Broad Curriculum
Curriculum and Beyond
The Cavendish School is unusual in the extent to which the curriculum is enriched beyond the basics throughout the school.
While the key skills of reading, writing and arithmetic are well taught and reinforced, we pride ourselves on how much our girls enjoy learning in a wider context. They pursue their curiosity, make connections, and take risks with exploration across the arts, sciences and sport, both inside and beyond the classroom.
Our excellent teachers include many specialists who teach with infectious enthusiasm and a deep knowledge of their subject. We are fortunate also to have many experienced teaching assistants and a neurodiversity team. Our large staff to pupil ratio ensures support and challenge is available in all areas of school life for each girl. We also offer many exciting clubs, squads, and after school activities: circus skills, cooking, debating, Lamda, netball, football, music tech, funky dance and on and on.
Again, unusually for a school that prepares girls for the 11+, we do not narrow our curriculum in the run up to these exams. This inspires and develops self-esteem. It also makes for a smooth and successful transfer to excellent senior schools (often with scholarships); our Year 6 girls typically all receive offers from their first-choice school. With time to think and relax, follow interests and achieve across sports and arts, they enjoy school and enter the 11+ fresh and full of enthusiasm. Academics are important; so too are arts and sports as means of self-expression and growing confidence. Your daughter will have opportunities to flourish in many ways and discover talents and interests across a kaleidoscopic range of endeavours that will inform the choice of senior school and enrich her throughout her life.
The parents who choose us are typically more interested in the journey to secondary school than the destination, and are confident that their daughters will be exposed to all kinds of experiences beyond the bare bones of education before moving on to the senior school that suits her best.
We have wonderful facilities onsite which include dedicated spaces for art and science, a purpose-built gym and a modern performance hall. And we make the most of all that our central London location offers with frequent visits to museums, galleries, parks and sporting facilities.
Space and the great outdoors offer a unique learning opportunity and all our girls participate in Out There! opportunities so they can:
- Benefit from high-quality outdoor learning experiences and be given the opportunity to take part in risk-assessed, but not risk-free activities
- Develop reflective and inquisitive thinking along with problem-solving approaches in ‘real’ situations
- Develop resilience and adaptability
- Develop a love, appreciation and respect for nature and a deeper understanding of how we can look after our environment
- Engage in outdoor activities, challenges and teamwork, to grow in confidence and self-esteem