Curriculum

Six key principles underpin our curriculum aims:

• Challenge

• Breadth

• Initiative

• Confidence

• Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural awareness

• Community

We seek to provide an academically challenging environment which is vibrant and stimulating. We have high expectations, but we provide the support the girls need. We encourage them to take ownership of their work, fostering independence and instilling a lifelong love of learning. Girls have many varied lessons with their form teacher but also benefit from specialist teaching in Music, PE, Drama, ICT, Science and French.

There is much to enjoy and experience at The Abbey. Workshops and special themed weeks enrich the curriculum.A wide range of visits beyond the classroom promotes the idea that learning is all around us and fosters an inquisitive nature about the world. A programme of residential trips begins in Year 3 (LI) with one night away at Juniper Hall and culminates in an outdoor adventure week in Cornwall for LIII (Year 6). The breadth is further enhanced by the many extra-curricular opportunities on offer to girls which allow them to take part in a wide variety of activities.

We offer opportunities to exercise initiative and responsibilty for learning and decision-making. We actively promote the idea of teamwork and co-operation. Group working takes place in the classroom, in PE, Music and Drama and on Residential trips. There are many leadership opportunities like the School Council and service opportunities where girls lead their Houses in raising money for charity. All this engenders a ‘can do’ attitude.

Numerous performance opportunities at The Abbey, especially in Drama productions and form assemblies help the girls to develop amazing confidence from a very early age. Year 6 girls are keen to lead assemblies and show impressive presentational skills.

We seek to provide holistic development of every child. We instil a respect for and understanding of Spiritual, Moral, Cultural and Social issues in the world. We look at diferent customs and celebrations within our own community and beyond.

We believe in the importance of a nurturing and supportive community. Our strong values programme is taught very directly through our assembly programme and reinforced throughout the school. We focus on a different value each month e.g. respect, trust, determination. These ideas are backed up with our Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education and pastoral care support.