Curriculum Modern and Inspiring

Art and Design Individuality and creativity

We offer innovative teaching that, while providing exemplar core skills to girls of all years and abilities, also allows for strong individual creativity. Girls are given freedom of imagination and despite a strong focus on technical aptitude we will always endeavour to accommodate each pupil’s individuality and creative preference. The Art and Design Department is lively and forward thinking and we are proud of our students’ achievements at GCSE, A Level and IB.

Biology Life processes and living organisms

Our aim is to enable the girls to become competent, confident and independent biologists with a genuine interest in the living world. We strive to develop the understanding of life processes and living organisms by encouraging girls to view the world around them curiously and critically asking ‘how?’ and ‘why?’. We stress the relevance of Biology in today’s society and the importance of a working knowledge of biological processes. Visits and field trips include the Wetlands Centre and London Zoo for the Year 7 and 8 girls, whilst those in the Sixth Form, IB or A Level, head to field study centres. Extra-curricular clubs include the Dissection Club, Wild Aspirations, Neurology Club and Biomed Society. There is also a Sixth Form led magazine, Dr Dolphin and a variety of National Biology challenges are also on offer for girls to enter.

Chemistry Linking experiments to theory

Everything you hear, see, smell, taste, and touch involves Chemistry; girls will develop the ability to understand the world around them using their accrued chemical knowledge. The challenge of explaining experimental results using theoretical models develops both resilience and creative thinking whilst the colours, bangs, flames and smells of practical work are exciting and inspiring. Those who have an interest in Chemistry beyond the syllabus have the opportunity to enter the Cambridge Chemistry challenge and the UK Chemistry Olympiad. We also take part in the Salters’ Festivals of Chemistry, a one-day fun event held at a London university where a team of girls from Year 8 compete through the completion of practical work.

Classics Discovering the ancient world

The Classics Department offers courses in Latin, Ancient Greek and Classical Civilisation and Ancient History. We champion the combination of fascinating subject matter with the development of analytical skills that girls can learn through their study. Latin and Ancient Greek unlock the language and literature of two ancient cultures and help us understand the roots of our own modern-day culture. Classical Civilisation and Ancient History enable girls to uncover and construct their own picture of the past by examining primary sources from the ancient world.

Computing Designing, coding and problem-solving

Computer Science is a problem-solving subject, the ultimate goal is for the girls to be able to design and code solutions in a variety of programming languages to solve real-world problems. Our curriculum introduces binary, logic gates and algorithms to Year 7 and 8 with an emphasis on practical work. Girls enter national computing competitions and attend a variety of computing-based extra-curricular clubs including coding and hacking!

Drama Devising and performing

Our aim is for girls to understand the benefits of collaboration. In the Lower School, girls work in groups to explore many social, cultural and historical contexts through the medium of Drama. Through practical work in Drama at all levels, the girls learn to appreciate different perspectives, to self-reflect, and to observe the world around them with an inquiring mind. Performances include the Year 7 Christmas production when every girl has a part to play, lower school and main school plays and musicals. GCSE, A level and IB examination classes perform devised pieces to small audiences and there are a number of extra-curricular drama clubs.

Economics Social, political, philosophical

We aim for our Sixth Formers to develop an interest in, and an understanding of, factors contributing to the performance of economies. Principles are addressed critically so that girls develop an understanding of the power and the limitations of models. Economics as a human science takes social, political, and philosophical considerations as central to understanding what causes ‘things’, and in the design of appropriate policies. Opportunities beyond the syllabus include the Bank of England Competition, London School of Economics essay competition, public lectures at the LSE, Godolphin Young Enterprise Scheme.

English Literature and Language

The task of the English department is to ensure that girls are filled with confidence and delight in their encounters with English literature and the English language. We stretch and challenge girls to develop their speaking, reading and writing well beyond the requirements of the syllabus, both in the classroom and in our wide range of extra-curricular activities. As one student said at the end of her time at the school: ‘I have learnt to think in ways I never thought possible’. Beyond the curriculum girls can try: Lit Soc – aimed at Sixth Form; Writers’ club – one for juniors and one for seniors; Writers of the future – a mentoring programme for creative writers; Theatre – opportunities for every year group exist to engage with live theatre; Debate – an inclusive and expansive programme from Year 7 upwards.

Geography Making sense of the world

Our primary aim is to stimulate an interest in places and to help students make sense of a complex and dynamically changing world. Through theory and field work, we work with the girls to understand how places and landscapes are formed, how people and their environment interact, and how a diverse range of economies and societies are connected. There are many weekly clubs for our keen geographers and visits here and abroad to places such as the Margam Country Park and Iceland.

History Everything and everyone has a history

Everything and everyone has a history. In all our courses of study we aim to capture the immense diversity of the subject. That means studying processes and individuals from a broad range of chronological, geographical, and demographic contexts, with the aim that our historians will find and nurture their own academic interests. There are many extra-curricular clubs and societies that explore aspects of historical interest and a number of trips are organised such as the visit to the battlefields in France and Belgium.

