Torquay Girls' Grammar School
30 Shiphay Lane
Torquay
TQ2 7DY


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Overview of Subjects

Posted on 26/03/2011

In the Classroom …

The atmosphere at the school can be described as academically rigorous and girls and staff work hard to achieve the highest possible standards. We assess the girls regularly and ask them, in partnership with their teachers, to monitor their own progress and set themselves challenging targets.

 

  Art makes an essential contribution to the full range of human intelligence and offers a means of deep personal enrichment. There is a wide range of aesthetic opportunities and acquisition of skills available at each key stage to suit the aptitudes and interests of the girls across a range of projects. The Art Department has two full-time and one part-time member of staff. All classes are taught as mixed ability groups in specialist accommodation located in The Haystacks building.
Business Studies and Economics Business Studies is available to girls as an option at GCSE, AS and A2 level. Economics is taught in the Sixth Form. The topical nature of these subjects means that resources are constantly up-dated. Recent case studies and current data are therefore drawn from newspapers, magazines, TV and IT sources. Students are expected to use a wide range of sources in researching their assignments. These subjects provide an important contribution to modern citizenship and are supplemented by talks, visits and competitions.
  Lower School Chemistry The course begins with an introduction to safe working in the chemistry laboratory, and is followed by four units units each taking approximately 6 weeks: Introduction Acids and Alkalis Bubbles, Bangs and Burning What a Waste! Materials from the Earth There are four year 8 units each taking approximately 8 weeks:
Computing and Information Technology is taught as a discrete subject at Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 by specialist teachers in well-equipped networked computer suites with broadband internet access. Key Stage 3
Critical Thinking is a skill based subject which develops a student’s ability to assess the credibility of a source and analyse arguments; it is all about evaluating and reasoning.
GCSE Dance (AQA) Introduction:
Introduction:
KS4 Drama
Courses: Economics is taught at AS and A level following the AQA specification. We assume that a year 12 student has no previous knowledge of this subject but that she has a keen interest in her place in the world as a consumer, producer and citizen. Economics is valued as an academic discipline by both employers and also by top universities, particularly as a critical approach rather than rote learning of abstract theoretical concepts is encouraged. The subject is divided into microeconomics and macroeconomics. The former looks at how markets work and also how they often fail. It focuses on issues such as how the price mechanism works, the housing market, the environment including negative externalities such as pollution, the labour market, demographics, the pensions crisis, etc. Macro economics looks at the big issues facing governments (and all of us), including inflation, unemployment, economic growth, trade and balance of payments, as well as problems relating to the UK, the EU and the wider international community.  
  In English the students follow an integrated programme, addressing the areas of the National Curriculum: reading, writing, speaking and listening. They study a very wide range of texts, covering prose, poetry, drama, including plays by Shakespeare, and media texts. Approaches are active and lively. The aim is to develop the students' critical and creative responses and to nurture their ICT and linguistic skills. Drama is taught as part of the English curriculum in Key Stage 3.  Where possible visits to the theatre are arranged so that students can see the plays they are studying.
We are lucky enough to have a house in Trégourez in Brittany. Whilst this house does form the basis for a cross-curricular week it does offer all our students in Year 7 and 9 a wonderful opportunity to experience French life and culture as well as practising their new-found language skills.   Brittany gallery  
Dartmoor Field Trip
History is taught to all girls at KS3 and is an option at GCSE, AS and A level. The students are encouraged to understand and appreciate their British cultural heritage and how it interacts with other world cultures. Alongside the traditional skills of analysis and interpretation there is an emphasis on enquiry and research making full use of modern technology. At all levels visits to places of historical interest take place to enhance classroom activities and the department has strong links with the National Trust, English Heritage and the Local Museums Service.
Girls are presented with a variety of tasks (written, mental, oral, investigative and practical) to help them become proficient and confident when handling mathematical problems. Calculators, both graphical and scientific, and computer software are used as appropriate to enhance learning. All students take GCSE at Higher Level and a significant number continue their studies at AS or A2 Levels. Students from all years have the opportunity to take part in the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust Maths Challenge as well as the Team Maths Challenge Competitions. 
