Each of our Senior School pupils arrives - either progressing from the Junior or another School - as an individual, and the School’s heart and soul goes into developing that individuality together with a sense of social and moral responsibility and a love of learning. By providing new opportunities and challenges throughout their time in the School, we aim to teach our pupils how to learn and to think about the possibilities in their intellectual, physical and social surroundings. Team working, problem-solving, self-expression, confidence in front of an audience – these and other skills needed by the next generation of leaders are embedded in the day’s mix of lessons, games and activities.
The focus in the Senior School is very much on preparation for GCSE success. It is our ultimate objective to ensure that all of our students go on to gain a university placement or into a career of their choice. We also aim, through a huge variety of extra-curricular sports, Drama, Music, Combined Cadet Force (CCF) and visits and trips to produce articulate, mature and capable young adults.
Because we are a small school and limit our class sizes to 20 pupils, we are able to give our students much more individual attention. Our tutors know each child well and are able to target specific support when and where it is needed, whether to stretch the more able or to encourage those who need extra assistance.
Our pupils will represent the School in any one of a variety of sports teams. Drama is very much a part of the curriculum and there are always plenty of opportunities get involved in productions. Pupils who enjoy music can perform at one of our many concerts by singing in the choir, performing a solo or by being a member of the School band or music group.
In years 8 and 9 all pupils become part of the School’s Combined Cadet Force learning much about themselves and well as valuable skills of leadership, teamwork and the opportunity to meet some really exciting challenges head-on!
Visits and trips are an integral part of our student’s education. Most of these are designed to aid a greater understanding of a particular subject especially during the GCSE years. Recently our student’s have benefited from History visits to Berlin, First World War battlefields, Auschwitz and Geography trips to Iceland and Devon. Science days out to museums, power stations and ecology reserves and theatre visits back-up the Drama and English curriculum.
The School day is a full working day, which balances academic rigour with sporting opportunities and the large variety of clubs and societies available. If we did not finish at 5pm, there would not be sufficient time for pupils to make full benefit of everything the school has to offer.
Curriculum
From Year 7 (Shell) to Year 11 (Upper 5th), Gad’s Hill pupils follow a diverse curriculum leading ultimately to GCSE success.
During Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9) our students follow a broad programme of English, Maths, Science, ICT, Design and Technology, Art, History, Geography, French, Music, Drama, and Religious Education. All students also enjoy five sports lessons per week. Shell (Year 7) have weekly swimming lessons and our L4 (Year 8) and U4 (Year 9) have weekly CCF lessons.
During those important Key Stage 4 years Gad’s provides a splendid GCSE programme, with breadth of choice, catering for pupils of all abilities. All students study our core subjects of English, Maths, French, Science and ICT. They add to this a choice of at least one humanities subject, History and/or Geography and also choose two of the following subjects: Drama, Music, Design and Technology, Art, PE and BTEC Public Services (CCF).
With a commitment to academic excellence at its heart, the Gad’s curriculum also delivers a vibrant and inspiring extra-curricular programme.
