You must be a registered user to access this information. Registration is free and it takes less than 1 minute to sign up.
Not right now. May be later!You must be a registered user to access this information. Registration is free and it takes less than 1 minute to sign up.
Not right now. May be later!
Old Palace provides students with a unique and stimulating environment in which to learn.
We have high expectations for every student at Old Palace. Girls enjoy a first class, academic education and are able to experience a wealth of opportunities to enable them to develop as individuals through an outstanding extra-curricular and enrichment provision. We are very proud of the wide range of different clubs, activities, trips and events that the school provides across a whole range of areas including music, sport, dance, drama and so much more.
We aim for our students to leave us as confident, capable and connected individuals; something we call The 3Cs. We identify, encourage and nurture the special qualities of each and every individual entrusted to us. Our superb pastoral care ensures that every student is well supported as they move through the school. Our vibrant and diverse school community stimulates girls to develop and flourish in ways beyond the reach of a conventional education.
Old Palace Pre School, Preparatory, Seniors and Sixth Form are blessed with magnificent buildings, first class facilities and an enthusiastic team of high-calibre staff. For all who embrace the many opportunities presented, Old Palace will reward them with a happy, memorable and empowering education.
A time of opportunity and confidence building
New students will find the Old Palace community welcoming, supportive and full of exciting opportunities.
Moving to a new school can sometimes be an unsettling experience, so we have established trusted strategies, such as not giving homework until after the autumn half term, to ensure a smooth transition. Students soon relish the numerous academic and extra curricular opportunities available and their confidence grows, aided by a strong framework of pastoral support.
We are committed to ensuring that all our students are stretched and challenged in their learning. Girls are encouraged to participate in many of the exciting clubs and activities on offer and they take part in competitions which challenge their thinking and creativity.
Students follow a broad curriculum of subjects including: Art & Design, Computer Science (includes Codes & Cryptography), Dance, Design Technology, Drama, English, French (Beginners & Continuation), Geography, History, Latin, Mathematics, Music (includes singing), PE & Swimming, RS & Philosophy, Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics), Spanish (Beginners).
Setting in Mathematics occurs following assessments during the autumn term. Students are grouped in French and Spanish according to experience and ability. Movement across sets occurs throughout the school as appropriate. Alongside, the Learning for Life programme, which is part of the Year 7 curriculum, underpins the human, social, spiritual, cultural, careers and academic aspects of the students' work.
A Year of Consolidation and Growth
In Year 8, the curriculum is the same as Year 7 but with the introduction of a second Modern Foreign Language: German, Italian or Spanish.
Consider your options!
This is an important year for students; they are growing into young women and will be required to make some important choices regarding their GCSE subjects.
During the autumn term, students will start thinking about their GCSE choices. They will be supported by their Form and Subject Tutors, together with our very experienced Head of Careers. Families will be invited to an Options Information Evening, which includes a presentation to parents to explain the Options process. Unlike many state schools, we are lucky to be able to build our timetable around the choices that our students make.
Students take up to 10 subjects, which is more than sufficient for any future career or course of training. It also allows students time to further develop interests and experience through clubs, activities and service. This is important for entry to top universities, as well as ensuring a healthy work-life balance. It is possible to take an eleventh subject if you wish to take Classical Greek.
It is important to develop a balanced programme of study containing subjects from a range of disciplines. This allows students to develop a variety of skills and interests and demonstrate they have a broad range of skills to offer. In addition, it will ensure that after GCSEs, students will have retained the possibility of studying the Arts, Sciences, Languages, the Humanities and creative and technical subjects at A Level. All students will studying the following subjects:
- English and English Language
- Mathematics
- Science (either three separate sciences or Co-ordinated Science)
- One Modern Foreign Language i.e. German, French, Spanish or Italian
In exceptional circumstances, such as pupils joining the school later or where English is an additional language, a student may be advised to study English but not English Literature. PE continues and students will be offered the chance to study for the Sports or Dance Leadership awards.
The GCSE Years
As students begin their GCSE studies, the pace and depth of learning increases.
