A broad and varied curriculum
At NBH Canonbury Senior & Sixth Form, we have created a broad and varied curriculum that prepares students for the competitive global job market.
We have specialist options that complement the balanced range of core subjects for every year group. From the beginning of their secondary education, students can pursue popular and varied fields of interest.
From Year 10, students refine their curriculum choices as they progress through GCSE and A-Level to specialise and delve deeper into particular subjects. Together with weekly enrichment, PSHE, and tutor sessions, the curriculum targets life skills and personal development as well as academic achievement.
* Students select between French or Spanish and Latin or Mandarin upon entry.
Key Stage 4
GCSE
In Years 10 and 11 (ages 14-16), pupils select three GCSE subjects of their choice to study alongside the compulsory subjects of English (Language and Literature), Maths and Science (Double Award with Triple Award available as an option). They also have compulsory weekly Enrichment, P.E. and PSHE sessions but are not examined in these subjects, unless they have selected P.E. as one of their three GCSE options.
By invitation from the Maths Department, some students will be invited to study Additional Maths.
Students who wish to take PE as a GCSE subject choice will need to select it as one of their three GCSE option choices.
Some of our wider learning options vary annually depending on the cohort’s interests.
The core curriculum is complemented by a selection of wider learning options:
Duke of Edinburgh's Award (optional)
Enrichment
Games
Graded Music Exams (optional)
LAMDA (optional)
PSHEE
Sports Leaders Award (optional)
* Courses may vary in availability each year depending on uptake.
Key Stage 5
A-Levels
In Years 12 and 13 (ages 16-18), students typically study 3 or 4 subjects depending on their GCSE results and / or ability.
We maintain very small class sizes at this level, which means we really get to “see” our students and provide a significant amount of one-to-one teaching. We prioritise developing a personal understanding of each individual student, so that we can best support them in every aspect of Sixth Form life and maximise academic success.
As well as their chosen A-Level subjects, students also study the Extended Project Qualification. The EPQ is an open-ended project which is equivalent to an AS-Level and is an excellent opportunity for students to learn new study and research skills as well as investigate a topic which fascinates them.
Sixth Form study is complemented by two Games lessons per week, one PSHE lesson per fortnight, and one double Enrichment lesson per week.
* Courses may vary in availability each year depending on uptake.
Enrichment
Character development within the curriculum
Our timetabled character development programme, known as Enrichment, helps students build resilience, problem-solving abilities, communication and teamwork skills. We dedicate one lesson per week to our enrichment programme and each term, pupils choose from an exhaustive list of topics that stretch them beyond the conventional curriculum.
Topics range from LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts) and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, to the student newspaper and the ever popular ‘Plants, People and the Planet’, which combines mindfulness and gardening with environmental council. These enrichment experiences motivate, challenge and develop the individual, equipping students with a wider skill set to enhance their university and job applications.