The Curriculum
The curriculum is designed to engender a love of learning. It provides
a firm foundation for future studies in a happy and secure environment.
We believe that a girls' time at Northwood College is of fundamental
importance in the development of the individual and seek to enable
each girl to realise her full academic potential and acquire a sense
of personal and social responsibility. Every opportunity is taken to
widen the girls' awareness of the world around them and curriculum
related visits are frequently arranged.
NURSERY
(Redington) - For girls aged
3 to 4 years
Redington provides a nursery education in a secure and caring environment.
The curriculum is based on the Foundation Stage, Early Learning Goals:
Personal, Social and Emotional Education. Communication. Language and
Literacy. Mathematical Development. Physical Development. Knowledge
and Understanding of the World and Creative Development. The staff
work closely with each child and provide a structured individual programme,
based on regular and on-going assessment. Parents see the staff on
a day to day basis and meet to discuss their progress on Open Evenings.
Before and after school care is available for 8am and from 3pm - 6pm.
INFANTS,
Years 1 and 2 (Vincent House) - For
girls aged 4 to 6 years
The curriculum is designed both to cover and also to extend beyond
the Key Stage 1 requirements of the National Curriculum. The foundations
of number work are laid in daily lessons using a number of schemes
including the National Numeracy Strategy. Girls acquire fluency in
reading through the use of a range of schemes and methods. In creative
work, themes are chosen which may be topical, seasonal or stimulated
by current events and these are developed in Science, History, Geography,
Art and Technology, Physical Education, Music and Religious Studies.
Appropriate external visits are also arranged. All classes have two
computers and access to a small suite of computers in the Junior School.
Specialist Drama teaching is available to Years 1 & 2 and extra
curricular group violin, piano, cello or chess lessons are available
to girls in Year 2. Before and after school care is available for 8am
and from 3pm - 6pm.
JUNIORS,
Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 (Bryden Brown House) - For
girls aged 7 to 11 years
The curriculum is designed to cover and go beyond Key Stage 2 of the
National Curriculum. Subjects studied include Mathematics, English,
Drama, Science, French (Years 3-5), German/Spanish (Year 6), Latin
(Years 4-6), Art, Design Technology, Information and Communications
Technology (ICT), History, Geography, Religious Studies, Music and
all branches of Physical Education. The girls have dedicated ICT lessons
in the Junior ICT Suite. All girls have music lessons with a specialist
teacher as well as the opportunity of learning a large range of instruments
with visiting teachers. Girls participate in a programme of external
visits to theatres, museums and sites of scientific and historical
interest to support classroom based work. Older girls take part in
residential trips, and all girls follow a carefully planned programme
of pupil care.
LOWER
SCHOOL, Years 7, 8 and 9 - For
girls aged 11 to 14 years
The curriculum in the first year includes English, two modern foreign
languages chosen from French, German or Spanish, Classics, Mathematics,
Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History, Geography, Religious Studies,
Art, Technology (including Design, Food, Graphics and Textiles), Information
Technology, Music, Drama, Physical Education (Athletics, Hockey, Netball,
Rounders, Swimming, Tennis and Gymnastics). Girls also follow short
courses in Library Education, Health Education, Latin, Current Affairs
and Careers Guidance. During Year 7 for Mathematics, girls are divided
into groups across the year according to ability and this happens for
Languages in Year 8, and Sciences in Year 9. They are taught in mixed
ability classes in all other subjects.
Towards the end of Year 9 girls, advised by the staff, select the
subjects they wish to study over the next two years in preparation
for the General Certificate of Secondary Education.
UPPER
SCHOOL, Years 10 and 11 - For
girls aged 14 to 16 years
English, English Literature, Mathematics, a modern foreign language,
Biology, Chemistry, Physics (either dual certificate science or three
separate GCSEs) are compulsory GCSE subjects and girls may choose three
or sometimes four subjects in addition.
GCSE options include Art and Design, Classical Civilisation, Drama
and Theatre Arts, French, Geography, German, Greek, History, Home Economics,
Information Technology, Latin, Music, Physical Education, Religious
Studies, Spanish and Textiles.
Non-examined Religious Studies, Physical Education, Information and
Communication Technology, Citizenship and Thinking Skills complete
the curriculum. All girls follow a detailed course in study skills
and learn how to use study time effectively.
SIXTH
FORM, Years 12 and 13 - For
girls aged 16 to 18 years
In the Sixth Form most students will study four subjects at AS Level
in the first year and continue with three of their subjects in the
second year to gain the full A Level qualifications. An extra AS Level
may occasionally be taken by some students in either their first or
second year.
The following subjects are currently offered at AS and A Level: Art
and Design, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Classical Civilisation,
Critical Thinking, Drama and Theatre Studies, Economics, English Language
and Literature, English Literature, French, Geography, German, Graphic
Design, History, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Latin,
Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Music, Music Technology, Physical
Education, Physics, Politics, Psychology, Religious Studies, Spanish
and Textiles.
All Sixth Form students also take part in an enrichment programme
to further develop the key skills being acquired through their A Level
studies. This will include ICT and a choice of other subjects.
Sixth Form Conferences, Work Experience, Careers and Higher Education
advice are also offered.
APPLICABLE TO THE WHOLE COLLEGE:
PUPIL WELLBEING
Guidance is offered throughout the College on study skills, personal
relationships, career choice and decision making and health and safety.
All girls have one guidance lesson each week.
NATIONAL CURRICULUM
It is our policy to teach all subjects in the National Curriculum but
to offer other subjects in addition where appropriate.
EXTRA SUBJECTS
Throughout the school it is possible to have individual lessons in
many musical instruments (including violin, viola, cello, double
bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, trumpet, trombone,
horn, guitar and piano) speech and singing and to attend classes
in ballet and judo. Participation in school drama productions and
membership of the orchestras are not confined to girls who study
drama and instrumental music at school but are open to all.
THINKING SKILLS
Northwood College’s Advanced
Cognitive Development Programme ensures that each girl – from
Nursery to Sixth Form – is given a wide range of opportunities
to maximise her cognitive potential. Thinking skills such as questioning,
critical and creative thinking, decision making and problem solving,
are integrated throughout the curriculum through the use of our ‘Spiral
Thinking’ planning model – as described in the magazine 'Teaching
Thinking and Creativity'.
Thinking skills are also taught through specific lessons, courses
and activity days. Junior School pupils follow our own ‘THINK!’ programme
of weekly lessons, while girls in the Senior School take part in courses
on mind mapping, learning strategies, De Bono’s thinking tools,
critical thinking and memory techniques. Pupils find out about their
own individual learning styles and the methods of study and revision
that are most likely to suit them.
In the Sixth form, lunchtime courses offer opportunities to learn
more about critical and creative thinking, with the AS level Critical
Thinking as an option for those students wishing to take this further.
NOTE:
These notes are a brief guide to the curriculum at Northwood College
and could be subject to modification and change.
