Curriculum

The School Curriculum 2020/21

In Years 7 and 8 pupils are taught in their tutor groups for most subjects with smaller classes arranged for Technology lessons.  Pupils normally remain in the same tutor group of about 30 pupils throughout the main school.

Physical Education includes games, athletics, gymnastics and dance.

Technology includes Design in the areas of Food, Textiles, Electronics, Graphics, Resistant Materials and Engineering.

In Year 7 students will study either French or Spanish, and the language is allocated to them on arrival at the school.  

This table shows the number of lessons in each subject students have in their two week timetable rotation.

             *3 of each Language

In Year 8 the curriculum remains similar to that followed in Year 7.  However, in Year 8, students will study a second additional language.  Students will go on to study their First Language at GCSE and have the option to select their second as an additional GCSE choice.  Careers guidance is also built into the curriculum at this stage.

Key Stage 4 begins in Year 9 and all pupils start studying GCSE courses at this point.

Years 9 to 11:

• All pupils must study either History or Geography, or may choose to study both.
• All pupils must study either French or Spanish, or may choose to study both.
• Students will take part in various activities or have the opportunity to study Level 2 Cambridge National Award in Sports Studies (GCSE equivalent qualification).
• All pupils will be able to complete the English Baccalaureate.
• There is an option for pupils to take Dual Award Science.

Advanced Level subjects

For September 2020 we offer the following subjects:

The above table illustrates the wide range of subjects available to our current pupils. 

Courses are dependent on groups being of a viable size.

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Religious Education

Westcliff High School for Girls is a non-denominational school and welcomes pupils of all religious faiths. The programme of Religious Education, which is taught in accordance with the Essex syllabus, aims to give an understanding of the nature of religious beliefs and practices. We believe that it is important for young people to understand how religion affects everyday life in our multi-cultural society and in the world at large. We therefore encourage representatives of different faiths to speak in school and arrange visits for our pupils to local places of worship. All pupils are prepared for the full course GCSE in Religious Education which is taken at the end of Year 11.

The daily assembly follows a pattern of broadly Christian worship and is regarded as important, both as a corporate occasion and because of its contribution to the moral and spiritual life of the school. Parents may elect to withdraw their daughters from assembly on religious grounds but it is hoped that few will feel the need to do so. Parents should write to the Headteacher to request permission to withdraw their child and are asked to provide suitable materials for her to study her own religion in the school library during Religious Education and assembly periods.

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