MGGS School Prospectus Curriculum Information Booklet 2014 to 2015

Maidstone Grammar School

for Girls Non sibi sed omnibus

Curriculum Information 2014 - 2015

a tradition of excellence

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a tradition of excellence Buckland Road, Maidstone, Kent ME16 0SF T: 01622 752103 F: 01622 681947 E: central @mggs.org www.mggs.org



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Our Curriculum Our Curriculum Vision

At Maidstone Grammar School for Girls, our curriculum is designed to

deliver our core values and purpose. It enables students to achieve

academic excellence and to develop wider social awareness in a caring

and supportive environment. Through the curriculum we want to

nurture and foster in our students a scholarly approach to their academic

studies, to support them in becoming articulate and effective thinkers,

and for them to have a life-long love of learning.

The world will undoubtedly be full of change in the years ahead and

have its own unique challenges and opportunities. We wish to prepare

our students for this future so that they will be able to make valuable

contributions to society and use their talents and abilities for the benefit

of others as well as themselves.

Curriculum Vision into Practice

We have a broad and balanced curriculum - students study a wide range

of subjects from across the academic spectrum. Our curriculum

programmes link well with each other, helping to ensure continuity and

progression. They are underpinned by a set of common principles

which include:

ensuring that all students have access to a curriculum which is

appropriate, challenging and related to their needs,

encouraging students to gain a deeper knowledge and understanding

of key ideas and concepts through an enquiry based approach to

learning,

giving sufficient time to each Key Stage so that opportunities are

made available for significant enrichment and extension,

ensuring that all students are intellectually challenged and develop

as independent learners and thinkers.

Learning and teaching are the cornerstones of the curriculum and as a

school it is our central focus for these to be of the highest order.

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Learning and Thinking We recognise that learning takes many forms and includes the

acquisition of knowledge, the nurturing of understanding and the

development of a range of skills. Cognitive processes underpin all

aspects of learning and for learning to be truly effective, embedded and

with the potential to be applied in different contexts, an understanding

of the importance of these processes is essential. This is why we are an

accredited Thinking School. We want our students to be able to use

their intellectual abilities to the full; to be articulate, fluent and creative

thinkers who can perceive the core issues of an argument, understand

the subtleties and nuance of language, be able to ask astute questions

and critically evaluate material. And of course we want our students to

enjoy their learning, make excellent progress and achieve their full

potential.

Literacy and Numeracy across the Curriculum We recognise the importance of literacy and numeracy. These are

delivered and taught across the whole curriculum and not just within the

subject areas of English and Mathematics respectively. We want all of

our students to be highly literate and numerate individuals so that they

can fully engage with their learning at School and be well prepared for

the world of higher education and employment.

Teaching; Intellectual Ability All of our students are intellectually able. We have high expectations for

them, and encourage everyone to realise their full potential by ‘teaching

to the top’. We ensure that our students are sufficiently stretched and

challenged in their learning and are aspirational in choosing their career

pathways. As an accredited Thinking School students will be supported

to develop their higher order thinking skills as much as possible and to

have highly effective dispositions and strategies for their learning.

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Curriculum provision includes:

designated enrichment lessons in Year 7 and 8 where a carousel of

‘Big Questions’ such as ‘Where does my language come from?’ and

‘What makes a great thinker?’ are explored by all students over the

course of the academic year,

all students following a Key Stage 4 Science course leading to

qualifications in GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics,

the opportunity for some students to study GCSE Astronomy,

setting in Mathematics and some Modern Foreign Languages,

enabling students in the Key Stage 4 top sets in Mathematics to also

study some additional ‘free standing’ Mathematics qualifications as

well as GCSE Mathematics,

the introduction of Mandarin as an extra-curricular activity,

providing opportunities for Sixth Form students to follow a five

A’level subject route if appropriate,

providing access to Sixth Form students to complete a range of

enrichment programmes including the Extended Project

Qualification, the Level 3 Institute of Finance qualification in

Personal Finance, Oxford University modules and Open University

‘Learn about Science’ non-accredited courses.

