Curriculum

In the first three years at Sydenham High School pupils follow a broad course of study covering a wide variety of subjects designed to further their education. During Year 9 girls select their GCSE choices, based on their strengths, interests and experiences in Key Stage 3.

The GCSE courses have been designed to be interesting, useful and relevant to the world today. Most subjects involve a combination of both examination and coursework units. Practical work, fieldwork, research, oral and communication skills may contribute to the final grade.

Most girls continue their studies into the Sixth Form. 4 subjects are studied in year 12 at AS Level, with 3 or 4 subjects continued to A2 Level in year 13.

Subjects currently available for study within the school are outlined below.

Art
Art is a wonderful form of communication and a powerful means of personal expression. It is to be found everywhere and is accessible to us all. Further to understanding its various purposes and functions, specialist approaches are studied in more depth, with girls’ work related to artists past and present. These could include fine art, design, graphics, three dimensional work and printing. Drawing from direct observation and personal experience is fundamental and will enable ideas to develop with imagination and originality.

Biology
Biology aims to foster an awareness of the world around us and the needs of all organisms in our ecosystem. Girls develop an enjoyment of, and interest in, the study of living organisms. Throughout it is possible to acquire an appreciation of the influence of humans and their potential for changing living systems and the environment from a global perspective, down to modifications at the molecular level. The subject also provides the opportunity to develop practical skills.

Business Studies
Business Studies has both practical and theoretical aspects. The practical side helps students to acquire key skills and introduces a range of management techniques. You will learn how businesses make decisions about what to produce, how to make and market products, and how to manage finance and people. The subject also looks at business in the context of ethical, environmental and economic issues and applies aspects of psychology and sociology to the understanding of the effective motivation and organisation of people.

Classics and Civilisation
Study a great deal of the Classical world - the society, art and buildings of the Greeks and Romans, and read (in translation) some of the best and most famous literature ever written, charting the adventures and often bloody downfalls of men such as Odysseus and Oedipus, as well as some unforgettable tragedies. History, archaeology, philosophy, politics, social history and religion will all be considered together, making this a glimpse into an alien culture. Many of the resources that London offers will be used - visiting museums, dramatic performances, lectures, and possible sites in Roman Britain.

Design Technology
Design Technology provides opportunities for girls to develop an awareness of the nature and significant importance of Design and Technology in a rapidly changing society. It enables girls to develop their application of knowledge, skills and understanding of Resistant Materials Technology within an overall ‘design and make’ based approach. Girls will be expected to produce a resistant materials product that can be marketed. The product should be the first of a batch of 50, realised in school with the facilities that are available. Girls will realise the first, or the prototype, of the product.

English Literature
English Literature offers a marvellous opportunity to engage with and to explore in real depth a wide range of writing, focusing on novels, poems and plays from across the centuries. Girls have the opportunity to get to know the major names like Shakespeare and Bronte while finding time to encounter key contemporary writers from Britain, America and elsewhere. In studies there will also be a huge opportunity to offer individual responses, both in lively classroom discussions and in independent writing. Whether probing the mind-set of a doomed tragic hero or unravelling the exciting complexities of a lyric poem or an enigmatic Pinter play, girls will find themselves constantly entertained, challenged, and rewarded.

French
Our nearest neighbours and, within the European Union, one of our most important trading partners, are so different and yet so like us! Through the study of the language girls get to know the French …videos, songs, extracts from the French press, satellite television, trips to the theatre and a wealth of resources in the library are all there to make the study of French fun, rewarding and an excellent foundation for future study and/or practical use of the language. There is also the opportunity to stay with a French family in Paris.

Geography
Geography is about understanding the world in which we live. As the world is constantly changing, Geography aims to make sense of the direction in which we are going. Books, videos, newspaper articles, the internet, maps and worksheets all help to make the issues we study interesting and relevant. The main areas of study are People and the Natural Environment (river landscapes, tectonic activity, rocks and landscapes); and People and the Human Environment (settlement, agriculture, managing (resources/ tourism). Students will be expected to interpret information presented in a variety of ways (photos, maps, written accounts, graphs) and make sound geographical decisions using available resources. Empathy with different viewpoints is as important as understanding geographical processes. Field trips are also offered around the UK.

German
Girls studying German find enormous value in understanding the language of our socially and economically influential European neighbour. We aim to develop proficiency in all the skills required for effective communication, all of which have equal weighting - oral, listening, reading and writing. By accessing a range of interactive, visual and aural aids students are able to develop an understanding of German culture and history, as well as language. To give girls the opportunity to speak German, to experience the country and to bring studies to life, trips are organised both to Berlin and the famous German Christmas markets.

Government & Politics
Politics is exciting because people disagree. They disagree about how they should live. Who should get what? Who should have a say? How much influence should each person have? For Aristotle, this made politics the ‘master science’, that is, the activity through which human beings attempt to improve their lives and create the Good Society. Government and Politics involves a fascinating study of the activity through which people make, preserve, amend and break general rules under which they live. Much attention is given to current political developments, and these and many more contentious issues provide the topics for debate and disagreement.

History
History should not be viewed in isolation; a real historical understanding is essential in appreciating art, literature, music, architecture, developments in science and technology, politics and current affairs - the world we live in. History is exciting, challenging and fascinating. It is concerned with differences of historical opinion, critical analysis of human behaviour, the detection of bias and falsehood and the presentation of reasoned argument and debate. Students must be able to understand concepts, for example of cause and consequence, and they must be able to understand events from the perspective of people who lived at the time. A wide variety of primary and secondary evidence is studied in order to build an overall picture of events. Students also have the opportunity to visit the World War One battlefields around Flanders.