The curriculum allows for students to follow up to 10 GCSEs. The core subjects are English Language, English Literature. Maths and Science (either three separate sciences or double science).
GCSE courses are offered in Art, Business Studies, Classical Civilisation, Computing, DT, Dance, Drama, French, Geography, German, History, Italian, Latin, PE, Spanish and Religious Studies. Classical Greek runs as a twilight course for our most able scientists and classicists.
Students are encouraged to maintain a breadth of study and are advised to study at least one subject from each of humanities, the creative and performing arts, modern foreign languages and technology subjects.
Music is integral to life at Old Palace and very much part of our curriculum. We aim to encourage as many girls as possible to join in with the many musical opportunities available to them. Our aim is to cultivate and develop young musicians of all standards, and encourage participation in a wide variety of ensembles. We provide a diverse curriculum that allows pupils to engage in a multitude of genres and styles, which, in turn, is supported by the excellent and extensive co-curricular framework.
Old Palace Senior School has two orchestras, four choirs, a brass ensemble, a jazz band, several steel pans groups, a recorder consort, a guitar ensemble, a ukulele ensemble and a number of wind and string chamber groups to choose from.
A team of 20 peripatetic music staff undertake instrumental tuition for approximately 200 students. Girls may elect to learn the piano, flute, saxophone, percussion, trumpet, trombone, oboe, clarinet, violin, cello, double bass, viola, French horn, bassoon, harp or guitar. Associated Board Examinations are also conducted regularly at school.
As a member of The Choir Schools Association, our chapel choir sings monthly evensong services in Croydon Minster, and also sings regularly at cathedrals around the country. Our Chamber Choir has won a number of competitions and singers from the school have recently performed with the internationally renowned London Mozart Players on several occasions, including performances of Holst's ‘Planets', and Mendelssohn's ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream'. We also regularly put on school musicals and collaborate with the other foundation schools in doing so. Recent productions have included ‘Seussical', ‘Hairspray', and ‘Guys and Dolls'. There have also been several Opera productions involving Old Palace pupils, including recent performances at ENO and Garsington's production of Britten's Turn of the Screw.
In addition to our regular concerts and productions, the school's musicians regularly perform abroad; recent tours have included performances in Vienna, Barcelona, Venice and Tuscany amongst others.
Dance Leadership and Sports Leadership are also options for students in Year 10 and 11. In addition, Year 10 students may embark upon the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme with the option to progress to the Silver award in Year 11 students and Gold in the Sixth Form.
Our Sixth Form offers a wide and varied curriculum of over 24 subjects. Whilst class sizes tend to be around 8-10 students per teaching group, there are many subjects with much smaller classes. Unlike many schools, we can run subjects at A Level even if there are only a very small number of students.
Sixth Form students generally study three subjects in Year 12, although some may begin with four for the first term while they make a decision about what subjects are the best fit for them. In exceptional cases a student may do four subjects to A-level, but students must discuss this with Ms Ford, the Deputy Head Academic to ensure this is a sensible course of action for their Higher Education plans.
Students complete an independent research project in Year 12 on a topic of their choosing. This is designed to enable them to develop their independent learning and research skills and help with the transition to how they will be required to learn at university. Students who have made sufficient progress will then have the opportunity to develop this into an EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) in Year 13, which is a Level 3 qualification equivalent to an AS level.
Art, Craft and Design
Biology
Chemistry
Classical Civilisation
Classical Greek
Computer Science
Dance
Design Technology
Drama and Theatre Studies
Economics
English Language
English Literature
Further Mathematics
Geography
History
Latin
Mathematics
Modern Foreign Languages
Music
Photography
Physics
Product Design
Psychology
Religious Studies
Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award
Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)
Mathematics in Context
Level 3 Certificate in the Arts (Gold Award)
Law Preparation
Medicine Preparation
Philosophy, Politics and Economics Preparation
Sports Leaders Level 3
University Mathematics Preparation
Are you a school?
We want to make sure that the information we display is as accurate as possible. Please contact us if you spot anything that needs to be updated.