The course is a challenging and interesting one, marrying the traditional academic skills of textual analysis with the creative abilities of expressing ideas in different media.
MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES  
Music at TGGS  Music is taught to all students in Key Stage Three. As a performing art, a great deal of emphasis is placed on the practical aspects but these skills are underpinned by knowledge about the subject.  Activities in lessons include composing, performing, arranging, vocal and instrumental improvisation, listening and appraising.  This approach continues at Key Stage Four. Many girls learn a musical instrument in lessons given by specialist teachers and everyone is encouraged to participate in the school orchestra, choirs, the string ensemble, and jazz, samba and saxophone bands which take place in the lunchtimes. Music events summer 2012   TGGS Choir sing 'Hushaby Mountain'   There are two full concerts each year and musicians have opportunities to perform at school events such as prize day and carol concerts as well as in the annual Torbay and South West Music Festival. Alice's Theme & Jurassic Park  
Fixtures 2012-13 Physical Education develops students' physical competence and confidence and their ability to perform in a range of activities. It promotes physical skills and development and knowledge about the body in action. Physical Education provides opportunities for students to be creative, competitive and to face up to different challenges as individuals and in groups and teams. It promotes positive attitudes towards active and healthy lifestyles. GCSE courses in Physical Education and Dance are available as options in Key Stage 4 for those students who are particularly talented on the practical side.
    Key Stage 5 Our aim is to continue impart our enthusiasm for physics into the sixth form. We have been delighted in the past on the number of girls wishing to study physics, and indeed carry the subject on into higher education. This year proves to be no exception as we have received 25 applications to start in September 2010.
Staff Helen Brooke - B.Ed (Hons), Cert Ed. (Head of Department) Jane Davis - B.Sc (Hons), M.Sc., PGCE. Mary Wills - B. Sc (Hons), C.Psychol. All three members of the department are examiners for AQA. Entry Requirements In line with the academically demanding nature of Psychology you will need to have a minimum of 'B' grade in Mathematics, English and Science. What is Psychology? Perhaps the most widely accepted definition of Psychology is that it is the scientific study of human behaviour. That is to say that, through scientific research, psychologists aim to ask questions about the way human beings behave and how our behaviour is influenced by a wide range of biological, social and cultural factors. Psychology as a scientific discipline has had only a short history; only just over a hundred years. A level Psychology was introduced as a minority subject in the late 1970s, but has rapidly grown to become one of the most popular A level subjects with over 60,000 taking the examination in 2010. Despite its popularity, Psychology is not an 'easy option'. It is a demanding and diverse discipline, but if you have a genuine interest in the mysteries of human behaviour, you will find it a fascinating and rewarding subject.
Staff Mr A. Strachan B.A. Hons, MA, PGCE – Head of Department Mrs C. Bloor, B.Ed Cert Ed Ms L. Deller Ms R. Martin B.A. (P/T) Key Stage 3 Torbay have adopted the Devon Agreed Syllabus and this dictates which areas of Religion are covered. In Year 7, the students come to understand what religion is all about and how symbols play an important part in our understanding. A systematic study of Islam follows and then we look at the fundemental Christian beliefs and practices: this links to the idea that there is diversity in all religions. In this year the students will have the opportunity to visit Buckfast Abbey. In Year 8, the focus religion is Sikhism. Students then consider other Christian topics, such as the Bible, vocation and Christian Faith in Action. Further topics include the religious idea of pilgrimage and the important discussion of the impact of the Holocaust. In this year, students also have the opportunity to take part in a wide variety of activities based around religious topics in our Humanities Week. In Year 9, the focus religions are Judaism and Buddhism. The students are also introduced to some basic philosophy when they look at some of the ‘Big Questions’.
  Science is an ever-changing subject - not a day goes by without some scientific discovery or issue being reported in the news. We try to incorporate this important and exciting aspect of the subject in our teaching and in doing so inform and encourage the next generation of scientists.
Design and Technology Department Technicians: Mr G. Richards Miss B. Hamlyn Technology is taught in specialist rooms with modern equipment, through the subjects of Food, Textiles and Product Design. Generally the work is project-based and of a "Design and Make" nature, allowing a considerable amount of freedom of expression and projects are chosen to reflect the girls' interests. From Year 10 students work on controlled assessments provided by the examination board but are actively encouraged to find and solve problems within environments/contexts other than school, for example in industrial and commercial areas.