The Senior School curriculum stimulates enthusiasm for learning, curiosity and creativity. It is balanced and broadly based, and it is designed to promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of all pupils.

The curriculum is complemented by opportunities for extension activities, including participation in the UK Mathematics Challenge, creative writing workshops, play readings and preparation for extension papers in the Sixth Form.

Pupils are set from Year 8 in Mathematics and French and from Year 9 in English and the Sciences. Pupils' progress is monitored closely and there is always movement between groups.

For their first three years in the school, pupils receive lessons in Art and Design, Biology, Chemistry, Drama, English, French, Geography, History, Information Technology, Latin, Mathematics, Music, Physics, Physical Education and Religious Studies. For advanced French speakers, please click here to see details of our Section Française programme (please scroll down linked document for English translation).

In the second year, girls start a second language chosen from Italian, German and Spanish. Throughout the school, the girls follow courses in Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE).

In the third year (Upper Fourth) girls will begin their IGCSE courses in three separate Sciences to enable them to continue with Triple Science over the following two years.

Critical thinking and careers education and guidance are an important part of the curriculum. In the first year, students have a half-termly session on philosophy and careers education is provided though a series of workshops. In the second year (Year 8) girls receive lessons in critical thinking, careers and current affairs as part of a weekly carousel. In the third year, the girls will have the opportunity to apply their critical thinking skills across the curriculum during the half-termly ‘Cross Curricular Fortnights' and complete an individual essay on one of the themed areas, based on their own research. Careers guidance forms part of the PSHE carousel in Year 9.

At GCSE level (Years 10-11), the girls follows a core curriculum in English Literature, English Language, Mathematics, a Modern Foreign Language and the three Sciences as well as a choice of three or four other subjects, one of which, at least, is a humanity chosen from Classical Civilisation, Geography, History and Religious Studies. Art, Computer Science, Greek with Latin, Music and Physical Education are also offered. Many students study two Modern Foreign Languages. There is the opportunity for students to extend their curriculum by studying an eleventh GCSE or equivalent qualification in some subjects, including Music, Spanish ab initio and Additional Mathematics.

In English Literature, English Language, Mathematics, Music, Geography, History, Modern Foreign Languages and the three Sciences girls study for the IGCSE examinations. Pupils start to prepare for the IGCSE Mathematics course and the three IGCSE Sciences in their third year (Year 9).

The girls normally take between 9 and 11 GCSEs, the average number being 10 and will participate in Physical Education and PSHE lessons in both Year 10 and Year 11. Careers education and guidance is delivered through bespoke workshops in Year 10 and through the PSHE carousel in Year 11.