Academic Ethos

Year 7  

When girls join our School in Year 7, we ensure they have a broad foundation of 17 subjects. While some subjects will be familiar, there will be others that girls will be studying for the very first time. In addition to English, Mathematics and Science, our girls explore the three branches of the humanities: Geography, History, and Philosophy, Religion & Ethics, alongside Art, Design Technology & Engineering, Music, Drama and Computer Science.  Year 7 girls study two modern foreign languages, French and Mandarin,  as well as Latin & Classics. Girls also participate in timetabled sport and PE lessons and enjoy a host of co-curricular and enrichment activities They take part in a Kinza activity every two weeks. This is an enrichment afternoon where girls choose from a broad range of activities including circus skills, jewellery making, bouldering and cycling.  Throughout their time at the School, girls follow an enlightened programme of Personal, Social, Health, Citizenship and Economic Education (PSHCE), along with a comprehensive ‘Futures and Aspirations’ programme to inspire them in their future careers. 

Years 8 and 9 

During these years, girls begin to make their first independent academic choices. In Year 8, girls continue studying Latin & Classics and choose two other languages from the following options: French, Mandarin and Spanish.  Year 8 is designed to lay the foundations for making confident choices for GCSE options. In Year 9, their scientific education specialises with distinct courses in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. In certain subjects, such as the sciences, Mathematics and English, the girls begin to follow the core GCSE syllabus from Year 9.  The girls are encouraged to keep an open mind about their future choices, and we offer them many opportunities to discover which concepts and topics ignite their intellectual curiosity and creativity.  Form Tutors, Heads of Year, Heads of Department and the other academic staff offer an extensive programme of one-to-one guidance and group events to support the girls and their families during the girls’ transition to GCSEs.

Years 10 and 11 

In addition to continuing with English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, the girls select four additional subjects for their GCSE studies; we recommend that they choose a language and a humanity subject as part of these options.  Girls may also choose to complete a Higher Project Qualification (HPQ) which involves researching a topic of their choice, creating a 2000-word report or artefact and delivering a presentation.  Girls continue to enjoy an active and well-balanced programme through compulsory sport and co-curricular and supra-curricular enrichment. Opportunities to network with alumnae, ongoing careers education, work experience, PSHCE, A Level taster lessons and an array of co-curricular activities stimulate the girls’ personal growth. 

Core Subjects 

Core subjects at (I)GCSE level (studied by all pupils): English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Science Option: Triple Science (Three GCSEs), Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Trilogy Science (Two GCSEs). The study of the three scientific areas, with examinations in each but equating to two GCSEs. 

Options Subjects 

In addition to the core subjects and Science option, you have a choice of four optional subjects to select. Subjects include: Art & Design: Fine Art, Classical Civilisation, Classical Greek, Computer Science, Design & Technology, Drama, Engineering, French, Geography, History, Latin, Mandarin, Music, Philosophy Religion & Ethics (PRE), Physical Education and Spanish. 

The Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) offers various scholarship and prize opportunities for pupils already attending its schools, including Streatham & Clapham High School (SCHS). These awards recognise and encourage excellence across a range of academic and creative fields. Scholarships are designed to support students pursuing subjects like Law at university, while other prizes honour achievements in areas such as creative writing, poetry, and modern foreign languages. Through these recognitions, GDST aims to foster talent, reward dedication, and provide opportunities for pupils to advance their studies and interests. Prize opportunities include: Creative Writing Prize, Laurie Magnus Poetry Prize and the Anne Hogg Modern Foreign Languages Prize.