History of Art Explore, analyse and interpret

History of Art gives students the tools to unlock visual global cultures. Through historical research, visual exploration, technical analysis using specialist terminology, discussion and debate, students learn to interpret diverse works of art and architecture from antiquity to the present. Our learning journey starts with the fundamental skill of visual analysis to decode imagery and objects and grasp the relationship between materials, techniques and styles. This provides insight into both the complex identities of the individuals who create art, and the social, political and economic function of art within specific cultural contexts. There are a number of art history clubs – including the West London Art History Café open to students from partner schools – and plenty of visits to galleries in London, Florence, Rome, Paris and New York.

Mathematics Lateral thinking and logical reasoning

We encourage students to link knowledge learnt in one area with another, a progression which enables mathematicians to solve an enormous variety of scientific and mathematical problems. Whilst we cover the necessary techniques and content clearly and thoroughly, our Mathematics curriculum is particularly focused on enabling girls to develop transferable skills such as lateral thinking and logical reasoning. There are a variety of extension classes available to girls throughout school including a cryptography competition, a Sixth Form Maths in Action day at the Institute of Education, and all girls have the chance to participate in the UKMT Maths Challenge,. We also enter the local area Hans Woyda competition and a House competition takes place in the summer term.

Modern Foreign Languages French, Spanish, German, Italian, Mandarin

What a joy it is to speak a foreign language and at Godolphin we offer French, Spanish, German, Italian and Mandarin. Grammatical grounding is crucial but there is also an abundance of opportunity to practise conversation with language assistants or at a host of extra-curricular ‘chats’ or clubs such as film clubs, debating in french, cookery (menus in the native language!). We enter inter-school competitions and many trips are organised including visits to foreign language cinema or theatre and overseas to Montpellier, Paris, Koblenz, Hamburg, Rome, Bologna, Salamanca, Granada and China! We also offer work experience overseas for Sixth Formers.

Music Performance, composition and listening

Our aim is to nurture the musical development of all girls at every level and promote involvement through practical music making. The Music curriculum focuses on the core skills of performance, composition and listening and encompasses many cultures and musical styles. Individual music tuition is available in a range of instruments and voice with some girls taking up to three lessons per week. A full and varied programme of extra-curricular opportunities is available to cater for all musical abilities from beginners to the most advanced. Girls are encouraged to perform in a broad range of environments from informal Friday recitals, to music festivals, a music tour (most recently to Hamburg) and formal concerts, including a Choral concert where choral and instrumentalists join with parents, staff and professionals, recently performing Mozart’s Requiem.

Philosophy and Religion Not what to think, but how to think

Our primary objective is not to teach girls what to think, but rather how to think. The girls will develop the skills, resources and confidence to make their own informed decisions on a variety of spiritual, moral, social and cultural issues. The department is inclusive and enables girls from a variety of faith backgrounds, and those from none, to explore values and beliefs in an atmosphere of mutual respect. In Year 7, we visit the British Museum to study the Middle East and Assyrian Galleries whilst the Year 10 girls visit to the Royal Trinity Hospice. Our annual Philosophy and Religion essay prize invites students studying at GCSE or Sixth Form to submit an essay on a chosen aspect of our subject area.

Physical Education Choice, participation, competition

Physical Education introduces the girls to a variety of team based and individual sports. Our aim is to inspire girls to develop a love of fitness, in the hope of establishing an active fitness routine as they move into adulthood. Girls will have the opportunity to work with their peers as well as across year groups, and can take on various roles such as officiating and coaching, especially in GCSE PE where they also learn about the physiological and psychological benefits of sport.

We pride ourselves on the breadth of extra-curricular sports which encourages participation by all of our students. Whilst inclusivity is key to all we offer, competing to the very highest level is equally important. Our successes in county, regional and national competitions across a variety of sports have grown year on year. More information in the Sports section of the website.

Physics Theory and experiment

Our primary aim is to allow the girls to gain confidence in the practical aspects of Physics encouraging students to discover the connections between the different topics and the relationships between the various Physics phenomena. We endeavour, through theory and experiment, to help girls foster a lifelong curiosity about the universe and a wonder of the mysteries around them. Girls might enter the GCSE Physics Challenge, the A Level Challenge, the British Physics Olympiad Experimental project or the British Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad A Level Challenge leading The Physics and Engineering society is a student-led society to which all are welcome. From Year 9 upwards girls are supported to go for CREST bronze, silver and gold awards, all run as lunchtime clubs.

Politics UK and US Politics

Sixth Formers studying Politics will explore the mechanics and ideologies of both UK and US Politics, examining, for instance, tensions within Constitutional law, and the challenges presented by Human Rights and Civil Liberties. Fundamental aspects of contemporary political thought will also be considered, with subjects such as Socialism, Liberalism, Conservatism, and anarchism forming an important part of the course. The department organises a number of trips and the Politics, Philosophy, and Economics Forum offers a twice-half-termly opportunity for students to discuss and debate a diverse range of contemporary issues and concerns from an interdisciplinary perspective. The student-run Current Affairs Society also presents a lively discussion forum.

Technology Design Technology and Food Preparation & Nutrition

Students develop their creative-thinking skills by designing and making products that solve real problems, using imagination and original thinking whilst developing a range of practical skills. The design process builds up curiosity when analysing and researching a brief, and extends higher level thinking skills when evaluating products. Successful learning in Technology encourages resilience and independence, even if many activities are collaborative in nature. Both GCSE STEM subjects, in Design & Technology and in Food Preparation and Nutrition we aim to enhance girls’ knowledge of science through investigating and questioning the properties and behaviours of different materials.