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Forest School knows its pupils and knows itself. It puts the individual child at the centre of all it does and promotes a clear set of values, which underpin the Forest culture.
This is a humane, open-minded school with both feet on the ground, in which the pupils’ all-round personal development is outstanding and academic attainment is high. It is, above all, a happy school which understands the rich inter-relationship between the curricular, the co-curricular and the pastoral.
We benefit from a tremendous location: on the very edge of North-East London, a city school surrounded by ancient forest, safe but not secluded, and within a diverse, dynamic community. There is boldness in the School’s character, a readiness to be forward-thinking and adaptable, with pride in what we are and excitement for what lies ahead.
Pupils in Years 7 and 8 are offered a broad range of subjects to study including English, Mathematics, Science, Religious Studies, History, Geography, Art, Design and Technology, Food and Nutrition, Drama, Wellbeing, Music, Latin, Computer Science, Physical Education. Modern Foreign Languages are very important and in Year 7 pupils will have the opportunity to choose to study two Modern Foreign Languages from French, German, Mandarin and Spanish.
In Year 9 pupils study a core of subjects that we deem sufficient to ensure they experience adequate breadth in their education so that they do not unnecessarily constrain their I/GCSE choices. Core subjects include English, all three Sciences, Mathematics, Geography, History and Religious Studies. They must also choose at least one Modern Foreign Language. In addition to this core curriculum, pupils have the opportunity to make choices from a range of subject areas: Art, Classical Greek, Computer Science, Design and Technology, Drama, Food and Nutrition, Latin, Music and Modern Foreign Languages. Pupils also benefit from extensive Wellbeing education
Forest pupils value breadth of opportunity as well as the ability to specialise. On top of this, pupils and teachers express a strong appreciation for courses of study that go beyond the purely conventional – we exercise our School's independence robustly.
With this in mind, the curriculum in Year 10 and Year 11 enables pupils to make choices to maintain breadth or to specialise according to their desires, whilst continuing to receive an education giving a good grounding in Mathematics, Science, English (Language and Literature) and a Modern Foreign Language.
What makes our curriculum unique, however, is the opportunity for all pupils to study for a GCSE standard Higher Project Qualification (HPQ).
As well as incorporating the teaching of study, research and independent learning skills, the HPQ also allows pupils to exercise intellectual curiosity, and their individual enthusiasms, since it can be focused on any subject area of the pupil's own choosing.
In order to maintain a suitable breadth of education during the GCSE years, we make the following subjects a compulsory part of the core curriculum studied by all GCSE pupils at Forest: Mathematics, English Language, English Literature, Science, either Double Award Science (a course combining study of all three sciences), or at least two separate science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics), at least one Modern Foreign Language (French, German or Spanish or Mandarin) and the Higher Project Qualification (Level 2).
On top of these seven subjects, pupils choose three full GCSE options. Higher achieving Mathematicians will also have the opportunity to study for a further qualification in Mathematics.
Making the right choice of A-levels is crucial to the success of your Sixth Form experience. How do you ensure that you make the best possible selection of A-levels?
- Choose subjects that you enjoy and you are interested in. Which classes do you look forward to? Which homework do you always seem to end up doing first? Which subjects give you a buzz or sense of satisfaction when you make connections, solve a problem or complete an assignment? Remember: you're going to be spending about a third of your curriculum time doing each subject and enjoyment is key to keeping you motivated.
- Choose subjects for which you have an aptitude. A-levels are challenging, and it is important that you are able to make the conceptual leap to ensure that you transition successfully from GCSE to A-level. Students should ask themselves whether their performance in their chosen subjects matches their ambition. Low grades are as much a barrier to entry to university as choosing unsuitable subjects for a chosen degree can be.
- Make sure that you make an informed choice. Research your A-level choices carefully. Read the course descriptions in the back of this booklet carefully. Ask teachers of this subject further questions. Talk to Sixth Formers who already take the A-level – they will be able to provide you with a no-frills account of what it is like doing the A-level.
- It is particularly important that students research subjects that haven't been studied before. Students need to check that the subject is what they think it is and will suit their strengths. They must avoid taking uninformed risks.
- If you have a specific career or university course in mind, you should check to see if they have any specific A-level requirements. You can investigate specific courses yourself on university admissions pages. Any member of the Sixth Form Team will help you to check the specific requirements of certain courses. If in doubt, do ask. Even for very similar courses entry requirements can vary from one university to another so you should only use the information below as a general guide.
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