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Preparing young men for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow is something we only get the chance to do once, whether as teachers or as parents.
By the time they leave us, many of the things that make them who they are – their beliefs, values, and sense of self – will already be forming, if not formed. It’s an enormous shared responsibility, and one that has particular significance within the special context of a boys’ school, given the many challenges young men growing up today will face.
The question then is how best to prepare them for the changing world they will come to shape. At Whitgift, we believe the answer lies in knowing, valuing, and challenging every individual, stretching and supporting them in equal measure.
They will need the confidence and resilience to embrace new challenges, they will need an open mind that is global in its outlook, and they will need the emotional maturity and moral grounding to be a force for good in the communities they serve.
We are incredibly proud of the young men who leave us and what they achieve. We are particularly proud they come from such a diverse range of backgrounds, thanks in part to the generous bursary and scholarship schemes we are able to offer. Indeed, alongside our academic philosophy, comprehensive pastoral support, and fantastic co-curricular programme, the incredible mix of boys who come here is one of the things that makes Whitgift such a truly special place to learn.
Nature of the Course
There are four specialist Art teachers and an Art technician. Facilities consist of four general art studios, a sculpture studio, a kiln room, a darkroom, printmaking and silk-screen printing resources and a computer suite. The Department has access to an outstanding exhibition space to display students' work.
In the Junior Years, the Art Department offers intense programmes of process and skills-based projects. During every academic year, students will focus on four areas; Drawing, Printmaking, Mixed Media and Sculpture, producing work in two and three dimensions. Within these four areas students will experience and develop their skills in painting, lino cutting, dry point etching, collage, typography, graphic design, film photography, darkroom processes, clay work, wire sculpting, textiles and craft.
Enrichment Opportunities
There is an extensive list of clubs and societies run during lunchtime and after school. These include 3D Club, Ceramics Club, Senior Photography Society, Painting Masterclass, Scholars Art Society, and Drawing Club. After school clinic sessions run twice a week for the GCSE and A Level students.
The Art Department regularly submits students' work to national art competitions, which have included the Saatchi Gallery Arts prize for schools, the Young Photographer of the Year award, run by the Rotary Club, and Doodle for Google awards
Nature of the Course
Lessons are split between practical and theoretical exercises. Pupils typically work in groups to explore dramatic techniques and principles, whilst developing their understanding of the theoretical concepts that underpin successful dramatic practice. Activities in lessons all help to prepare pupils for the practical coursework and written exam.
Enrichment Opportunities
The best way to understand and appreciate theatre is seeing it live, and theatre trips are on offer for all GCSE Drama pupils. Pupils can explore their interest in Drama further through performing in school productions and/or working behind the scenes with the Whitgift Audio and Visual Department. Pupils are also free to work in the Department in their free time to develop their skills further
Nature of the Course
In the Junior Years, lessons are project-based, with each project running for half a term. Students learn how to describe music, how to improvise, how to read and interpret musical notation, how to compose and perform individually and as part of a group, and how to use Music ICT. Topics include The Blues, Indian Classical Music, Singing, and Jazz.
Third Form lessons represent a step up to GSCE and feature more individual tasks. GSCE students compose, perform and analyse to a yet higher level.
Enrichment Opportunities
Musicians are encouraged to join one or more of our many ensembles, with opportunities available across the ability range. Concerts take place throughout the school year either at school or at an external venue. Students are encouraged to enter competitions in-house, with categories for brass, woodwind, strings, piano and singing. Academic study is helped through GCSE composition support sessions, theory support sessions and Music Technology Club. GCSE and Sixth Form Music students have regular opportunities to attend concerts in major London venues.
Nature of the Course
We teach the subject primarily through the exploration of quality literature, with forays into English Literature from Chaucer through to the modern novel. English is a broad subject that teaches practical skills of composition and grammar, creativity and imagination and analytical writing.
