements and how they form compounds, and you will study the properties of acids and alkalis.
In Physics, you will learn how forces can affect the motion of objects. You will also investigate how light travels from one place to another and why we see colour. You will find out more about the Earth's place in the Solar System and the Universe beyond.
Taking the subject further
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths) Club has a hands-on approach to study. Lots of fun activities and projects are tackled weekly: we aim to bring the sciences to life as well as to extend and broaden the learning that occurs in the classroom. From Year 9 you can join Medical, Physics, Chemistry and Biology societies.
What will I learn?
You will learn how to use tools and machinery to develop and manufacture a range of products. We focus on developing your creative and practical skills.
Alongside your practical work you will record your research, ideas and planning in an A4 portfolio to show your design thinking.
At the end of the course, you should be able to work independently and safely to produce a creative and exciting product. Past projects have included bags, skirts, pyjamas and cushions.
Taking the subject further
Lunchtime clubs include:
- Creative Corner -making individual projects
- Fashion Club
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