"The relationships amongst pupils and between pupils and staff are exceptional."

The School Curriculum

The school aims to provide a broad and balanced curriculum and strives to develop each individual to the limits of  their potential - valuing talents and responding to specific needs.

St Martha’s has a mixed ability entry. All girls entering St Martha’s take an entrance test. Each cohort is then tested through National Testing - Midyis (Year 7), Yellis (Year 10) and Alis (Year 12). Our curriculum reflects the needs of the range of abilities.

Curriculum 2011-2012

Key Stage 3 (Years 7 – 9)

Year 7

All pupils study the same subjects: Religious Education, English, Mathematics, Science, Art, Textiles, Drama, PHSCE, French, Geography, History, Home Economics, Music, Life Skills, Dance, Games and Sport.

Year 8

Pupils continue working as in Year 7, and start studying Classics and Latin. Pupils will choose their GCSE option subjects in the Trinity Term in order to start their GCSE courses in Year 9. Setting is not taking place in Year 8 this year, but this can happen dependent on the nature of the cohort.

Year 9

Pupils continue working as in Year 8  but choose to study Classics or Latin. Pupils prepare to choose their GCSE option subjects in the Lent Term. Setting is currently taking place in core subjects with one scholars group and two mixed-ability groups. Setting is dependent on the nature of the cohort.

Key Stage 4 (Years 10 – 11)

Most pupils study 10 GCSE subjects. In Years 10 and 11 there is a core curriculum of Religious Studies, English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, French or Spanish, and the Triple/Double Science award. Girls are set according to ability in all the core subjects. In addition to the core subjects girls choose between the following options: Art, Business Studies, Classical Civilisation, DIDA (Diploma in Digital Applications), Drama, Geography, History, Music, Latin, Textiles and Physical Education.

Key Stage 5 (Years 12 & 13)

In Year 12 students choose four subjects at AS. Subjects include amongst others; English Literature, History, Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Business Studies, Sociology and Drama.

In Year 13 students drop one of their subjects and follow three subjects to A2 level. Girls also complete their university application under the guidance of their personal tutors and the Head of Sixth Form

In addition to their academic curriculum, students follow a programme of; General Religious Education, Games, PSHCE and Careers. There is also a programme of enrichment;  activities this year include the Leith Cookery Diploma and Dance.

Extra Curricular 2011-2012 

There is a broad extra-curriculum programme that girls have the opportunity to partake in.

Extra-curricular activities:

Girls participate in 4 lunchtime activities a week, amongst others, these activities include; Fencing, Archery, Debating, Drama Productions, Dance, Cookery, Art and Craft, Football, Tennis, Guitar, Choir, Instrumental Ensemble, Marketing, Reading, Learning Support, Supervised Study, Green Club, LRC and Netball.

Girls also have the opportunity to take part in after-school activities such as Sailing, Dance and Music.

Educational visits:

Each year group has the opportunity to go on educational outings or to attend in-house events several times a year.

Year 7: Retreat, Team-Building day, Art trip to the National Portrait Gallery, History trip to the Museum of London, Science trip to RAF Hendon and French trip to Calais.

Year 8: Retreat, Latin trip to Bath, Drama trip to the West End, Geography trip to Walton on the Naze, Ecology day and Take your Daughter to Work Day.

Year 9: Retreat, Careers Workshop, Science trip to Kew Gardens, History trip to the Imperial War Museum, English trip to London and PSHCE trip to the National Theatre.

Year 10: Retreat, Business Studies / HE / Geography trip to Cadbury’s World, Textiles trip to Birmingham, Geography trip to Epping Forest, Classics trip to the British Museum, Art trip to the Tate Modern, Study Skills Day and Careers Fair.

Year 11: Retreat, Study Skills Day, Humanities trip to Kenya and Careers Workshop.

Year 12: Retreat, Study Skills Day, University Taster Day at the University of Bedfordshire and Drama trip to Panto.

Year 13: Retreat, Study Skills Day, University Shadowing Day, and Theatre and Museum trips. 

Guest Speakers

All year groups have access to a range of guest speakers on a number of different topics. This year’s programme includes speakers from Amnesty International, universities around London, the Metropolitan Police, the Army, the RAF, CAFOD, the AA and past students from St Martha’s.

Careers Education and Guidance

In Year 10 girls are prepared for their period of work experience which takes place at the end of the summer term.

We are full members of ISCO which provide testing, follow up interviews and online resources and support; in Year 11 all girls join the ISCO scheme and receive careers guidance until Year 13.
Study Skills Days take place in Years 10-13.

The Curriculum and Extra Curricular programme are reviewed annually