Senior Curriculum Overview
The Senior School curriculum is ambitious and varied; rooted in a long tradition of excellence, yet flexible and responsive, its mission is to inspire and equip each student to achieve their own best standard.
“Quality of pupils’ academic and other achievements is excellent.” ISI Inspection June 2022
To this end, our passionate and inspirational teachers provide pupils with high-quality learning opportunities, educating each student to the very best of their academic ability, and offering support, challenge and an individualised approach at every stage. Building from the four cornerstones of speaking, listening, literacy and numeracy, we foster a love of learning and a sense of personal, moral, social and cultural education, which allows our students to form opinions and make decisions that reflect the highest possible level of academic success and personal growth.
Every element of the curriculum is regarded as equally important in our holistic aim of preparing young people ‘not just to make a living, but to make a life.’
While St Columba’s aspires to be very much more than an ‘academic hot house,’ our learning is always strongly predicated on the highest academic expectations, quality experiences, and happy engagement in the learning process.
“Pupil have strong study skills and demonstrate excellent attitudes to learning.” ISI Inspection June 2022
Forms 1, 2 and 3 (Years 7, 8 and 9)
All students benefit from a common curriculum in Form 1, focusing on the core subjects of Mathematics, English, Religious Education and Science as well as two humanities, History and Geography, a core language, French or Spanish and Latin together with dedicated lessons in Art, Computer Science, Design Technology, Drama, Music, Physical Education and Games. In addition, teaching is given to develop their skills in STEM and Big Questions in Form 1 and STEM and Life (lessons in financial education) in Form 2.
In Form 3, we introduce subject selection with students continuing to follow the core subjects, humanities and core language with a measure of choice being introduced, there are three options. Students choose three subjects from Art, Computer Science, Design Technology, Drama, Latin, and Music. From the start of Form 3, a structured programme of Careers Education begins, so that students are supported as they move towards options for GCSE.
Forms 4 and 5 (Years 10 and 11)
Students continue to study up to eleven subjects. All will be encouraged to begin by studying a core of English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Religious Studies, a Modern Language and Sciences. Students proficient in Mathematics will also sit Further Mathematics alongside their IGCSE course in Mathematics. Additional subjects are chosen from a second Modern Language, Art and Design, Business, Computer Science, Design Technology, Drama, Geography, History, Latin, Music, Physical Education and Statistics. A course of Physical Education and Games is followed by all students.
Sixth Form
Breadth of study is encouraged in the Sixth Form. The number of subjects taken is decided on an individual basis, with students choosing between three and four full A Level courses. The choice of A Levels is offered from a list of twenty-two subjects.
The A Level course is supplemented by supervised study time and all students follow an Enrichment Programme which includes further qualifications such as the Extended Project Qualification and the Level 3 Certificate in Financial Studies.
Extensive university entrance and careers advice is provided for Sixth Form students as they consider their next step in life.
Teaching Groups and Setting
We operate four teaching groups in the Senior school at Key Stage 3, and these are named after four Saints: Andre, Benedict, Francis and Ignatius. The class numbers for each group do not exceed twenty-four. Teaching groups are of mixed ability and reviewed annually to help establish students’ relationships across the year group.
Students are set by attainment in Form 1 and 2 for Maths, to allow students to progress and perform to the best of their ability. In Form 3 setting also takes place in English, Science and MFL alongside Maths.
