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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.

Useful Links and Resources

Opportunities

Seven tips for supporting high performing students

In a Guardian Teacher Network Q&A, experts discussed the latest thinking on what teachers and parents can do to help able children excel in their chosen areas. Please click on download button below for a summary of their thoughts.

Oxplore – the home of big questions

Oxplore is an innovative new digital outreach portal from the University of Oxford. As the ‘Home of Big Questions’ it aims to engage those from 11 to 18 years with debates and ideas that go beyond what is covered in the classroom. Big questions tackle complex ideas across a wide range of subjects and draw on the latest research undertaken at Oxford. Oxplore aims to realise aspirations, promote broader thinking and stimulate intellectual curiosity.

Our Big Questions reflect the kind of thinking students undertake at universities like Oxford. Everything on Oxplore draws on the University of Oxford’s expertise in everything from archaeology to zoology to offer approaches to challenges and questions underpinned by the latest thinking and research. Visit Oxplore here.

Subject Genius

A new section of the Times Educational Supplement (TES) website has been launched, called ‘Subject Genius’. Subject Genius pulls together some of the best subject specialist writers around. It explores challenging topics and enjoyable ways to approach difficult parts of specialist subjects. Please follow the link below to view the material presented so far. https://www.tes.co.uk/news/subject-genius

‘A History of Ideas’

BBC Radio 4 and The Open University have collaborated to produce a wonderful resource called ‘A History of Ideas’. This major 60-part series offers listeners a fresh take on some of the big questions that have preoccupied thinkers down the ages. A programme of animated films voiced by actress Gillian Anderson, TV personality Stephen Fry and The Simpsons star Harry Shearer complement the series. The links below will take you to the relevant websites. This is a rich resource for girls to learn beyond the classroom. Some of the questions tackled include: What is justice? Has technology changed us? What makes me human? How did everything begin? What does it mean to be free? http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04bwydw

Future Learn

A host of UK and international universities have collaborated to provide a variety of free online academic courses for young people. The courses can last from 2-8 weeks and cover a wide range of topics across the Arts, Humanities and Science. These courses can be taken by students aged 13 years plus. For example, there is a course entitled ‘Developing Your Research Project’, which is offered by the University of Southampton. It is suitable as preparation for a variety of research tasks, including the IB extended essay. https://www.futurelearn.com

TED

TED is a nonprofit community devoted to “ideas worth spreading”. It was founded as a conference bringing together people from three worlds:Technology, Entertainment, Design. Since then its scope has become ever broader. TED “believes passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world.” The TED website offers free knowledge and inspiration from the world’s most inspired thinkers, and also a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other. http://www.ted.com

QI

If you have heard of QI (Quite Interesting), the chances are that you have heard of the BBC2 comedy panel quiz of the same name, hosted by Stephen Fry. At its core, QI enshrines the original view of Lord Reith that the BBC should ‘educate, inform and entertain’, all three of which duties are carried out to the great enjoyment of panel and audience alike. The activities of ‘The QI Universe’ website are organised around a central concept or set of attitudes – those of curiosity, discovery and humour. http://www.qi.com/

Moral Maze

BBC Radio 4s Moral Maze provides combative, provocative and engaging live debate examining the moral issues behind one of the week’s news stories.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qk11

3 Minute Thinking!

King’s College London has launched ‘3 Minute Thinking!’, which is a series of bite-size videos on a host of exciting and curious topics with King’s academics every Thursday. Topics addressed include, ‘Was Shakespeare German?’ and ‘Can pigs and seaweed cure diabetes?’ www.kcl.ac.uk

National Association for Gifted Children

NAGC is an excellent organisation which was set up to support parents and their children.

http://www.nagcbritain.org.uk

London Gifted and Talented

The London Gifted and Talented website provides useful information, worksheets, policies and courses.

http:///www.londongt.org

World Council for Gifted and Talented Children

The World Council for Gifted and Talented Children is a worldwide non-profit organisation whose goal is to provide advocacy and support for gifted children.

http://world-gifted.org

World Class Arena

World Class Arena is an international initiative designed to identify and assess gifted and talented students around the world.

http://www.worldclassarena.org

English Heritage

English Heritage provides excellent site visits and educations resources.

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/education

History

The fascinating history of the Olympic Games.

http://ancientolympics.arts.kuleuven.be

Mathematics

Provides excellent materials to enrich the mathematics curriculum.

http://www.nrich.maths.org.uk

Music

Youth Music is a charity which funds and supports music activities for disadvantaged children and young people.

http://www.youthmusic.org.uk/musicispower/index.html

Philosophy

A resource and collaboration service for Philosophy for Children.

http://p4c.com

Science

A content-rich site bringing together images and viewpoints to create insights into science and culture.

http://www.ingenious.org.uk

Sport

The Youth Sport Trust nurtures young people talented in PE and sport.

http://www.youthsporttrust.org

Parenting a Gifted Child
Seven Tips for supporting high performing students
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