Queenswood School, Hatfield, Hertfordshire

The National Curriculum is broadly followed at our boarding school and we will adapt and enrich it where we believe it to be educationally beneficial to our students. Girls are encouraged to be self-motivated and to direct their own learning, to collaborate and to be self-disciplined in their approach to their work.

LOWER SCHOOL (YEARS 7 & 8)

Each Year group in the Lower School is divided into forms; there are usually three or four in Years 7 and 8, although Mathematics, English and Languages are usually taught in sets across the Years. A common curriculum is followed in the first two years comprising:

Art & Design – Design & Technology – Drama & Dance – English – French – Geography – History – Computer Science – Latin & Classical Civilisation – Mathematics – Music – Physical Education – Practical Cookery – Religious Studies – Science

In Year 8, Spanish and Japanese are introduced.
The aim of this top girl only boarding school is to provide a broad and balanced programme of study throughout the Lower School leading to GCSE/IGCSE choices.

MIDDLE SCHOOL (YEARS 9, 10 & 11)

Lower School subjects continue into Year 9, during which girls make their GCSE/IGCSE choices. Each girl takes an average of nine GCSEs/IGCSEs including the compulsory core subjects:

English Language – English Literature – Mathematics – Combined Science (or three separate Science qualifications)

In addition, girls usually choose two or three subjects from the following options:

Art & Design – Computer Science – Classical Civilisation – Dance – Design & Technology – Drama – Geography – History – Italian – Japanese – Latin – Music – Physical Education – Religious Studies – Spanish

Every effort is made to keep these choices as open as possible, and girls have the opportunity to discuss their options with the subject staff, Tutors, Senior Tutors, the Head of Middle School, the Deputy Principal Academic and, of course, parents.

SIXTH FORM Boarding School

The national system of post-16 teaching and examination is followed in the Sixth Form. Most Sixth Formers study four A-level or Pre-U subjects in the Lower Sixth; some choose to drop to three later on. Students take General Studies and PE as part of the core curriculum in the Sixth Form.

The following subjects may be studied in the Sixth Form, provided they fit in with the option block choices:

Art & Design – Biology – Business – Chemistry – Classical Civilisation – Computer Science – Design & Technology – Dance – Drama & Theatre Studies – Economics – English Literature (Pre-U) – French – Geography – Government & Politics – History (Pre-U) – History of Art (Pre-U) – Italian – Japanese – Latin – Mathematics – Further Mathematics – Music – Physical Education – Physics – Psychology – Spanish – Theology, Philosophy and Ethics