Welcome to Simon Langton Girls` Grammar School

Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School originated in the Middle Ages as an educational foundation for children in Canterbury, emerging as a separate school for girls in 1881. Our school motto "Meliora Sequamur" (following the best) emphasizes the school’s continued commitment to excellence. Girls are following an 800 year old tradition in achieving high academic distinction, learning civilized and humane values and developing the personality and character to allow them to go on to play a leading role in the wider world

Girls learn in all sorts of ways, deliberate and accidental, formal and informal. It may therefore be as important for us to say why and how we teach as it is to state what we teach.

Year 7

Follow courses in Mathematics, Science, English, 2 out of French or German or Spanish, Physical Education, Dance and Games, History, Geography, Religious Education, Music, Art, Technology (which includes Information Technology, Home Economics, Textiles and Craft Design Technology).

Year 8

Adds Latin for all.

Year 10 & 11

All girls take a total of nine and a half subjects at GCSE. The core curriculum's four subjects: Mathematics, Science (Double Award) a Modern Language, English (Language and Literature), Information Technology (short course), produce six and a half GCSE certificates, together with Religious Education, Physical Education, Personal and Social Education, including careers guidance.
Three more GCSE courses are added from the following, making nine and half in all: French, German, Spanish, Greek, Latin, Music, History, Geography, Classical Civilization, Religious Studies, Art, Home Economics, Design and Technology, Textiles, Expressive Arts.
All girls study a 'humanity' course and a 'practical' subject. The co-ordination of our science meets the National Curriculum requirements of balance and breadth, but enables specialists to teach to their strengths and maintain our standards in science.

The Sixth Form (Years 12 & 13)

(There is a separate detailed 6th form prospectus - please click here)
We expect all girls to follow the equivalent of three Advanced Level courses as a minimum, normally starting 4 subjects at AS Level in Yr 12. Some girls therefore may follow an Advanced Level programme which covers from three to six subjects. Pupils from Simon Langton Boys' School sometimes join our Advanced Level courses in Music, Spanish, Latin, Home Economics, Theatre Studies and Government and Politics.

The following 26 A and AS level courses are offered:

Art, Biology, Chemistry, Classical Civilization, Design, Economics and Business Studies, English Literature, Fashion and Textiles, French, Geography, German, Greek, History, Home Economics, Latin, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Music, Physics, Politics, Psychology, Religious Studies, Spanish, Theatre Studies, Dance, Sport and Physical Education, ICT, Critical Thinking. Girls of high ability regularly win Oxford and Cambridge places, recently an average of seven per year from over 100 girls who go on to degree courses.

Subject choices

Our Senior School's subject option pattern is based on offering the widest possible range of choice. Staff meetings discuss, with information from subject teachers, parents and careers' staff, each girl's objectives and suitability for the courses chosen. The range that emerges from this exercise is provided in all but a very few cases.

Art	»English	»Modern Languages
»Careers	»Geography	»Music
»Classics	»Government & Politics	»Psychology
»Dance	»History	»Religious Education
»Design & Technology	»ICT	»Science
»Drama	»Maths	»Sport