Creative responses to literature are encouraged; emphasis is placed upon formal composition, evaluation of texts, detail and style in written work, using literature and media articles as stimuli.
Enrichment Opportunities
Yearly residential trips are organised for the Junior and Middle Years, to literary festivals and to Stratford-upon-Avon. The School also hosts its own Junior Literary Festival, inviting authors in to run workshops and to present on their craft.
With Shakespeare at the heart of our study throughout the School, students are introduced to his work at the annual Second Form Shakespeare evening, where every student learns and performs a shortened version of one his plays.
Each year group has its own dedicated Literary Society, as well as the related Journalism, Play Writing, Play Reading and Film Societies.
Nature of the Course
As this is an international course, pupils will explore how businesses, consumers and governments make decisions in different countries. They will be given the opportunity to explore businesses and countries they are interested in through articles, exploratory research projects and other mechanisms. Group discussions are frequent to bounce ideas off each other and to develop critical thinking skills.
Enrichment Opportunities
Pupils can invest in virtual stocks and shares via Investment Society, write articles or join the production team for our student-led magazine Whitonomics or enter Peter Jones' Tycoon for Schools competition with Whitgift Apprentice.
Weekly drop-in support sessions are available, and our doors are always open to offer additional one-on-one support
Nature of the Course
Geography is the study of the World around us; hence fieldwork is a vital element of the subject. Through fieldwork and time in the classroom, pupil explore a dynamic range of physical and human geography. All lessons are challenging, rewarding, fun and will draw upon the latest technological developments and resources. Pupils will develop a range of different skills that will equip them for life beyond school. This might include using Geographic Information System software to spatially map data, using statistical tests to determine the correlation between data sets to critiquing different viewpoints on climate change to presenting on the best measures of global development.
Enrichment Opportunities
We aim to enrich pupils' understanding of the world around them by visiting interesting geography phenomena on our doorstep and further afield. We offer an extremely popular overseas trip to Iceland, which helps bring the plate tectonics course to life and allows pupils to experience geography in a different context. Other trips include exploring coastal management options on the south coast, fossil hunting in Dorset and a residential field trip to Swanage with our A Level students. Fifth Form geographers help run the Junior Geography Society and pupils are encouraged to enter the Young Geographer of the Year competition, run by the Royal Geographical Society.
Nature of the Course
History and Politics are both taught using teacher directed learning but also independent learning and project-based tasks. Student research and wider reading is very much encouraged as is oracy in the classroom with debates, presentations and lively question and answer sessions. Evaluation of evidence and reaching a reasoned verdict is a key part of the study of History and Politics and being able to differentiate between assertion, opinion and fact.
Digital Learning is a key element of our teaching approach, involving online research and student-led presentations via PowerPoint and other media.
Enrichment Opportunities
Students can attend both the Junior History Club and the History and Politics Society. Students and teachers make presentations on a wide range of topics and outside speakers also come in to talk.
These clubs also include model making and historical reenactments. The student-led magazine, Pravda, allows students to write on their own Historical and Political interests. Mock general elections, referendums and Question Times are also organised.
There are educational visits to sites of interest in the UK and to Berlin and the United States.
Nature of the Course
Academic rigour is sustained at all times by a focus on the development of subject-specific skills of critical thinking, analysis and empathy. Lessons are frequently student-led, with pupils driving the exploration of theological and philosophical questions to find the deeper issues at stake. The emphasis is on students being able to form coherent argument rather than being encouraged to accept a particular worldview.
The Department places great value on self-reflection, with students being guided to review their own work with a critical eye, so as to promote excellence.
Enrichment Opportunities
As an experiential subject there are numerous opportunities for students to engage with philosophical and religious ideas outside school in the local community as well as with guest speakers. Notable past speakers have included Dr Rowan Williams and Professor John Cottingham and trips this year include visits to the local Croydon Buddhist Centre and to Auschwitz.
Junior and Senior Philosophy Society are popular, and meet weekly to discuss a variety of philosophical and theological ideas. The Department also supports an Amnesty International Society for the Third Form.
