At WHSB we believe that education is more than the sum of lessons and our Learner Profile outlines the intent of our curriculum which involves the development of seven attributes in our pupils. The academic curriculum is one of a number of important elements in providing a rich education for our pupils. It sits alongside the many other activities at School which all serve to develop well-rounded young people at ease with themselves and fully equipped to take on the challenges of adult life. A good education grows the mind, develops self-confidence and gives a person a true sense of self-worth.

The School’s academic curriculum provides breadth and promotes scholarship. It encourages pupils to be enquirers, thinkers, and knowledgeable as well as principled and compassionate young people. The quality of our curriculum owes much to the work and dedication of our highly-qualified teachers. We have created a curriculum which excites and encourages debate. Pupils are offered the opportunity to constantly critically evaluate the world around them.

Pupils follow a traditional academic curriculum that allows them to develop their knowledge and skills in the Lower School (Years 7 to 9) across a broad range of subjects in the Arts, Humanities, Languages, Mathematics, and the Sciences before making their GCSE choices from a wide range of subjects. Pupils will continue to follow a broad academic curriculum in the Middle School (Years 10 and 11) studying GCSE courses. The majority of our pupils choose to stay on at the School for their Sixth Form education.

The lessons in each subject are structured and sequenced to enable pupils to acquire the knowledge and skills to progress to the next level of academic challenge. Each pupil is encouraged to reach a defined level of attainment by the end of an academic year to demonstrate they have been successful in acquiring the requisite knowledge and skills. Teachers implement a variety of pedagogical approaches in lessons such as group and independent tasks, discussion and presentations, written and verbal exercises, research and problem-solving. Pupils are also encouraged to undertake independent work outside of lessons in order to consolidate and advance their knowledge and understanding.

The pupils are set a variety of tasks and tests to assess the impact of the lessons and independent study on their academic progress. Some of these assessments are set during lessons and other are to be completed outside of lessons. Some tasks are structured to be completed over a period of weeks or lessons. The majority of tasks do not require a computer although there will be exceptions. In general, most tasks will require the use of a textbook and/or notebook. The teachers will use these assessments to monitor pupils’ progress and provide them with constructive feedback. They will also draw on this information when reporting to parents.

The School Day

The School operates a two-week academic curriculum. Pupils in the Lower and Middle School have six 50-minute lessons each day (60 lessons per fortnight). The School day commences with registration at 8.45am in Form Groups. This is followed by Whole School Assembly (although on specified days across the fortnightly cycle pupils will have a Form Period or Year Group Assembly). The first two lessons run from 9.10am – 10.50am and this is followed by a twenty-minute break for recreation. Lessons three and four run from 11.10am – 12.50pm and pupils have a lunch break until afternoon registration at 1.50pm. Pupils are encouraged to participate in some of the vast array of clubs and activities (including sport and music) which operate across the lunch period. The final two lessons of the day run from 1.55pm – 3.35pm. There are a number of after-school activities and evening events in which pupils are encouraged to participate.

Lower School Academic Curriculum

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

The Year 9 curriculum is the same as the Year 8 curriculum with two variations:

Middle School Academic Curriculum

Years 10 and 11

Examinations

Pupils in Years 7 to 10 complete School Examinations in the second half of the Summer Term. Year 11 pupils will sit GCSE Public Examinations in May and June.

Reporting and Parents' Evenings for the Lower and Middle School

Dates of Reports and Parents' Evenings are shown on the School calendar.

The documents at the foot of this page provide an outline of the curriculum for the subjects taught in the Lower and Middle School academic curriculum.