academic tnAll teaching at St Mary’s Calne shares a common goal: to enable girls to engage with their subjects and with the co-curricular skills which will allow them to be successful later in life - flexibility, curiosity, self-criticism and thinking skills.

Critical Thinking is taught in both the Fourth Form and in the Sixth Form and builds on the skills developed in all subjects, where girls are encouraged to challenge assumptions, argue their case and weigh evidence before making judgements. IT skills are seen as an essential component of the ‘toolkit’ with which pupils leave us and are taught both in a timetabled lesson in each year group as well as in the context of specific subjects.

Girls are taught research, coursework and study skills and are prepared for the rigour of public examinations. They develop independence of thought, and enquiring minds and sound powers of judgment. They consistently achieve superb results in public examinations and go on to higher education, with a good number each year successfully applying to Oxbridge.


Junior Curriculum (Years 7-9)

In Years 7-9 (LIV Form - UIV Form), the girls experience a balanced and stretching curriculum. They are taught mainly in their form groups with setting for Mathematics. All girls in LIV Form have an hour's Mandarin tuition each week.

In Years 8 and 9 (MIV Form - UIV Form), girls have the opportunity to pick up a second Modern Foreign language from a choice of Spanish, German and Mandarin; in addition, Classical Greek can be added in Year 9.

All girls follow courses in these subjects: Art, Computing, Music, Drama, Latin (or Classical Civilisation), English, Mathematics, Religious Studies, Geography, Modern Languages, Science, History, Critical Thinking, Personal Development and Physical Education/Games.


GCSE Curriculum (Years 10-11)

Most girls at St Mary’s study 11 GCSEs - 8 core subjects plus 3 options.

All girls study the following: English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, one Modern Foreign Language, Triple or Dual Award Science and Religious Studies (short course).

They may also choose from the following options: Geography, History, French, German, Spanish, Mandarin, Classical Greek, Latin, Art, Drama, Music, Religious Studies and Computer Science.

Personal Development is also timetabled once a week and Physical Education continues to be an important part of the girls’ schedule.


Sixth Form Curriculum

In the LVI Form (Year 12) most girls will choose three subjects to study to A Level.

In the Sixth Form, most girls will choose three A Level subjects. Girls may choose from the following: Fine Art, Biology, Chemistry, Classical Civilisation, Classical Greek, Computer Science, Drama and Theatre Studies, Economics, English Literature, French, Geography, German, Greek, History, History of Art, Latin, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Mandarin, Music, Politics, Physical Education, Physics, Psychology, Religious Studies, Spanish as well as the Extended Project Qualification


Supra Curriculum

In addition, girls follow supplementary courses in Physical Education, Personal Development, Careers Education and in Critical Thinking.

Girls are given extensive personal guidance in choosing their A Level options and in preparing for university entrance. Oxbridge lessons are offered in the Autumn Term of UVI Form.

Many girls take up the opportunity to undertake an EPQ (Extended Qualification Project) which will help support their university applications as well as develop the independent learning skills which are essential for successful undergraduate study.

All girls are involved in the school’s Lecture Programme as part of their enrichment activities. Many also choose to pursue the Duke of Edinburgh's Award in the Sixth Form.