The curriculum at Devonport High School for Girls relates directly to the school’s mission and ethos statements. The curriculum displays breadth, balance, relevance, differentiation, progression and continuity. The school recognises that education is an on-going process and that the curriculum offered should aide this progression into tertiary phases. We ensure we provide a broad and balanced curriculum that promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of students and prepares them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life. In addition to all students studying English, Mathematics, Science and Religious Education we ensure that students have access to independent, impartial careers advice at all key stages in addition to relationship and sex education.
Main Aims
To provide a curriculum structure that supports:
· the development of articulate, autonomous, collaborative learners with high meta-cognition (knowing themselves as learners) and resilience
· the further development of a genuine learning community by supporting learning conversations which are cumulative (teacher to teacher, teacher to student and student to student)
· opportunities to enrich the curriculum through engaging and challenging educational experiences leading to enhanced outcomes
Key Principles
1 Breadth
DHSG is committed to a broad and balanced curriculum that covers a wide range of disciplines. This enables us to develop knowledge and skills effectively amongst our students ensuring that they develop the flexibility to adapt successfully to a rapidly changing world. This can be seen in the extensive and diverse range of subjects studied at key stage 3, the large number and range of GCSE that all students prepare for which leads to all students studying at least three subjects at Advanced Level.
2 Depth
To achieve and maintain the highest possible academic standards we believe that students immersing themselves thoroughly into a topic enables them to access important skills. We find opportunities in all subjects to teach beyond the specification through clubs, competitors, enterprise and STEM events and through visiting speakers and off-site trips.
3 Knowledge
It is a great honour to impart knowledge to the next generation and we recognise the importance of knowledge accumulation to the development of skills. Assisting students in retaining knowledge by carefully considering medium and long term plans and interleaving the teaching of topics.
4 Choice
Whilst maintaining breadth we give students many opportunities to choose their curriculum. Students can choose French or Spanish in year 7 and then a second language in year 8. Four different GCSE options accompany the compulsory GCSE subjects and students choose from over 20 Level 3 qualifications with many opting to take the Extended Project Qualification. Each year we carefully construct the timetable to maximise the number of students getting their first choice options.
5 Whole curriculum
Our curriculum design is evaluated each year to assess whether it reflects the needs of our cohorts and provides a meaningful and engaging experience for all learners. Our curriculum provides regular opportunities for the effective personal development of students. Through extra-curricular, sports, volunteering, work experience and other enrichment type activities students develop character, resilience, self-discipline and self-awareness. Our curriculum actively promotes British values and robustly prepares for the next stage in their education or training and to be active global citizens.
