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Departments

We are extremely happy with our daughters' education at BCS where they are truly valued and benefit from a very broad and balanced curriculum.
Mr and Mrs R L Thompson

Please assume that all these subjects are available at public examination unless otherwise stated.

  • Art
  • Biology
  • Business Studies comprising 2 subjects:
    Business Studies which enters the curriculum as an option at GCSE and then A level.
    Economics which enters the curriculum as an A level subject
  • Chemistry
  • Classics comprising 2 subjects:
    Classics, a non-language subject exploring the ancient Greco/Roman world.
    Latin
  • Design Technology
  • English (which splits into distinct GCSE and A level subjects as English Language and English Literature)
  • Geography
  • History comprising 2 subjects:
    History
    Politics     which enters the curriculum as an A level subject
  • ICT All students in year 10 and above work towards general ICT qualifications which equip them for later life. Specific GCSE and A level courses are available for the more specialist pupils.
  • Maths (with Further Maths as an option at A level)
  • Modern Foreign Languages comprising 3 languages:
    French, German and Spanish
  • Music
  • Physical Education (as a practical subject in years 7 and 8, then as an academic subject at GCSE and A level)
  • Physics
  • PSHE from Years 7 - 11 this subject gives skills for life
  • Religious Studies (entitled Ethics and Philosophy at A level)
  • Theatre Studies (which enters the curriculum at A level, as a subject set apart from English)

Here’s how the basic curriculum works – Monday to Friday all day, and Saturday morning lessons. 8 x 40 minute lessons per weekday and 5 on Saturdays. (Remember there are 5 periods of games per week across all years).

Years 7 and 8
The broad policy is to prioritise with 4 to 6 periods each per week, the core subjects like Maths, English, French and the Sciences – with other subjects equal at 2 periods per week each.

Year 9
As for Years 7/8 above but with space made for a 3 period per week “taster” in Spanish or German in addition to core French, to allow a genuine choice of MFL at GCSE.

Years 10 and 11: the GCSE years
All subjects become equal on 4 periods a week. The vast majority of pupils sit 10 GCSE's as follows:

7 core subjects + general ICT.
The core is English (Language and Literature) Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics (note the sciences are kept separate) and an MFL (French, German or Spanish)

3 Option subjects
Any 3 from the remaining departments – Art, Business Studies, Classics (Classics and Latin) D/Technology, Geography, History, ICT, a second MFL in addition to the core language, Music, P.E., and RS

(Option choices at GCSE generally do not preclude students from taking up different options at AS, but you’ll need to check)

Sixth Form
All subjects equalise to 8 periods per week each. 4 AS subjects in Lower Sixth reduce (normally) to 3 A2 subjects in Upper Sixth.

A thumb nail sketch of “take-up” of departmental subjects
In the early years children have a go at everything!

At GCSE the “core” dominates, whilst the big option subjects tend to be Geography, History, RS, Classics/Latin, Business Studies and PE, with Art, D/Technology, ICT and Music slightly behind – but this can vary!

At A level we would expect Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Physics to dominate option choices. PE, Ethics, Geography and English Language come slightly behind. Business Studies/Economics are buoyant whilst English Literature, Art, Politics, D/Technology, Latin, ICT, German, French, Spanish and Theatre Studies attract committed minorities. Again this can vary! Charismatic teachers, peer group pressure, popular perception and propaganda all make a difference but we try to maximise choice whilst not entertaining soft subjects. Above all we try to keep faith with departments and students even when option numbers are small.

The school is a “mixed” economy of boys and girls, boarding and day, domestic and foreign but we consciously maintain balance. Normal numbers in the whole school (Prep and Senior) are around 740 of whom 200 or thereabouts are boarders. The academic departments work together with our pastoral structures to ensure that students of all abilities can progress happily and purposefully.

Stephen Ridley
Deputy Head, Academic