Nature of the Course
In the Lower First Form, pupils pursue a tailormade Language Awareness Course which includes elements of Linguistics and prepares the ground very effectively for future language-learning. Pupils also study Korean which introduces them to a nonEuropean script and some exciting syntax.
First Form pupils learn three languages – one Romance language (French or Spanish) plus one Oriental language (Japanese or Mandarin Chinese) and one inflected language (either German or Latin).
In the Second and Third Forms they continue with two of those original three languages, and also have the option of learning Classical Greek (off-timetable) in the Third Form. In the Fourth and Fifth Form, pupils study their GCSE options; it is compulsory to take at least one modern language at GCSE.
In Sixth Form, pupils can pursue all of our languages whether they have chosen the IB or A Level route.
Within the IB there is an option to start a new language from scratch (ab initio). We take a rigorous approach to languages teaching with a strong grammar focus, while ensuring that pupils are exposed to important aspects of the relevant cultures.
Enrichment Opportunities
Pupils learning each modern language will have the opportunity to take part in reciprocal exchange visits to a country where that language is spoken.
These offer a unique opportunity to live with a foreign family, experience their culture first-hand and immerse oneself in the language. We currently have exchange schools in Beijing, Nuremberg, Munich, Taipei, Tokyo, Toulouse, Valencia and Zaragoza.
The Languages Faculty also offers a huge variety of regular societies and one-off events including but not limited to: The First Form Spelling Bee, visiting plays for the Second and Third Form, Sixth Form theatre visits, French and Spanish Debating competitions, Taiko drumming for the Fourth Form, the UK Linguistics Olympiad, a Sixth Form Linguistics workshop and our Sixth Form Languages Society where pupils deliver well-researched presentations to one another.
Nature of the Course
Although the objectives and teaching emphases are quite specific (fluent reading/study of Roman civilisation), the skills imparted are contrastingly diverse. Linguistic, analytical, dramatic, artistic and inter-personal skills are taught through a variety of techniques including translation, role-play, artwork, comparative studies through videos and online resources, among others. All these elements interlock in to a stimulating and enjoyable course. Greek is offered from Third Form onwards.
Enrichment Opportunities
Pupils have opportunities to visit ancient world sites of classical interest, such as Rome, Pompeii and Herculaneum, Greece, and Sicily. These trips are biennial and usually open to students across the School. Additionally, there are opportunities to visit UK sites (e.g. Verulamium, Fishbourne Roman Palace, Lullingstone Roman Villa), museums, theatre productions, and lecture days. The Department offers extensive assistance outside of lesson time for enrichment and development. The Junior Classics Club runs fortnightly.
Nature of the Course
During their GCSE course, students will be assessed on their performance in four different physical activities, as well as undertaking a final exam to include all the following theoretical topics:
1. Anatomy and physiology.
2. Health, fitness and training.
3. Skill acquisition and psychology.
4. Social, cultural and ethical influences.
Enrichment Opportunities
Students will foster a passion and lifelong engagement within Physical Education and Sports Science through a range of opportunities which include:
- visiting speakers.
- competitive sporting fixtures.
- analysis of individual performance.
- personalised support and intervention.
- Involvement in a range of sporting clubs and academic societies.
Nature of the Course
Work is appraised using observational evidence or through formalised assessments and homework. In KS4 and 5, regular internal assessment takes place using past paper questions to gauge student progress. Assessment criteria include:
- recall of key facts.
- use of technical language.
- applying skills to new scenarios.
- developing programs/solutions for real-world problems.
- mathematics.
- manipulation of data.
Computer Science is designed to be challenging, enjoyable and rewarding. It requires resilience, independence, commitment and the ability to revisit previous knowledge.
Enrichment Opportunities
Students have opportunities to attend talks at leading London universities, visit famous Computer Science locations such as Bletchley Park and listen to visiting speakers on current topics such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. The Computer Science Department also offers a number of clubs such as Robotics, Games Development and Cryptography.