Information Communication Technology
Wherever you are you will find it difficult to avoid computers, so why not learn to use them? Girls find out how ICT is used in the everyday world, in the context of home, school, recreation, the community, business and industry, and about effects on society. Students also learn how to analyse, design and develop computer systems and study the approach, principles, knowledge and skills required, including developing ‘live’ projects for ‘real’ users. Both practical and theory sessions are studied.

Latin
Latin is a wide ranging subject. We do much more than study a language. The subject also gives a unique opportunity to study the literature and poetry of another civilisation and to find out in more detail how the Romans lived. Classical Civilisation continues to be a very important feature of the course, understanding what the Romans said about themselves and developing the ability to comment. It is a marvellous opportunity to explore a culture which has shaped Britain and the rest of Europe. Girls are given the chance to use the many resources that are on offer in London, such as attending lectures, plays and study days. As well as being exciting and inspiring, this will help to develop analytical skills and flexible thinking which will be useful in a wider context.

Maths
Mathematics develops reasoning and logic as well as basic numeracy and accuracy. Above all, students enjoy the challenge that problems will present and be willing to persist at a problem in order to obtain a correct solution. Pure Mathematics with its emphasis on algebra is the foundation of all other forms of Mathematics. With Statistics girls will learn how to present and manipulate numerical information and how to develop a statistical model to describe data and test the accuracy of predictions. Girls also learn how to translate practical problems into a mathematical language.

Music
Music appeals to anyone who has a keen interest and finds enjoyment in creating and listening to different styles of music, and anyone who wishes to broaden their experience and deepen their understanding of both live and recorded music. There are areas of study in film music, music for special events and dance; orchestral landmarks and the popular song. Studying Music demands performing, composing, listening and analytical skills in almost equal measure. Girls improve skills in performing and composing in a range of styles, while listening to a wide variety of music and developing a more informed appreciation of how and why it was written and/or performed.

Persoanl, Social and Health Education
PSHE aims to promote pupil’s moral, social and cultural development and to prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life. The four main strands are personal development, health and safety, citizenship, and relationships. A wide range of external agencies and speakers are invited to provide expertise and interest for the girls alongside traditional teaching. The programme is presented under five main categories: health and sex education, citizenship, study skills and careers.

Philosophy
Philosophy is for those who want their studies to bring personal as well as academic benefits. It will provide a unique opportunity to engage in a stimulating, critical dialogue with others that will inevitably improve self-understanding and ability to analyse and support personal thinking. Philosophy (meaning ‘love of wisdom’ in Greek), investigates, critically, rationally and systematically, the assumptions which most of us make about such things as ‘knowledge’, ‘truth’, ‘good’. The study of Philosophy complements other academic areas such as English, History, Science, Sociology and Religious Studies very well, by offering a thorough critical examination of the assumptions on which they are based.

Physical Education
This is for pupils who enjoy participating in physical activity, as expertise in four different activities will be required. Girls can choose from a huge range of sports including all the activities taught at school as well as activities which maybe undertaken outside i.e. aerobics, dancing, horse riding etc. The following areas are studied: factors affecting performance (how the body works during exercise, motivation, leisure time); the relationship between health, fitness and games (general health, diet, fitness tests and how to train); and risk assessment (prevention and treatment of injuries). Girls will be expected to show commitment to the school teams in their chosen activities.

Physics
Physics relates to the needs of people, whether in the environment (for example, understanding pollution); economics (the search for, and utilization of, alternative energy); or the purely personal (the satisfaction of finding out how things work and the search for knowledge). The use of Physics in other branches of science is one of the reasons why Physics is at the centre of the age that we live in. Students will also benefit from the versatility in Physics contributing to students having a very logical approach to problem solving.

Religious Studies
Two major religious traditions are studied: Buddhism and Christianity. As the Buddhist religion is based on insights about the workings of the mind gained through meditation, this may particularly appeal to students with an interest in psychology, while the Christianity section is devoted to a survey of the principle truth-claims, forms of worship and moral teachings of the Faith. Throughout the course, an open-minded, questioning approach is encouraged with topics frequently being considered from more than one point of view.

Sociology
Sociology deals with facts and issues that are crucial to the lives of all of us. It is essentially an investigation of society and how people living in society interact with each other on a daily basis. It allows students to draw on their own experiences in attempting to understand the features of human life and modern society, for example such issues as the social consequences of the increase in divorce, the success or failure of students in the education system, and the effect of the mass media on people’s attitudes and values. It is these features and many others that Sociology attempts to understand. It is therefore a dynamic, challenging subject which will exercise intellect and force girls to reconsider their views.

Spanish
Girls discover a culture full of literary and artistic traditions, a fascinating history, and the real Spain of today, a modern and efficient country which has changed more dramatically than any other in Europe in the last thirty years, without losing its identity. At the same time, students will master the sophisticated linguistic skills which will allow them to understand oral and written Spanish to a high standard, translate, interpret, write and, last but not least, speak the language. If all this was not enough, girls will also find that you have a further asset in your future career, whatever you decide to do.

Theatre Studies
For those with a real interest in drama, Theatre Studies offers a perfect opportunity to explore the world of acting from a practical and theoretical point of view. Studies offer the chance to find out more about the practicalities of performance – from staging to acting itself – while focusing lots of lively attention on the reading and the interpretation of plays, ranging from the awesome power of Greek tragedy to the compelling intricacies of contemporary theatre. Girls attend as many performances as they can to have the opportunity to experience the exciting breadth and depth of theatre as a living thing.