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| | The Rochester Grammar School for Girls
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Maidstone Road, ME1 3BY, UK Rochester +44 (0)1634-843049
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Sub Umbra Alarum Tuarum
(Under the Shadow of Thy Wings)
Our motto encourages us to imagine a safe and sure benevolent force guiding us through this life. Girls of the twenty-first century need a secure and caring environment in which to experience the excitement and challenge of realising their full potential.
Without an appreciation of our heritage; without a sensitivity to the best of the past, we cannot claim to be educated. To develop as individuals and as full members of society we each need a vision of the future; we need an understanding of the most advanced ideas in our culture; we need a mastery of important skills. Therefore the staff of The Rochester Grammar School aim: to enlarge a pupil's knowledge, experience and creative understanding and to promote the development of moral values to enable her to enter the world after formal education is over as an active participant in society and a responsible contributor to it, capable of achieving as much independence of thought as possible More specifically we strive to develop:
- Self-confidence, a positive self-image and a capacity for enjoyment
- An awareness of standards of excellence and the capacity for appreciating them
- Respect for spiritual and moral values and tolerance of others
- High standards of literacy, numeracy, physical and manipulative skills
- Recognition and understanding of the physical, technical and economic environment and its relation to the world of work and the needs of society
- Competence in the skills of learning, decision-making, inquiry, problem solving and evaluation
- Preparation for further and higher education and the world of work
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| The school was the first in the country to be designated as a combined mathematics/computing and music specialist school.
Seating
Since this time we have featured in a number of innovations. We equipped the school hall with retractable comfortable seating so that the audience has an excellent line of sight at every production.
Choral Director
We appointed a choral director to develop the choirs at RGS, in particular the excellent chamber choir NChantand the new Rochesterprimary based girls choir, Chorisma.
Work with Primary Schools
We have developed many successful projects with primary schools, working, amongst others, with Gordon Road School, Balfour, Troy Town, Borstal, St Mary’s. Pilgrim School and Warren Wood.
Work with the wider community
In partnership with Learn Direct we provide courses in computing for adults in the evenings and on Saturdays.
Create
In partnership with the London based Arts charity Create we have developed musical projects with Grange Park School for pupils with special learning needs – working alongside our school pupils to create original pieces of music and dance.
Phi Factor
We have featured in the national educational press for our innovative work linking different subjects together on a project based on Fibonacci numbers, incorporating drama, mathematics, video work, drama and original soundtracks.
Howard Goodall
On Sunday 15th April, Howard Goodall, celebrated composer and national ambassador for school choral music, praised the work of RGS on Radio 3. You can hear the relevant extract by following this link: Radio 3 extract. If you have a problem opening this file, right click on the link, download it to your computer and then open it with Windows Media Player. |
| Within a secure environment we are able to provide personal challenge: within a stimulating environment we are able to provide for enjoyment in learning. Both elements are foundations for academic success.
"The quality of teaching is a strength. Teachers have high, often ambitious expectations of their pupils which result in very high standards of attainment and progress”. (Ofsted report on RGS).
We are committed to meeting the needs of each individual. High quality teaching and learning, assessment, monitoring and tracking student progress are at the heart of our curriculum.
"Pupils work well together sharing and listening to each other: they have a respect for each others’ opinion."
(Ofsted report on RGS).
Three key stages mark a student’s progress through the school.
For a broad overview of key stage 3 and key stage 4 click on the appropriate link to the left.
Throughout the key stages, home learning is an integral part of extension and enrichment to the curriculum. It extends learning opportunities. Planners are provided to help each girl organise her learning.
Key Stage Three
(Years 7, 8 and 9)
Well qualified and specialist teachers support students in the transition from primary to secondary school. A full range of subjects is studied to provide a broad and balanced curriculum.
Pupils already complete key stage three in two years in English, mathematics and science, rather than in three years as is the national standard. This will shortly be spread across the whole of their year 8 subjects. This will enable pupils to opt for a more personalised curriculum over the next three years.
The teachers are supportive and encouraging – they help me to work to the best of my ability (Megan, Year 7)
Key Stage Four
(Years 9, 10 and 11)
As our students progress through the school, we encourage them to broaden their horizons. At Key Stage Four all students study nine and a half subjects, with opportunities for ‘fast tracking’ where there is a need. In future years all pupils will be able to access AS level courses, if appropriate to their needs.
"In all departments, teachers have a very good expertise in their specialist subjects and a thorough grasp of which areas to address for different groups." (Ofsted report on RGS). |
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We are proud of the academic achievements of our students: we consistently feature in national league tables, and always feature amongst the very top performing schools in all of Kent.
However, our sixth form is not just about results - students become mature and independent. A quarter of the year group stand for election as school officers; many more develop in other key positions of responsibility, for example as Assistant Officers or as Heads of House.
Girls and boys new to the school in the sixth form quickly settle in - the overall atmosphere is friendly and supportive with a confident sense of achievement and progress.
I have been able to work and flourish in an environment where I felt supported and valued.
(Amy, sixth former)
Sixth form students are housed in a new sixth form block, the "Peggy Saxby Suite" which includes a study area, a large common room, sixth form classrooms and offices.
In addition to the extensive range of subjects on offer at AS/A2 level in the sixth form, from September, 2007, we want students to have the further option of selecting to take the prestigious International Baccalaureate* |
If you want to find out more about the subjects in the sixth form go into the subject area on the left to explore individual details of each course.
If you wish to find out a little more about the International Baccalaureate, then enter this area before looking at subject details.
* subject to final approval from the IBO in April 2007
Subjects on offer at A level and IB:
Advanced Level:
More subjects are available as part of the Rochester-Walderslade Sixth Form Partnership | |
primary schools in Rochester,
secondary schools in Rochester,
schools in Rochester
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