Special Needs Provision Students with special needs are well supported here. We ensure that

they can access and fully engage with our curriculum. Support,

co-ordinated by our full time Inclusion Manager may range from the

provision of additional resources, differentiated learning and teaching

strategies in the classroom, a modified timetable, staff or older student

mentoring and the inclusion of recommendations and guidance from

external organisations where appropriate.

Do contact us if you would like further information.

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Pupil Premium and Financial Support

It is important to us that all students have potential access to the

curriculum programmes on offer. We are also keen to ensure that

subject option choices by pupil premium students are not restricted

because of financial concerns such as in the purchasing of any resources

or materials. If you would like more information about how we can

support you if you are experiencing financial difficulties do get in touch

with us.

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The Broader Curriculum

Sex and Relationship Education, Citizenship and

Personal, Social, Health & Economic Education School ‘Focus Days’, when the school timetable is suspended for a day,

are held five times during the year and enable a range of elements of

these programmes to be covered. Timetabled lessons also cover

significant parts of these programmes of study. Timetabled Religious

Studies lessons, assemblies and other school activities play a key role in

the school’s Religious Education programme.

Careers We want our students to make informed choices about their career

pathways into higher education, training, employment and

apprenticeship programmes, have high aspirations and a good

understanding of the world of work. The school is a holder of the

nationally recognised Investors in Careers Award which acknowledges

the high standard of our Careers provision.

We are lucky to have a full-time Careers Co-ordinator, a well-resourced

Careers Library and a comprehensive virtual classroom about Careers

that all students can access. We are committed to providing a series of

carefully planned programmes of Careers Education, Information,

Advice and Guidance for all students, in partnership with external

agencies and organisations as appropriate. These programmes include

as appropriate; Careers Education sessions, Careers Guidance activities,

information and research activities, work related learning (including a

one week work experience placement in Year 11 and a three day work

shadowing placement in Year 12) and Careers based lessons and

activities during some of the school’s Focus Days.

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Other events such as Year 12 students attending a Higher Education

Convention, a UCAS, Oxbridge & Apprenticeships Evening for parents

and Year 12 students, ‘ASPIRE’ employer events, alumni visits and

subject specific activities occur throughout the school year.

Extra-Curricular Activities We have a huge number of different extra-curricular activities for

students to participate in and a summary of these can be found on our

school website. The school has many well established traditions and

activities including the annual House Arts Cup competition. This

provides a fantastic opportunity for students to participate in a music,

drama or dance based competition and is led by our Sixth Form House

Leaders.

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Our Examination Results 2014 GCSE

Grade %

A*-A 60.4

A*-B 89.6

A*-C 98.6

5 A*-C including English and Mathematics 98.9

8 A*-C including English and Mathematics 98.3

Expected or more than expected progress in English 91.0

Expected or more than expected progress in Mathematics 97.1

A* - A in English Language 48

A* - B in English Language 88

A*-C in English Language 100

A* - A in Mathematics 68

A* - B in Mathematics 94

A*-C in Mathematics 100

A* - A in Science 55

A* - B in Science 88

A*-C in Science 98

Students gaining the English Baccalaureate 92.1

A2 Grade %

A*-A 32.8

A*-B 66.8

A*-C 92.1

3 or more A*-A 14.3

3 or more A*-B 42.9

3 or more A*-C 78.6

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Student Destinations Post Sixth Form 2014 Destination % of Year Group

Russell Group University 25%

University 46%

Employment 2%

Apprenticeship 1%

Gap Year 7%

Foundation Course 1%

Internship 1%

Russell Group Destinations University of Bristol: 1 student

Durham University: 3 students

University of Exeter: 2 students

University of Glasgow: 1 student

Imperial College London: 2 students

King’s College London: 4 students

University of Leeds: 2 students

University of Liverpool: 3 students

University of Manchester: 2 students

Newcastle University: 1 student

University of Nottingham: 3 students

Oxbridge: 3 students

Queen Mary University of London: 2 students

Queen’s University Belfast: 1 student

University of Sheffield: 1 student

University of Southampton: 6 students

University College London: 2 students

University of Warwick: 3 students

University of York: 1 student

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Joining us from Primary School

Parents and girls visiting the school often ask us how they join the

school and what processes are involved in getting a place with us. This

information is to help you understand what happens and when.

