Academic

"English underpins the entire school curriculum and will endure long after the classroom has been left behind.”

English is the air we breathe: it is the study of people, places, times, contexts and cultures. At Stamford, our curriculum will help students to be better readers and writers through a broad study of great literature, comprising novels, plays, poems and non-fiction, and as we engage with the thoughts and feelings of other people through the language they use, we all discover more about what it is to be human. We learn about empathy and understanding others, and about self-expression – and through this, we learn about ourselves and who we are.

“It is clear that the chief end of mathematical study must be to make the students think.”

Here at Stamford School this fundamental aim is embedded in all that we do, whilst striving to enable all students to achieve their potential; at all levels we equip them with the skills and problem-solving ability to prepare them for their future. Belief that all can gain a sense of achievement is paramount; learning new mathematics should be a challenging but enjoyable experience for all.

"Biology is the study of life and all its implications.”

Biology at Stamford looks at how organisms function and how they interact with each other. We use experiential learning activities, practical work, and modelling to help explain many different concepts. Students are encouraged to offer opinions and think for themselves in fun and accessible lessons with teachers who care.

“Chemistry is the study of the world by looking at things that are very small, and the big impacts they have.” 

Chemistry at Stamford is the illustration of phenomena through explanations, practical work and demonstrations. We aim to take a complicated subject and break it down so everyone can access it, whilst encouraging students to think their way through problems and tackle challenges. Our enrichment offering includes competitions, trips and experiences that help us make Chemistry accessible and inspiring at all levels from Year 7 to 13.

"Physics is essentially a reductive subject that attempts to uncover the fundamental processes that govern the behaviour of the universe. Students discover how physics can explain the world around them."

The use of evidence and the testing of ideas is a principle of considerable importance as humanity deals with contemporary problems. This scientific method is part of the nature of this discipline and features strongly in how we use questioning, data and analysis to support experimentation and explanation. Mathematical modelling and problem solving are skills embodied in the delivery of the Physics course at all levels, and as such serve students well in a large number of future careers, from engineering to finance.

You will study Biology, Chemistry and Physics separately with individual specialist teachers. There is no coursework, but the practicals and experiments carried out routinely during lessons are assessed during tests and in the written papers at the end of the course. The final examination consists of three separate 2 hour papers, each covering the content from the Biology, Chemistry and Physics courses. Your combined performance in these three papers goes towards the awarding of two separate Science IGCSE grades.

Studying the Double Award course allows you to progress on to the Biology, Chemistry or Physics courses in the 6th Form on the condition that at least a Grade 7 is achieved in the subject component you wish to study at A Level.

"French is spoken by over 220 million people and is the official language in 29 countries. It is an important language in many industries, including tourism, hospitality, fashion, diplomacy, and an asset in fields such as business, law and medicine, as many international organisations use French as a working language."

Learning French at Stamford is a fun and rewarding experience! To make students’ language learning journey more enjoyable and realistic, they have the opportunity to practise with a French pen pal in our partner schools in France, and might consider participating in our new exchange programme to Beaujolais. This is a great opportunity for them to immerse themselves in the language and culture. It is also important to find ways to make it relevant to students’ interests and daily life. This can involve incorporating French into activities they already enjoy, such as reading in French, watching French movies or TV shows, or listening to French music.

“The German language is a puzzle; train yourself to put the pieces together and you end up with something beautiful.”

At Stamford, we aim to equip our students of German with skills that go beyond linguistics, chief among them the ability to solve problems effectively and to communicate directly and clearly. We want our students to develop confidence and an appreciation of other cultures. Our competitions, events and trips are designed to push them out of their comfort zones and allow them to tackle whatever comes their way.

“In Classics (Classical Civilisation, Latin and Greek) we explore the complex and fascinating civilisations of Ancient Greece and Rome, studying in depth their culture, history, language and literature, exploring ideas and developments which were fundamental to the progress of modern civilisation and are still very relevant to so much in our society today.”

Latin helps to develop clarity of thought and an organised and logical approach to learning; it therefore helps develop key transferable skills and complements the arts and humanities subjects, such as History, as well as the sciences and technological subjects.

“In the current political climate, studying Russian is becoming increasingly important as it helps us to better understand Russian’s political, economic, and social systems, as well as its role in international relations.”

At Stamford, we make Russian enjoyable by providing a supportive learning environment with experienced and dedicated teachers. Our approach to teaching Russian is fun, engaging and designed to foster success in language acquisition. We help students to improve their level of Russian by providing access to native speakers, enabling them to practise and perfect their language skills. Additionally, we encourage students to learn about the culture and history of Russia, further enriching their language learning experience. Our aim is to progress students from beginners' level to prepare them for university and beyond.

“One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.”

Spanish at Stamford allows you not only to improve your level of language, but also to explore and understand the rich and varied culture of the Spanish speaking world. Our enrichment programme includes national competitions, a residential trip, access to sessions with a native speaker and an exchange that offers the opportunity for all students to engage with the language beyond the classroom.

“In Classics we explore the complex and fascinating civilisations of Ancient Greece and Rome, studying in depth their culture, history, language and literature, exploring ideas and developments which were fundamental to the progress of modern civilisation and are still very relevant to so much in our society today.”

Studying Classical subjects helps develop key transferable skills, such as factual research, evaluation, analysis and communication. We explore Classical Civilisation in historical and social context, reading and understanding their language, literature and culture. We discuss important concepts relating to society, family, religion, morality and identity, and we compare ancient and modern ideas. We also run regular trips to Greece and Italy, a highlight for many Classics students.

“Geography is one of the most exciting, adventurous and valuable subjects to study today. So many of the world’s current problems boil down to geography, and we need the geographers of the future to help us understand them.”

At Stamford we are passionate about providing our students with opportunities to learn outside the classroom, be it during lesson time, on day trips or on residential trips at GCSE and A Level. The department aims to develop excellent approaches to geographical learning, to stretch all students and to engender an enjoyment and love of Geography. We foster an understanding of the relevance and excitement of geographical analysis, triggering a lifelong commitment to solving contemporary geographical and environmental problems. We are proud of the positive relationships built between staff and students.

“History is the wide-ranging study of past events, people and communities and the consideration of how past phenomena have shaped the modern world.”

History at Stamford fosters meaningful connections with the past in order to understand and positively contribute to the present world. We aim to equip students with the critical thinking skills needed to navigate an ever-changing world and the wealth of information it generates. Students will study a diverse range of societies, individuals and cultures through varied lesson activities, trips and wider enrichment opportunities.

"Philosophy and Ethics is the search for and love of wisdom and truth."

Philosophy and Ethics is about the thinking about the big issues in life such as cloning, life after death, the existence of God, sentience of robots, and a million other absorbing questions that tax the human consciousness. It incorporates the law and how far moral decisions aid our legal system. It is forever changing and utterly powerful. Ultimately, Philosophy and Ethics helps us to navigate and make sense of our ever-changing world and provides us with the confidence to ask the most important and challenging questions relevant to our lives today.