All subjects
Art, Design and Textiles

We believe that Art and Design has a central role to play in preparing our pupils for a changing world. Our aim is to provide an Art and Design education of the highest quality, promoting social engagement and a broad view of the world.

Pupils are guided in developing a sense of discovery through the making process. Critical thinking and personal reflection are central to pupils developing the skills required to produce meaningful, high-quality artwork.

Lessons in observational skills, eye-to-hand coordination, manipulating materials, and colour theory help the girls develop their own style in Art and Design and express themselves. They learn to critically respond to other artworks and deepen their understanding of technique, genre, and the purpose of artistic expression. We devise lessons that allow each pupil’s creative processes to grow organically, supporting them as they flourish into accomplished artists.

In Years 7 to 9 pupils will work with a wide variety of techniques including drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, textiles, fashion and costume. The starting point for each year is an understanding of the formal elements and principles of Art and Design. Pupils develop the ability to respond to the work of others during gallery and museum trips and are encouraged to express their own opinions and learn how to validate them. Pupils undertake cross-curricular projects, with a focus on creativity and innovation, to give the pupils an opportunity to work in teams to create, develop and market an idea that will be judged by an industry professional. Pupils are encouraged to attend extra-curricular activities including Art club, Textiles club and Photography club.

The Art department had a very positive impact on me, increasing my confidence in my abilities and creativity.  I really enjoyed the teaching and being encouraged to try new techniques and mediums. Kana U6

In Years 10 and 11 at GCSE level the pupils can focus on up to three areas of Art and Design, including Fine Art, Graphic Communication, Textile Design, Three-dimensional Design and Photography.

An initial introduction to skills and techniques at the beginning of Year 10 gives the pupils a solid foundation upon which to explore their own ideas. There is scope built into the projects to allow for independent investigations. We believe drawing skills are the foundation of Art and Design practice and projects begin with formal and experimental drawing. This impresses upon the pupils the importance of refining their drawing skills. GCSE Art and Design provides a space where pupils can develop personal ideas and explore creative thinking. Pupils often comment on the freedom and independence of thought afforded them in this subject. Workshop style support sessions are also offered after school.

At A level we offer both Textiles, and Art and Design. The courses begin with a review of skills and techniques in the Autumn term of Lower Sixth. Following this, each project begins with a block of observational drawing. They continue to explore creative solutions to their own ideas (with reference to historical and contemporary practitioners), experiment with a range of materials, and produce written work connected to their own chosen area of study.

By this stage, they are confident in devising their own projects.They have a plethora of sources to draw inspiration from. Their cultural awareness becomes evident through the connections they make to the work of others. As they find their own visual language and voice, they specialise in the most appropriate materials to communicate their ideas.

Weekly Life Drawing and Portfolio sessions are offered to students at A level to support them in preparing for interviews at Foundation or BA Honours level. We have an excellent success rate of students securing places to study on Fashion, Textiles, Architecture, Animation, Film and Fine Art courses UK wide.

Business and Economics

Since 2008 we have experienced a ‘once in a lifetime’ financial recession and a centennial pandemic. The impact of these supposedly rare events has spread to every corner of our planet and no one in the UK has been left unmarked whether they are aged 2 or 92.

We already faced a climate crisis that threatens our planet, a realignment of our political and economic ties with our near neighbours and the decline of our local high streets. Will London become a donut city? Are these big external events happening more frequently? Are they all intertwined? Can our response to one problem help us solve the others? Never has there been a time when such an alignment of momentous events demanded our attention and understanding.

I can’t thank you enough for all the business skills that you taught me over the years that helped me secure my job Past pupil

As citizens, consumers, employees and entrepreneurs we will all be involved with the world of business and the economic and political models that underpin the decision making that will determine our individual wealth and happiness as well as that of our towns, cities and planet. The department is particularly keen to widen the perspective away from traditional models of the economy by introducing and promoting the work of recognised female economists such as Kate Rowe and Mariana Mazzucato as well as Rebecca Henderson (Professor of Management and Strategy, Harvard Business School). We strongly believe that women bring fresh thinking into fields long dominated by white, western men.

At More House we are lucky to have a wealth of business activities to explore on our doorstep, from customer service at Peter Jones to workshops on inflation and monetary policy at the Bank of England, as well as theatre trips such as ‘Money the Game Show’ and ‘Kinky Boots’. Parents and old girls are an important resource and our location makes it easy to arrange visits and speakers.

Business and Economics B are taught at A Level and the department currently follows the Edexcel syllabus for both. For each the content is slightly less theoretical and mathematical than other boards. Over the two year course students consider aspects of marketing, human resources, finance and operations management from a local to a global perspective. Girls wanting to study pure Economics follow AQA who have introduced new models including Behavioral Economics.

Classics

In the study of Classics we aim to develop a knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of the classical world, its languages, literature, and cultures. We teach an awareness of the links between the ancient and modern world, particularly in relation to language, literature, and art.  Classical Civilisation develops excellent transferable skills such as literary analysis and essay writing.