Simon Langton Girls’ Sixth Form offers you…

Academic success - consistently high examination results A wide and stimulating choice of courses Highly qualified and dedicated teachers Support and guidance - from staff who really care how you are doing Your own well-equipped Sixth Form Centre Dedicated Careers Library and expert careers and higher education advice Opportunities to show responsibility, leadership and initiative to younger students …support and advice when you need it Adjusting to the greater freedom and opportunities of sixth form life can sometimes seem daunting. We do our best to make sure that you choose what is right for you. As well as attending an Induction Programme, you will also have a personal interview with the Director of Sixth Form or a senior member of staff and the chance for you and your parents to discuss your course options with Heads of Department and subject teachers. On joining the Sixth Form you will be placed into a small tutor group and your tutor stays with you for the two years of your course. Supported by the Director of Sixth, your tutor is there to monitor and support you and to make sure you stay on target. Study at Sixth Form level is a different style of learning and you will be encouraged to take greater responsibility for you own organisation and motivation. There will be times in the day when you do not have lessons and it is important to use this ‘free’ time wisely. Your success will depend on the amount of effort you are prepared to make. Tutors will discuss your progress with you regularly so that you know exactly how you are going You will have: A personal timetable - to help you plan your study programme Half - termly reviews and formal reports A one-to-one interview with your form tutor - to assess your progress, identify achievement, set realistic targets and devise an action plan Parents’ evenings - so that you and your family can discuss your progress and respond to tutors’ comments Mock Examinations Comprehensive careers advice and help with completion of university UCAS forms We operate an ‘Open Door’ policy, which means that the Director and Assistant Director of Sixth Form, if not teaching, are always available for consultation. Expectations Sixth Formers do not wear school uniform but you are expected to dress in a businesslike fashion; for example, jeans are fine but not if full of holes or untidy. You will need a black or navy skirt or trousers and a white blouse with suitable footwear for formal occasions. There are other occasions when you will be asked to dress smartly, usually for conferences and work experience, and this means a smart and tidy outfit. A modest amount of jewellery is acceptable but body piercing, other than earrings, is unacceptable . Education is free! - However, there is a small subscription to the Sixth Form Fund; also, some subjects can involve expensive visits and/or materials - check subject information details. …a wide range of courses At Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School we take enormous care to make sure that you study subjects you really want to and those you are good at. We offer such an extensive range of courses that you can take almost any combination of subjects. It is vitally important when deciding which course to take that you keep as many options open as possible. In thinking about your Sixth Form programme, it is helpful to ask yourself some questions- Will I enjoy this subject? Will the pattern of learning and assessment suit me? Which aspects will make best use of the skills I have? How will my proposed programme fit in with my future career plans? Above all, talk to your teachers, your parents, your friends, current Sixth Formers. Ask them about their perceptions of the workload and how it is spaced throughout the two-year course. What do they enjoy, dislike or find difficult? Try to get a balanced view. Ask more than one student studying a subject whether their choice of subject options is working well. Whatever you decide to do, we are there to help you choose what suits you best. Entry To enter the Sixth Form you will normally need seven GCSEs of at least Grade C including Mathematics and English and at least Grade B in the subjects you choose for A level. Each subject should count as one or two grades only. Basic skills in numeracy, essay writing etc. will be taken into account as well as your ability and aptitude in your chosen subjects. Your final programme will depend upon discussion between you, your parents and school and on our ability to timetable your preferences. Transfer from other schools We receive an annual average o 20-30 requests to join our Sixth Form from the full range of local schools. Certainly our diversified courses now lend themselves to such transfers but at least Grade B in Higher Level GCSE papers is required in subjects to be studied at A-Level. We like to interview in the Spring Term those who request transfer, and refer to their schools. It is hard for us to advise those of you we don’t know, so we rely a good deal on the views of your present teachers when finalising your programme. We can then give you an offer of a place which you should accept or decline. We like all ‘new girls’ to attend Induction Week in July which gives them an opportunity to get to know their tutor groups and form tutors.

"The courses on offer at Simon Langton Girls’ School are excellent. You feel that your horizons have been widened—there are new challenges and experiences and suddenly it gets much easier to get up and go to school in the mornings"

• Art & Design (Textiles)
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Classical Civilisation
• Critical Thinking
• Dance
• Design & Technology
• Drama & Theatre Studies
• Economics & Business Studies
• English Literature
• Fine Art
• Geography
• Government & Politics
• Greek
• History
• ICT
• Latin
• Mathematics
• Further Mathematics
• Modern Foreign Languages
• Music
• Music Technology
• Physics
• Psychology
• Religious Studies
• Sport & Physical Education

