Personalised Learning and Enrichment

What do we mean by Personalised Learning?

Phil Purvis, Deputy Head (Academic) explains… At Croydon High School our entire teaching and learning strategy is based on the idea that every girl is embarking upon her personal learning journey. Individual, aspirational academic targets are set for each girl based on a range of indicators and adding a degree of challenge to take into account what the school will deliver.

Progress reports are given half-termly with regular target-setting combining teacher reviews and self-evaluation by the girls taking place at the end of each half term.

This ensures that our girls maximise their potential and achieve the very best grades that they can. Setting individual targets also informs our teachers about how best to adapt their teaching to meet the learning needs of all the girls in their care.

What is Academic Enrichment?

Our teaching style mirrors the ‘Every Girl, Every Day’ school ethos, with girls accessing a wonderfully varied curriculum through a range of diverse and innovative methods.

We believe the most powerful learning often happens outside the classroom, and the quality of our academic enrichment is outstanding.

Our girls are campaigners; impassioned by Human Rights issues, inspired to support charitable concerns and able to engage in meaningful debate, both in the classroom and in arenas such as the Model United Nations, where we compete at high level.

Travel broadens their minds, with trips to Europe and further afield enabling them to explore Art, Politics and History, to improve language skills, to compete in sport and to make new friends, as they grow in experience and independence.

How do we support our most able learners?

We have a number of girls who are exceptionally academically able and to ensure their full potential is always reached we provide opportunities for them to ‘stretch’ their learning in an environment where everyone is encouraged to excel.

These opportunities may include different homework tasks, grouping by ability in some cases and they will be encouraged to attend Masterclasses and workshops.

However, it is important to stress that every girl will have access to these sort of opportunities – they are not exclusive and we encourage aspiration in every area.

What does it mean to be an Academic Scholar?

The Sapientia and Consilium programmes are designed to support our Academic Scholars in Lower and Upper Seniors respectively.

The philosophy behind each is one of mentoring and coaching and we involve staff, senior girls, parents and our extensive alumnae network to help inspire and develop our girls.

The Sapientia Programme

Building a strong foundation for future excellence

Individualised coaching sessions teach our scholars to ‘map out’ their individual pathways to success  Regular mentor meetings run alongside with a programme of events such as Scholars’ Breakfasts, trips, workshops and enrichment sessions.

The Consilium Programme

Harnessing the power of our network

Many of our girls go on to prepare applications for Oxford and Cambridge and other Russell Group universities. Some decide to study at prestigious universities abroad and others choose increasingly valuable apprenticeship routes.

All of these routes are highly ambitious and competitive so planning begins well before Sixth Form and our Consilium programme ensures they receive the very best preparation possible.

From the beginning of Year 10, all girls are encouraged to identify their strengths and begin to build upon them.

Mentoring plays an important role firstly in helping girls set themselves ambitious and stretching targets for the future and understanding how these can be achieved.