The Curriculum

The philosophy behind the Wycombe Abbey curriculum is to ensure that girls pursue a programme of study which remains as broad as possible until the end of Year 11 and then allows pupils to specialise as they begin to think about their options for university. All our GCSE/IGCSE and A level/Pre-U subjects are academically rigorous and prepare girls well for their education beyond School.

Years 7-8

Pupils attend lessons in a broad range of subjects. All girls study French and Spanish in Year 7; they then choose usually two from French, Spanish and German to study in Years 8 and 9. In Year 8 most girls are introduced to Classical Greek in Latin lessons. Girls attend lessons in Physical Education and PSHCE.

Year 9

Pupils attend lessons in a broad range of subjects to ensure that they are familiar with all the options from which they can choose at GCSE/IGCSE. Core subjects often start preparation for their GCSE/IGCSE courses at this stage. Most girls take two modern languages, though some take one or three. There is beginners' Spanish for pupils joining in Year 9. Girls continue to attend Physical Education and PSHCE lessons.

Years 10-11

Many of the subjects offered at this level at Wycombe are IGCSEs. Each department makes its own decision on whether to pursue GCSE or IGCSE based upon the relative strengths of the courses and the preparation they provide for study at A level. There are six compulsory subjects: English, English Literature, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. A decision on whether pupils are entered for three separate sciences or the Dual Award is made during Year 11 (almost all take three separate sciences). In addition to this core curriculum, girls select four, or occasionally five, other subjects from a range of fourteen; at least one of these subjects must be a modern language. Girls continue to attend Physical Education and PSHCE lessons.

Years 12-13

Girls choose four or five AS subjects to pursue in Year 12 from a range of 24 options. In addition to this all girls take AS Critical Thinking. Most pupils continue with three or four subjects into Year 13. All subjects follow A level specification, though Pre-U is offered to some girls as an alternative to A level. Girls continue with Physical Education lessons and attend a lecture programme. Year 13 girls are given the option to pursue some additional courses within the timetable: beginners' Mandarin, GCSE Italian, and the European Computer Driver's Licence.

Year Group Conversion Table

Below is a table showing how Wycombe Abbey Year Groups relate to National Curriculum Year Groups.