Nature of the Course
Pupils in the Junior Years complete a unique project each term designed to develop a set of skills and to enhance their confidence in both design and manufacture. Technical knowledge is built into each project in both formal theory lessons and through practical examples. Projects are designed to enhance a pupils':
- ability to identify real world problems.
- creative thought.
- communicate ideas through digital and traditional methods.
- ability to identify materials and recognise their properties.
- attention to detail.
- use of technical language.
- ability to plan and foresee potential problem.s
- mathematical application in real life scenarios.
Enrichment Opportunities
The Department is frequently open for pupils to work on independent projects during their free time. Clubs and Societies include the Junior DTE Club, £100 Design Club, Islamic Art and Design, STEM and Green Powered Car. The use of virtual reality headsets and two high powered PCs for STEM subject research also support learning. We also support artefact based EPQs in the Sixth Form.
Nature of the Course
The EDEXCEL IGCSE course is taught in over three years starting in Third Form. It is an excellent platform from which to further study at A Level or International Baccalaureate (IB). Students develop and enhance their confidence in four main branches of Mathematics – number, algebra, geometry and data handling. Problem-solving skills are built into every topic.
Enrichment Opportunities
There are enrichment and extension opportunities for students in all year groups. In the Junior Years, Junior Mathematics Society introduces more advanced techniques to problem-solving.
For older students, Senior Mathematics Society mixes lectures given by teachers, lectures given by students, and MAT/STEP problem-solving. Mathematics Competition Prep is open to all year groups and focuses on the skills involved in tackling UKMT Mathematics Challenge questions. We also have a number of Lower Sixth mathematicians who offer individual mentoring support to students in the lower year groups.
Our most gifted students in the Third to Lower Sixth Forms are invited to explore unfamiliar Mathematics in a campus-style environment with a biennial residential trip to Cambridge, and our top Fourth Form students go on an annual trip to the Mathematics in Action lectures in London, which features some of the leading Mathematics speakers nationally and internationally.
Mathematics-related speakers participate in weekly academic enrichment events, which are well attended by both students and teachers alike.
Nature of the Course
The course stands on its own as a thoroughly interesting, rigorous and complete introduction to the subjects, but it also forms an excellent platform from which to progress to further study of the subjects in either the International Baccalaureate (IB) or at A Level.
Teaching will allow students to reap maximum benefit from the practical work undertaken during the course. They will be taught how to make careful measurements, present their results clearly and to draw meaningful conclusions whilst assessing the errors involved in their work.
Enrichment Opportunities
Students are encouraged to:
- attend Biology Society where Sixth Formers chair a meeting; an excellent opportunity for collaboration between older students who develop their leadership and skills and younger students who benefit from the Sixth Formers' knowledge.
- learn about care and handling of animals in Animal Club, with animals ranging from our chameleon to our pygmy albino hedgehog.
- attend Horticulture club where they learn more about seasonal planting and care of plants and crops, alongside the Biology underpinning these methods.
- take part in a National Biology competition such as the Biology Challenge run by the Society of Biology.
- attend Science in Action lectures held in London.
Nature of the Course
As with all Science subjects, the EDEXCEL IGCSE Chemistry course is taught over three years. This course stands on its own as a thoroughly interesting, rigorous and complete introduction to the subject, but it also forms an excellent platform from which to progress to further study of the subject in either the International Baccalaureate (IB) or at A Level.
At the heart of everything is practical work; so developing experimental and investigative skills based on correct and safe laboratory techniques. Students will learn how to make careful measurements, present their results clearly and draw meaningful conclusions whilst assessing the errors involved in their work.
Enrichment Opportunities
Students are encouraged to:
- attend Science in Action lectures held in London.
- take part in lectures looking at Superhero Science.
- make up teams to enter RSC Chemistry competition.
- take part in RSC Top of the Bench competition.
