Academic excellence

Sidcot offers academic excellence. Highly qualified and committed teachers are carefully selected to make the curriculum accessible to all Sidcot's pupils, whatever their background. The human scale of Sidcot means that all of our pupils can be encouraged to develop individual talents and fields of interest.

In the Junior School, small classes and excellent pastoral skills ensure that pupils acquire a very sound knowledge of the core curriculum. French is taught from Reception, and the Juniors benefit from the Senior School’s excellent specialist facilities in science, technology, music, computing, art and physical education.

The curriculum broadens out in Years 8 and 9 (ages 12 to 13) so that by the time pupils come to choose their GCSE options, they will have acquired a wide range of knowledge. This covers Latin, one or more modern languages, all three sciences, and the usual general school subjects. The School has implemented and is following the National Curriculum, but it reserves the right to vary curricular requirements according to the needs of each individual child.

At the age of 14, each pupil is expected to prepare for at least nine GCSE subjects, which are normally taken at the end of Year 11. Individual GCSE programmes are supplemented by a core curriculum of non-examined subjects, such as careers education. GCSE programmes must include English, English Literature, Mathematics and Dual Award Science. It is possible for pupils to add to these choices outside the normal timetable. The options are constructed to allow a balanced curriculum which, for most pupils, will add to the basic GCSEs at least one modern language, one humanity and a creative subject.

Entry to the Sixth Form depends on both academic and social progress. During the GCSE programme, staff discuss carefully with each pupil how to select the most appropriate goals for future development. Those who continue at Sidcot are able to take AS or A levels or the International Baccalaureate. All pupils wishing to continue into or join the Sixth Form at Sidcot must satisfy the entry requirements. Almost all pupils from the Upper Sixth go on to degree courses at universities and other colleges, including Oxford and Cambridge.

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