Curriculum
“Pupils access a carefully designed and highly ambitious curriculum. The school has thought deeply about the knowledge that pupils need for their future success”
OFSTED 2024
If you would like to view the content of our Curriculum please visit our Curriculum page https://www.penworthamgirls.lancs.sch.uk/curriculum-information/
The timetable consists of 5 x 1 hour lessons (25 lessons in total per week).
The core purpose of our curriculum is to nurture and instil the values and qualities outlined in our Mission Statement; to prepare articulate, questioning, tolerant and independent women for the future. Our students are not merely well equipped for external examinations, but they are empowered to be active, engaged and resilient citizens in modern Britain. As an all-girls school, we ensure our students understand there are no limits to what they can achieve, from scientist to engineer, entrepreneur to CEO. Every door is open.
We offer a rigorous three-year Key Stage 3 programme that ensures a firm grounding in a wide range of subjects, leading to more informed choices at Key Stage 4. Most of our students pursue the English Baccalaureate, alongside a wide choice of creative, practical and vocational subjects, because we believe it matches both theirs and our aspirations, placing them on level terms with high-performing students elsewhere.
Our curriculum also lies beyond the classroom, enabling students’ personal growth and development through our exciting and engaging extra-curricular programme.
In Year 7 the girls are taught in their tutor groups for some lessons, while Mathematics, Science, English, and Modern Foreign Languages, are taught in ability sets from September, based on prior achievement and our own baseline assessments. In Years 8 & 9, setting is introduced for most subjects and this allows girls to be placed in the group best suited to their individual needs in each subject. Students who may need additional support to achieve their potential in Mathematics or English may have a bespoke timetable that allows for intervention in these areas to accelerate their progress.
Specialist help is provided by the Learning Support Department for students whose needs are not fully met by the normal mainstream curriculum. Learning Support takes place with small groups or individuals, either in the normal lessons or, where more intensive support is required to help a student learn, in timetabled small-class interventions, based in one of our Student Support rooms.
Parents are regarded as full partners in the support programme and are welcome to contact the SEN Co-ordinator at any time.
Years 7, 8 and 9.
All students will study the following curriculum:
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Art
- Life Skills
- Technology
- German / French
- Geography
- History
- Computing
- Music
- Physical Education / Dance
- Religious Education
Years 10 & 11
All students follow public examination courses usually leading to GCSE or GCSE equivalent vocational qualifications and for a small number of pupils, vocational based qualifications are available in collaboration with local colleges and appropriate providers. The curriculum is evaluated regularly and additional qualifications may be offered if suitable.
The in-school programme of study for Years 10 and 11 comprises a compulsory core of:
- English (Language and Literature)
- Mathematics
- Science
In addition, students follow non examination courses in:
- Physical Education
- Life Skills
Together with 4 additional subjects at present chosen from:
- Art
- Dance
- Drama
- French
- German
- Geography
- BTEC Health and Social Care
- History
- Computer Science
- BTEC Enterprise
- Music
- Photography
- Physical Education
- Religious Studies
- Separate Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
- Technology (Food Preparation and Nutrition, Product Design and Textiles)
If you need any further information about our school curriculum please contact Mr J Ramsdale, Senior Assistant Headteacher at j.ramsdale@penworthamgirls.lancs.sch.uk
