Curriculum Intent 

 

We are incredibly proud of being a successful, diverse and inclusive girls’ community school with a co-educational sixth form. Our motto ‘Aim High’ is achieved through instilling the Sydenham Characteristics of Ambition, Determination and Respect in all of our students and by our deliberate planning of all aspects of our curriculum, from lessons to homework, enrichment and our careers offer.  

·                     Ambition  

We expect that every classroom is an ‘Ambitious Classroom’, and to reflect that, our curriculum spans and goes beyond the requirements of the national curriculum. 

·                     Determination 

As an inclusive school, we are proud of the results of all our students and believe that every student can achieve highly regardless of their starting points and, as such, we teach in mixed attainment groups across Key Stage 3 and most of Key Stage 4, with extra support provided for the pupils that need it.  

·                     Respect 

We teach our students respect for themselves, each other, their community and their environment through our lessons, our PSHE and pastoral programme, and through all of our interactions with them.   

Our ambitious, inclusive curriculum is under constant review, and is owned and shaped by all of our staff and students. 

For more information, please see the curriculum maps on the subject pages.

 

Reading 

To ensure that every student leaves us having encountered a broad and rich range of texts, we read with students in Years 7-10 in tutor time. We have carefully chosen a set of texts that reflect our diverse community and their experiences, while offering them a window onto the wider world.  

Alongside this, we regularly assess student reading age and share this powerful information with teachers and parents.  

Wider Curriculum 

We believe that experiences beyond the classroom should not be an ‘add on’ but should be deliberately planned and sequenced for every child. We are passionate about every child’s interests and engagement beyond the curriculum, and we recognise the tremendous impact that these extra- and co-curricular activities can have upon a young person’s development.  Our wider curriculum is planned to instil the Sydenham Characteristics of Ambition, Determination and Respect and adheres to the following principles: 

• Every student in Year 7 and 8 will achieve at least Bronze on the Sydenham Charter, a journey of 75 activities that develops the Sydenham Characteristics in sport, the arts, outdoor education and the wider community.   
• We will provide the Sydenham Entitlement for every child, a core offer that incorporates participating in a performance, attending a residential trip, visiting the theatre, and art gallery and a museum and playing sport.  
• Alongside this, we offer an exceptional range of clubs, trips and activities from the Duke of Edinburgh Award to Astronomy Club to Battle of the Bands.