Nature of the Course
The EDEXCEL IGCSE course is taught in Physics over three years. This course stands on its own as a thoroughly interesting, rigorous and complete introduction to the subject and forms an excellent platform from which to progress to further study of the subject in either the International Baccalaureate (IB) or A level.
Starting the course specification in the Third Form gives us scope to complete a significant amount of practical work as well as develop excellent foundational skills teaching students how to take careful measurements, present the results appropriately and draw meaningful conclusions whilst assessing the significance of errors in their measurements. Students will build on this throughout the course.
Enrichment Opportunities
Students are encouraged to:
- attend Junior Physics Club and explore exciting ideas in Physics, looking to stimulate a passion for the subject with younger students.
- attend Theoretical Physics Society which serves as an introduction to concepts in undergraduate level Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics. Content is made more accessible, but it is not diluted so it is suitable for aspiring physicists, mathematicians and engineers.
- take part in National Physics competitions such as the Intermediate Physics Challenge.
- attend Science in Action lectures held in London.
Pupils will become confident with principles of the scientific method, building transferable skills that encourage them to view the world in a critical way, solutions to problems.
Nature of the Course
Physical Education & Games are split into two separate curriculum areas.
In Physical Education, students are given the opportunity to improve their functional movement competencies and physical literacy, enhance leadership and water proficiency, and engage in a range of activities which explore tactical strategies to enhance performance.
This is achieved through a dynamic and innovative curriculum which includes:
- swimming, personal survival & waterpolo.
- strength enhancement, functional movement skill development, and speed/agility development.
- exploring methods of training to improve performance, health, fitness and wellbeing.
- develop an understanding of opposition tactics and performing at maximum levels.
In Games, students are given the opportunity to develop their technical, tactical and strategic understanding of sport through a range of competitive and recreational sporting activities.
In the Junior Years all students experience the core sports of Rugby, Football, Hockey and Cricket. Beyond this period, students are given the opportunity to explore other activities as part of their Games programme.
Enrichment Opportunities
The aim of both Physical Education & Games programmes is to foster a lifelong passion for physical activity and sport. We aim to support the vision through our curriculum and enrichment opportunities which include:
- access to the Fitness Suite three times a day (including, Squash courts).
- opportunity to develop swimming proficiency.
- competitive sporting fixtures.
- personalised support, intervention and medical provision.
- range of sporting clubs and academic societies
PSHEE and Wellbeing form a fundamental part of the pastoral programme at Whitgift, supporting the students in their interaction with others, shaping their understanding of the world around them and encouraging them to consider the ways in which they could best look after their bodies and minds. PSHEE lessons help prepare pupils for the modern world by equipping them with the skills and strategies needed for everyday living.
These cover a whole range of pertinent and sensitive topics which have direct relevance to key life choices concerning values, lifestyles and relationships. We follow six half-termly themes to deliver our programme of study:
- relationships with oneself and others
- my online world
- healthy lifestyles
- relationship and sex education
- mental health and wellbeing
- identity
Psychology is a fascinating subject which allows us to understand ourselves, others and the World around us; unpicking, analysing, evaluating and even coming up with innovative theories and concepts to explain human behaviour. Psychology is a social science and so is theory and research based and promotes the use of the scientific method of enquiry.
Whitgift offers Psychology in Sixth Form as either an A Level or part of the IB programme but awareness and interest in the subject is fostered throughout the School with students in the Junior and Middle Years participating in activities and workshops of various themes
Enrichment Opportunities
Pupils have the opportunity to attend talks and masterclasses from leading professionals in the field of Psychology. Students complete their own psychological research practicals, are provided with an independent reading list and links to organisations, such as local charities, for subject related work experience.
The Department also runs two clubs: Junior Psychology Society is open to students in Third Form upwards and explores psychological topics such as the effects of social isolation and the power of the human mind in medicine through documentaries, research and discussions. Senior Psychology Society is open to all Sixth Form students.
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