Curriculum

“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.” 

Alex Smith
Head of Classics

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.

”Computer scientists are able to tackle complex problems and create new solutions that have the potential to transform our world.” 

James Shakespeare
Head of Computer Science

Computer Science is a dynamic and rapidly evolving field that offers endless opportunities for innovation and discovery. Computing encompasses a broad range of theoretical and creative topics, including digital literacy, programming, problem solving, and design. We strive to cultivate resilience, preparing students for the rapidly evolving digital landscape. Our approach is both fun and inspiring, featuring national competitions and educational trips that enhance the student experience and ignite their passion for the subject. Our goal is to inspire the next generation of digital leaders.

”Digital media shapes the world and our future and we give experience in the full process of creating digital media from initial concept and pre-production, through to creating the final product.”

James Shakespeare
Teacher of Computing

Creative iMedia will equip learners with a range of creative media skills. It will provide opportunities to develop, in context, desirable and transferable skills such as research and planning. It will also teach students to work with others to communicate creative concepts effectively. Through the use of these skills, learners will ultimately be creating fit-for-purpose creative media products.

"Stamford Drama aims to create an inclusive, vibrant and high performing environment which fosters a life-long interest in the arts. All performance should be seen as valuable whether it be the full school musical or a one off presentation of curriculum work. Students learn because they are active participants in the process of their own education and decision making. They view the world from other people’s perspectives; in doing so become rounded individuals"

Carrie Hill
Director of Drama

Drama is a highly beneficial subject that is taught at KS3, GCSE and A-Level, providing students with a range of transferable skills. At KS3, drama provides students with a supportive and safe environment to explore their creativity and develop their interpersonal and critical thinking skills. Drama at GCSE offers students the chance to explore complex themes and issues, develop their own work, and prepare for careers in the performing arts or related industries.

One of the key benefits of studying drama is the value-added results it provides for students; transferable skills that are essential in many aspects of life, including communication, collaboration, critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and self-confidence.

At KS3 and GCSE, students are given the chance to explore complex themes and issues, develop their own work, and prepare for future careers in the performing arts or related industries. With its proven value-added results and emphasis on transferable skills, drama provides students with a solid foundation for future success in a range of fields.

“At Stamford, we inspire our students to use their imagination to design and manufacture products.”

Steve Newton
Head of Design Technology

Design Technology is about inspiring students to develop their capability, combining their designing and manufacturing skills with knowledge and understanding, in order to create quality products that improve people’s lives and have a positive impact on the world around us. At Stamford students acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science and engineering. Students learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable designers.

We offer two courses:

• Product Design, focusing on materials, computer-aided design and manufacture.

• Textile Design, focusing on textiles.

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

Mr M Zacharias
Head of English

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.

“Food and Nutrition is the study of nutrients and their effect on human health. It includes the science of food and the understanding of how ingredients change during preparing and cooking.”

Karen Wilson
Head of Food and Nutrition 

Food and Nutrition at Stamford develops a deeper understanding of how food plays an important role in all our lives through practical work, workshops and theory. We aim to make it fun, challenging the brain in a different way through creative freedom and learning skills for life. We have a range of clubs and competitions for students to take part in.

"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."

Mrs C Vié
Head of French

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.

“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.”

Andrew Ramsey
Head of Geography

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.

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

Joe Youngs
Head of German

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.

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

Sarah Sharman
Head of History

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.

“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.” 

Alex Smith
Head of Classics

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.

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

John Wesley Young
American mathematician

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.

“Music involves the study of melody, harmony, rhythm, form and timbre, and encompasses history, theory, composition, and performance. The study of music improves memory, language development and concentration, and promotes self-esteem, teamwork and creativity. Music remains one of the great sources of enjoyment in our world, to listen to, to dance to, and to perform and sing”.

Our aim at Stamford is to engender a lifelong love of music in our students, for them to appreciate all styles and genres of music, to remain active participants performing in instrumental ensembles and choirs throughout their lives, and to support the arts by attending concerts and festivals.

Physical Education and Sport is the only subject that makes your heart race. Physical Education and Sport inspires all pupils to succeed and excel in a competitive sport and other physically demanding activities. 

“All that matters in life, matters in sport…” 

Seb Coe
2012

Here at Stamford we recognise how important young people’s physical health and emotional wellbeing are and the relationship between these and academic achievements. By offering a varied curriculum, this helps to broaden engagement in physical activity and allow for participation to increase whilst performance levels are developed. We believe that PE & Sport develops you as a person and increases the passion and engagement that pupils have for sport by simply having a culture of health, fitness and physical wellbeing in all aspects of our curriculum.

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

Ms Faye Harrison
Head of Philosophy and Ethics

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.

"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."

Dr A Patchett
Head of Physics

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.

“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.” 

Caroline Wray
Head of Russian

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.