Year 9

Year 9 Art: Year 9 have 1 single lesson per week. Classes are taught in mixed ability tutor groups. The activities and experiences on offer in Year 9 are more varied and tailored to suit the ability an interests of the groups, both to encourage future GCSE students and also motivate and inspire other students in their last year of Art education.

Termly projects will include:

• Portraits inspired by Gustav Klimt and Mucha
• German Expressionist Woodcut Portraits
• Team based sculpture, Everyday Household Still Life Objects
• Mini GCSE taster project

Year 9 Computer Science – We believe computing helps students understand the increasingly complex digital world. Our Lower School course develops key ICT, programming, digital technology, logical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

The Computing Department is supported by our website, offering key information about Lower and Upper School courses, including assessments, lesson objectives, and supporting resources for students.

In Year 9 Computing lessons, students are expected to demonstrate a range of core ICT and problem solving skills. These are further learnt and developed through our curriculum and enrichment opportunities. Computing skills are central to the development of other subjects such as the Sciences and Technology.

Year 9 Dance: Year 9 have 1 single lesson per fortnight. Classes are taught in mixed ability tutor groups. The activities and experiences on offer in Year 9 are more varied and tailored to suit the ability and interests of the groups.

Activities include:

• Introduction to choreography
• Dance for film
• Dance Styles

Year 9 Drama: aims to build confident performers and teamwork skills. Through topics like TV adverts, Shakespeare and Improvisation

Drama is used to explore topics, foster imaginative role-play, and study/perform scripts, including Shakespeare. It connects with media, dance, music, and English (especially writing in role), and aims for cross-curricular links with languages, humanities, technology, and art to develop a broad skill set valued by employers.

Activities include:

Our Upper School English curriculum follows the AQA GCSE English Literature and Language syllabus, which students begin in Year 9 and complete at the end of Year 11. This three-year model ensures thorough understanding and allows for dedicated revision. Students will explore diverse texts, including novels, poetry, drama (Shakespeare), media, and 19th-century non-fiction, building upon Lower School foundations to enhance their critical skills and appreciation for different genres.

These courses aim to inspire all students, providing appropriate challenge while remaining accessible. They will develop essential skills in reading, understanding, and analyzing various texts from the 19th to 21st centuries, as well as in writing clearly and accurately. Assessments include Paper 1 (Shakespeare and 19th-century novel) and Paper 2 (Modern texts and poetry).

Year 9 DT: Design and Technology subjects, which include Product Design, Textiles, and Food, teach you how to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems, how to be sustainable, a responsible designer and consider the impact on people and the planet, alongside how to work with a range of materials, processes and up to date technologies to prepare you for career pathways suited to the 21^st century.

Transferable skills include:

Year 9 Geography: In Geography, students study the key human and physical processes that are constantly shaping and re-shaping our world. Students learn to be critical, inquisitive and articulate and numerate, which are the skills needed to succeed in the modern world.

Students studying GCSE Geography follow the OCRB GCSE Geography for Enquiring Minds (course code: J384) taught across 5 hours per fortnight.

Termly projects will include:

Year 9 History – In History, students explore the people and events that have shaped our world, developing analytical, inquisitive, and articulate skills valuable for future success. This engaging course covers diverse topics, from Florence Nightingale to Elizabeth I and the rise of the Nazi Party.

Starting our GCSE in Year 9, we’ll examine the background to World War One and Two, preparing for our Germany and Conflict and Tension papers. Year 9 focuses on the causes of World War One, an investigation into the ‘Roaring Twenties’, and the experiences of Jewish people in 1930s Germany, including analyzing Nazi propaganda.

GCSE History is a popular choice, taught over 3 lessons a fortnight in Year 9, increasing to 5 lessons in Years 10 and 11.

Termly projects will include:

• Trench Life
• The Roaring Twenties
• The Nazi Holocaust
• US Civil Rights
• Ancient Medicine

Year 9 Maths: As a girls’ school, we address the common lack of confidence in maths among girls transitioning from primary school by providing a supportive and encouraging environment. While many students arrive with strong maths skills from various primary schools, our goal is to ensure excellent progress for all learners, regardless of their prior experience.

Termly projects will include:

Year 9 Music: Year 9 have 2 music lessons per fortnight. Classes are taught in mixed ability Tutor Groups. 1 lesson each fortnight will be performance based and one will be composition based using the specialist music mac suite.

Activities include:

Year 9 PE: Year 9 have 2 double lessons per fortnight. A super set of high level performers are taught together. Other classes are mixed ability. The activities and experiences on offer in Year 9 are more varied and tailored to suit the ability and interests of the groups.

Termly projects will include:

Year 9 PB – Students explore the religion of Islam. Students also look at how we define morality in society. They have an opportunity to investigate the issue of animal rights and the way in which religion is portrayed in the media.

Termly projects will include:

• Islam
• Buddhism
• Media

Year 9 PSHCE: Key PSHCE issues that require frequent revisiting are also delivered as part of the tutorial programme. Key message assemblies and follow up tutorial sessions are scheduled yearly on key issues that impact young people in modern Britain, such as sexual violence against girls, gender stereotyping, BLM, PRIDE, democracy, tolerance, and the rule of law.

Termly themes are covered in the tutorial programme of: Black History Month, anti-bullying and healthy relationships, life skills, environment, mental health and pride and diversity.

We also use the school’s off-timetable Ignite Days to cover aspects of the curriculum in more depth such as resilience and positive mental health.

Termly Projects include:

Year 9 Science: Science is about understanding the natural world through engaging content and hands-on investigations. All students begin their GCSE Science journey in Year 9 (6 lessons a fortnight) and complete it over three years.

In Year 9, your daughter will be placed on one of these pathways:

AQA Entry Level Certificate: For some students, taught alongside the foundation course.

AQA Separate Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics): Leads to three individual GCSE grades.

AQA Combined Science (Trilogy): Leads to two GCSE grades in Science.

Termly projects will include:

AQA GCSE French and Spanish courses aim to inspire and challenge students of all abilities. The assessment and texts are designed to be accessible across the full range of learners. Equal time is dedicated to listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills. Students will take either foundation or higher tier papers.

Termly projects will include:

• Email writing and translations
• Reading and Writing
• Listening and Speaking (Describing a photo)
• Year 9 exam – All skills