	Alpha Alpha is a club organised by the Christian Union within school, with members from years 7 to 13. It allows its members support and freedom to raise any subject for discussion, aswell as the chance to play games and relax. This is primarily an opportuinity for members to speak freely about their beliefs in a fun, encouraging environment.
	Art Separate clubs for years 7 to 9. Working with a range of materials to produce a range of items, such as Papier Mache animals, Christmas decorations or Easter baskets.New projects are decided each term, taking into account what the club members would like to make.
	Basketball One club for year 9, and a second for years 10 and 11. The girls play each week, and learn the rules and skills of the game. Members of the club are selected to form the school team.
	Big Bang A science club for year 7. Tackling a range of activities, competitions and games, such as building a craft to carry an egg, or producing an Easter bonnet with coloured lights using motors.
	Craft Club Exclusively for year 7. Using items found around the home, as well as materials from the textiles department, the girls can transform useless objects into useful ones.They have been taught to make woven friendship bracelets, and used fabrics and sequins to alter hair pins.
	Dance There is one for club year 7, one for years 8 and 9, and one for girls in years 10 to 13. Here the girls are given a chance to exercise in a fun environment. They assist in choreographing a dance to set music, which they then learn and can perform at school dance evenings. Senior girls produce pieces individually, and have much more independence. This is useful for those intending to take Dance further, or adopt Expressive Arts at GCSE.
	Debating Society Junior girls, years 7 to 9, and senior girls, years 10 to 13, each have a separate group. They debate and discuss current events, such as the Madrid bombing tragedy, or long running issues of ethics, such as abortion, as well as more philosophical matters, such as religion. Here girls can express opinions in an environment free of judgement, exploring their own lives and beliefs which extends the work covered in R.E or R.S lessons.
	Drama There is a group for year 7, and a separate group for year 8. They are taught skills and gain experience, as well as practice and confidence. They play drama games and learn short pieces which they perform to each other at the end of term. This can be particularly useful for those wishing to join in with school productions.
	The Environment Group The environment group allows students of any age to discuss environmental issues, as well as planning and organising large events. An example is the gallant effort made by the attending girls to clear the pond area, and rubbish collection during Summer's picnic season.
	Football Two teams are currently run, one for years 8 and 9 with the other for years 10 to 13. The girls are taught the rules and skills for a game not taught in timetables P.E lessons. They play each week among themselves, and members from the teams are selected to form the school team.
	Greek Greek is run twice a week for each set, with one set open to year 9, and the second continuing the work with those who carry it on in year 10. This teaches the girls similarly to their timetabled Latin course - explaining the vocabulary, grammar and translation of the language. This is an extra curricular subject, and after the two year course a GCSE can be taken if the exam is passed.
	Gym Squad A Gym squad is run with members from all years. Girls can apply by speaking to their P.E teacher, or they may be invited by their teacher if they show great potential in Gym lessons or are known to have previous Gymnastics experience.
	Hockey There is a Hockey team for year 7, one for years 8 and 9, and one for years 10 to 13. The girls play once a week, learning and developing the rules and skills learned in school lessons. Members of the school team are selected from the club members.
	Music There are many music clubs to chose from; all of which are designed to enhance the skills possessed by girls who have some musical experience. The members of these teams may also be selected to perform during assemblies, at formal events, school productions or to represent the school in competitions. Flute Group (all years) Madrigal Choir (all years) Senior Choir (years 10 to 13) Clarinet Group (all years) Concert Band (all years) Junior Choir (years 7 to 9) Main Orchestra (all years) Training Orchestra (all years) String Quartet (all years)
	Netball There are two Netball groups, running for junior girls (7 to 9) and senior girls (years 10 to 13). Both provide members for the two school teams, under 16s and under 18s. They play once a week and extend the work of time tabled P.E lessons.
	Psychology Meetings occur once a a week for sixth form girls to discuss work in psychology classes, or work set as homework.
	The Reading Group Members come largely from years 7 and 8, although dedicated members can continue into year 9. The range of activities is widely varied; group book readings, sharing and reviewing books read individually, exploring poetry and illustrating book covers. Major events include a theatre trip to see "Tom's Midnight garden", at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, a reading by local author Marjorie Lyle and a sale of old books.