“What happens

and when?”

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What you’ve done so far

June to July

2014

To sit the Kent Grammar School test in September 2014

you will have registered your daughter’s details between

Monday 2nd

June and Tuesday 1st July 2014.

July 5th

2014 You may have been involved in our English, Mathematics

and Thinking Skills Master Classes which took place on

Saturday 5th July 2014 8.45am-3pm. We know lots of

you came to this and afterwards we had lots of messages

to say how enjoyable it was.

July 7th

and 8th

2014

Our summer Open Mornings took place on Monday 7th

and Tuesday 8th

July from 9am until 11am. Following

our Forte choir and dance performances, there was a short

presentation given by the Headteacher and it was lovely

to see so many of you in the hall that day. We hope that

your tour of the school gave you a flavour of what it is

like to be a student at the school during the day when

lessons are taking place.

July 24th

, 25th

and 28th

July

2014

Our Summer School Experience this year took place

over three days. You may have been to one of these days

and we hope that you enjoyed your time at the school. It

didn’t rain, the sun was shining and you told us it was lots

of fun.

September 10th

2014

You sat the Kent Grammar School test on Wednesday

10th

September 2014.

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What you need to do now

October 14th

2014

Our Open Evening this year is Tuesday 14th

October

2014 from 6pm – 9pm. Ms Wolloshin our Headteacher

will give presentations in the school hall at 6.30pm,

7.15pm and 8pm. Student guides will be waiting to show

you and your daughter around the school. There is lots to

see and do so we hope you arrived early to give yourself

plenty of time explore the whole school.

October 15th

2014

If you registered online The Kent Grammar School test

results will be emailed to you after 4pm on Wednesday

15th

October 2014. If you registered by post the results

will be posted to you first class the following day.

October 20th

,

21st, 22

nd 2014

Our autumn Open Mornings this year are to be held on

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the 20th

, 21st and 22

nd

of October 2014 from 9am to 11am. There is no need to

book just come along at 9am and student guides will be

waiting to show you and your daughter around the school.

If you require any help, advice or further information about MGGS prior to

making your secondary school choices please do not hesitate to contact Mrs

Hogan our Admissions Manager on 01622 752103 or email [email protected]

October 31st

2014

Up to four schools can be selected in order of preference

and online application forms should be completed and

submitted to KCC by Friday 31st October 2014.

Alternatively complete and hand in Kent’s Secondary

Common Application Form (SCAF) to your daughter’s

primary school.

March 2nd

2015 National Offer Day. Offers of school places will be made on

Monday 2nd

March 2015. E-mail messages will be sent after

4pm to those parents who applied online, and letters will be

posted first class to arrive on Tuesday 3rd

March 2015.

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March 20th

2015

You must have accepted the offer of a place at the school

by Friday 20th

March 2015.

March 31st

2015

If you would like to appeal for a place at any school you

named on the SCAF but were not offered, you should do

so by Tuesday 31st March 2015.

If you require any help, advice or further information about appealing for

a place at the school please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Hogan our

Admissions Manager on 01622 752103 ext 203 or email

[email protected]

May 2015 Parents and carers of students who have accepted their

place at Maidstone Grammar School for Girls are invited

to attend the Year 7 Information Evening.

June/July 2015 Students will be visited in their Primary school by Mrs

Farnham the Head of Study for Year 7 or by a member of

the Senior Leadership Team.

9th

July 2015 Year 7 Welcome Day. Students spend the day at

Maidstone Grammar School for Girls and meet other girls

who will be joining the school in September.

3rd

September

2015

First Day of Term.

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Notes



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Buckland Road, Maidstone, Kent ME16 0SF T: 01622 752103 F: 01622 681947 E: central @mggs.org www.mggs.org

“A caring, distinctive and exciting place to learn”

MGGS School Prospectus Curriculum Information Booklet 2014 to 2015

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Transcript of MGGS School Prospectus Curriculum Information Booklet 2014 to 2015