CCHS is a proud and active member of the National Association for Able Children in Education (NACE).
An independent charity founded 40 years ago, NACE works with schools, education leaders and practitioners to improve provision for more able learners. We believe that through a focus on meeting the needs of more able learners, and embedding an ethos and culture of high expectations for all, schools can ensure all young people have opportunities to flourish.
NACE provides resources, webinars, coaching, training, CPD and networking opportunities to share best practice and guidance, with a focus on developing high-quality provision for more able learners and supporting whole-school improvement, grounded in research.
NACE Challenge award
We were delighted to be accredited with the NACE Challenge Award in October 2024.
“The NACE Challenge Award provides recognition of school-wide high-quality provision for more able learners within a context of challenge for all.”
This prestigious award is a testament to excellent teaching & learning practice, which is underpinned by the commitment staff have to their professional development.
Challenge
Curriculum vision
We are a proud and progressive grammar school community, committed to excellence in girls’ education and empowerment since 1907. Our vision of developing the leaders of tomorrow is evident in our commitment to the pursuit of excellence. In achieving their individual potential, our students make a valuable contribution to the local, national and global community.
All of our students are highly able and as a school community we are committed to providing opportunities within, across and beyond the curriculum to serve the full development of their talents, leading to excellence in achievement.
Curriculum aims
Since 2019, we have been working closely with NACE (the National Association for Able Children in Education). NACE work closely with member schools to improve provision for more able learners, driving whole-school improvement and raising achievement for all.
NACE’s key values mirror those of CCHS in recognising that all able children and young people, regardless of background, should be recognised and have the opportunity to realise their full potential.
Aims
- To raise the quality of provision in the School to extend and challenge all our students appropriately
- To address the needs of more able learners, which will raise achievement for a much wider group of learners in a school.
- To provide a rich and challenging curriculum with learning opportunities which allow all children to flourish.
- To recognise that ability can be revealed in many areas of school life and not only in traditional academic subjects.
- To continue to uphold an ethos of high expectations and aspirations
- To provide teachers with high quality CPD supporting the delivery of a challenging and enriching education
- To understand that ability is a fluid concept: it can be developed through challenge, opportunity and self-belief.
To realise the vision and aims requires institutionalised curriculum challenge, i.e. demanding and stimulating experiences across the school. Our challenge model has seven elements:
- Scheduled: habitual challenge, e.g. daily lesson activities
- Extension: amplified challenge, e.g. Parental Support Booklet activities Years 7-9 booklets
- Enrichment: deep challenge, e.g. Enrichment Day activities
- Overarching: cohesive challenge, e.g. Internationalism activities
- Excellence: examination challenge, e.g. GCSEs, the HPQ, A levels, the EPQ
- Ancillary: complementary challenge, e.g. extra-curricular activities
- Innovation: novel challenge, e.g. special projects
Curriculum objectives
In order to ensure the important concept of ‘challenge’ exists at the heart of curriculum, we abide by these key objectives:
- Preserve subject integrity and rigour
- Develop further opportunities to enrich and challenge students
- Capitalise on opportunities to highlight and develop our broad and balanced curriculum.
