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The girls are at the heart of all that we do here at St Helen’s. Every girl is valued and known, and able to enjoy the warm and lively atmosphere that makes this school such an exciting place to learn. Our students become the best version of themselves: happy, healthy and active; creative and flexible thinkers; kind, thoughtful, successful and responsible young people.
We pride ourselves on exceptional teaching by specialists who are experts in how girls learn and develop. Exam results that will open doors to the ambitious university courses and careers that our students set their hearts on are an important part of the St Helen’s story. Just as important is that from the girl in nursery coming to ‘big’ school for the first time to the Year 7 girl about to become a teenager, everyone is encouraged to find out more, to work things out for herself, and to love learning. By taking risks and developing their imagination, the girls here learn to know and understand what they care about and have the confidence to go out into the world and live the lives they want to lead.
What happens outside the classroom is just as important. Our co-curricular programme means that each girl can discover her talents and her passions whilst having fun and finding out a lot about herself. Our pastoral care means that she will always have somewhere and someone to turn to – we understand that growing up can sometimes be confusing and when a sympathetic ear will make all the difference. That’s why girls leave St Helen’s with a calm inner confidence and also a sense of when others need an encouraging word – we are very proud of the kind-hearted and compassionate approach that is at the heart of our school life.
In Middle School (Years 7-9) all pupils follow a curriculum which incorporates the best elements of the National Curriculum, whilst extending and enriching their learning well beyond the Programmes of Study at this level. Pupils engage with a broad and challenging programme of study: Mathematics, English, a bespoke skills-based Science course which introduces scientific methodology and key concepts such as mass and energy, preparing them for study of the three separate science subjects from Year 8, Computer Science, History, Geography, Drama, Art, Music, Design & Technology, Latin, Religious Studies, Physical Education, PHSCE and a choice of two modern foreign languages: French, German, Spanish or Mandarin.
The study and practice of Computer Science is an integral element of the curriculum. All pupils follow a foundation Computer Science course in Middle School that gives them confidence in logic and basic programming. Pupils have many opportunities during other lessons to use our extensive ICT facilities: we possess several computer rooms and a fully-equipped Language Laboratory, and classrooms are equipped with Smart boards which enable innovative approaches to support learning and teaching. Science, Music, Art and Design & Technology are taught within well-equipped specialist facilities.
On joining Senior School, students are allocated to a tutor group of approximately 20 pupils. The Form Tutor plays a central role in the School's pastoral care, and is the first port of call for pupils, teachers and parents. The tutor's main role, however, is to promote effective academic progress and engagement with our extensive co-curricular programme through our mentoring system, which enables every girl to realise her full potential.
In Upper School (Years 10 & 11) pupils take a mixture of GCSE and IGCSE qualifications in a broad and balanced portfolio of subjects which exceeds the Government's ‘English Baccalaureate'. Pupils will typically take nine or ten GCSE qualifications: Mathematics, English Language, English Literature, Science, a humanities subject (including Geography and History), a modern foreign language (we currently offer French, German, Mandarin, Spanish, Italian and Japanese) and two ‘free options' from a very wide range of choices including Art, Classical Greek, Computer Science, Design & Technology, Drama, Latin, Classical Greek, Classical Civilisation, Music and Physical Education. The majority of pupils take three separate science qualifications in Physics, Chemistry and Biology, with a small number completing Dual Award Science instead. All pupils additionally join one of our major co-curricular programmes (Duke of Edinburgh's Award, CCF, Fabulous Food Club and Phab).
Throughout Senior School the core curriculum is complemented by our bespoke Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education (PSHCE) programme, in which pupils discuss social and current affairs, and follow modules on citizenship, political literacy, study skills, community involvement, ethics, sex and relationships education, self-esteem, personal & internet safety, social & moral responsibility and healthy living. There is also a strong focus on Careers Education to help the girls consider future career options and their Sixth Form choices.
Physical Education is integral to the curriculum: pupils participate in a wide range of core sports and activities in Years 7 & 8, including netball, swimming, tennis, gymnastics & dance, before having the opportunity to try a wider range of sports and activities in Upper School.
Students in the Sixth Form follow one of our flexible and powerful ‘Pathways', enabling them to design a personalised curriculum of either three or four A Levels, allowing them to study their chosen subjects in depth and detail and to receive the best possible preparation for Higher Education.
Amongst the A Level subjects currently offered at St Helen's are: Art & Design (Fine Art), Biology, Business, Chemistry, Classical Civilisation, Classical Greek, Computer Science, Design & Technology (Product Design), Drama & Theatre, Economics, English Literature, French, Geography, German, History, History of Art, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Physics, Politics, Psychology, Religious Studies, Spanish.
Our students choose to follow one of three pathways within the Sixth Form curriculum:
Pathway A: 3 A levels + EPQ + Academic Enhancement + ‘St Helen's Programme'
Pathway B: 3 A levels + 2 year AS Level Mathematics / Further Mathematics + EPQ or Enhancement + ‘St Helen's Programme'.
Pathway C: 4 A levels* (which may include Further Maths) + ‘St Helen's Programme'.
Enhancement courses and EPQ are optional within Pathways B and C.
*Students who are undecided on their best choice of 3 A Levels may commence 4 A Levels and will be offered two opportunities during Year 12 where one of these A Levels may be discontinued, enabling them to switch to Pathway A.
We regard Pathway A as our ‘core offer', as in almost all cases universities make offers based on the outcomes of three A Levels, and students who start three A Levels often find it highly advantageous to focus on maximising their achievement in three academic subjects.
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