Curriculum

Key Stage 3

Girls entering the school are placed in one of five non-streamed form classes of 22, and are taught in these groups for compulsory subjects in Forms 1 -3.

The Strathearn Curriculum at Key Stage 3 aims to give every girl in Years 1 – 3 a broad, balanced and appropriately challenging education. The pupils also have been working under the statutory guidance of the revised NI curriculum.

In Form 1, pupils study the following subjects in the learning areas:

In addition, pupils are taught ICT as a discrete subject. The School is committed to all of its pupils achieving accreditation for their ICT skills and is an accredited centre for the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) which pupils are offered in the sixth form

In a weekly tutorial period, which is led by their Form Teacher, the girls investigate a range of themes including Personal Development and Careers Education. Local and Global citizenship is integrated across the curriculum.

In Forms 2 and 3 this is supplemented with the second language of German or Spanish.

Pupils are also working through all of the areas of learning to improve their transferable skills such as Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities. (For more information go to http://www.nicurriculum.org.uk

Sixth Form

Click here to download the Sixth Form Subject Choice Booklet 2026 (PDF)

Controlled assessment/coursework is an important part of the assessment AS/A2 work in many subjects as the marks contribute to the final AS/A2 grades awarded.

Controlled assessment/coursework at home

Certain times of year will be especially busy with controlled assessment, depending on the subjects which a girl is taking. When she is given a coursework task, it is most important that she sticks to the deadline set by her teacher. It is the pupil’s own responsibility to hand in the work on time.

Pressure of work is a real issue for pupils at AS/A2 Level as they endeavour to cope successfully with increased difficulty and demands of their chosen subjects. If deadlines are missed, this pressure increases considerably as controlled assessment tasks eat into other important activities such as revising for tests and examinations.

How can you best support your daughter with her controlled assessment?

• By being aware of the tasks to be done and the times when they should be done

• By providing a quiet place to work

• By encouraging your daughter to keep to deadlines

• By discussing the issue sympathetically but firmly with her if you are concerned

• If you are seriously concerned, by telephoning her subject teacher.

Controlled assessment/coursework in school

In a number of subjects, controlled assessment tasks are done entirely in class. Pupils will be advised of these occasions well in advance and it is absolutely essential that they are present in class unless they are genuinely ill. Failure to complete these assignments will severely restrict the eventual AS/A2 grade.

Authentication of controlled assessment/coursework

Each controlled assessment piece must be the pupil’s own original work. This is an obvious and strict rule. Teachers have a duty to report if they cannot be confident that a piece of work is the pupil’s original work. The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) provides guidance for schools, pupils and parents on all matters related to coursework/controlled assessment.