At More House you can begin studying Classical Civilisation at GCSE and the course covers two components. The Thematic Study provides the opportunity to study both Greece and Rome, literature and visual/material culture. These components are wide ranging and encompass a variety of interesting and engaging material. In Year 10 we study Myth and Religion. Topics include the gods/goddesses, Heracles/Hercules, Temples and Festivals, to name but a few, which will inspire and motivate students to engage further with the classical world.

In Literature and Culture, students will be able to undertake an element of cultural study then couple this with a related body of literature. This approach enables a diverse course of study and preserves the variety of material, which has always been such a popular feature of Classical Civilisation. In Year 11 students will be taught one in-depth cultural study and one of related literature, the latter focusing on Mycenaean society and weapons used in battle before reading selected books from Homer’s epic, ‘The Odyssey’.

Our A Level course in Years 12 and 13 is made up 3 components.  ‘The World of the Hero’, ‘Culture and the Arts’ and ‘Beliefs and Ideas.’

In Year 12, students study Homer’s epic poem, ‘The Iliad’ and in Year 13, ‘Virgil’s Aeneid’.

This is solely focused on the study of literature in translation. Students will develop an increasingly sophisticated level of knowledge and understanding of the epics themselves, the way in which they were composed, and the religious, cultural and social values and beliefs of its society. Greek Theatre and is also taught in Year 12. This involves the study of visual and material culture and will be combined with the study of literature in translation. The drama produced in the ancient Greek theatre forms some of the most powerful literature of the ancient world and has had a profound and wide-reaching influence on modern culture. The three plays that are studied are Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, Euripides’ Bacchae and Aristophanes’ Frogs.

In Year 13 we move on to Greek religion. Religion was an essential part of ancient Greek identity, permeating all strata of society and all aspects of an individual’s daily life. Religion could be connected to the household, to life in the city or life in the countryside; moreover politics and religion were intertwined to the extent that political decisions were sometimes made on the basis of divine oracular intervention. Religion was also an important tool for the creation of local and Panhellenic identities, as well as competitions between the Greek city-states.

Creative Leadership Ethical Enterprise Programme (CLEEP)

CLEEP is a SSAT accredited programme involving vocational, hands-on, project based learning together, independently and from each other with facilitators as well as educators and Dragons from ethical, social and creative and commercial enterprise. It is a programme uniquely created by More House as an alternative to the EPQ in Year 12.

CLEEP will develop:

  • learning life skills in project management, time management and  people management
  • enterprise skills  including creative, ethical and social in context of sustainability, diversity and equality

CLEEP is a Sixth Form programme designed to enable Year 12 students to develop skill sets in ethical leadership, social and creative enterprise, supporting their community, building practical experience, acquiring (and putting into practice) knowledge and understanding designed to optimise and facilitate their future directions and next steps.

Working with other schools and with leading industry dragons, CLEEP will provide skills and opportunities to showcase their achievements.

Accreditation in CLEEP can be at Bronze (after Term 2), Silver (after Term 3) or Gold (after Term 4 – by Year 13 Christmas) Standard and can be used to support CVs and UCAS applications.

Digital Skills

Digital Skills is a core subject for pupils in Years 7-9. The aim is to encourage learners to develop independence and encourage creative thinkers through the world of computerised technology. We teach the girls to use technology responsibly and a significant amount of curriculum time is dedicated to online safety and wellbeing. Each week, students discuss the latest developments published by National Online Safety, which is also widely shared with the parent body.

Google Workspace for Education tools are used comprehensively throughout the school. Students follow the Google Applied Digital Skills course in which they learn to use graphic design software to create posters, create their own websites promoting sustainable fashion, analyse film data using Google sheet to predict successful blockbusters, collaborate extensively with other students using shared documents and generate self-marking quizzes to aid their revision. Students complete tasks using CSS and html to create websites which are based on their own inspirations and create videos raising awareness concerning plastic pollution.

Each year, pupils in Year 8 compete in GCHQ’s National Cyberfirst Girls competition which tests their ability to solve online cyber challenges, each designed to test their ingenuity to the limit. There is also the opportunity for students to be involved with the robotics club and the coding club which run after school and provide an environment to stimulate students who wish to hone their coding skills further.

Drama

Drama is an integral and cherished part of school life at More House. From the School Musical, performed on a West End Stage, to the more intimate Lower School Play performed in our stunning 19th century hall, drama is interwoven into the very fabric of the school.

Drama lessons at all Key Stages provide a safe and enriching environment in which all students can flourish, academically and socially. The curriculum cultivates links with English, History, Geography, Classics and R.E to provide students with a wealth of material to debate, collaborate and create innovative and unique pieces of theatre.

In Years 7 to 9 we build the foundations for success in Drama both academically and socially.  Drama fosters positive communication, teamwork, time management and self-worth and these are the cornerstones to all lessons. Students practically explore a variety of drama styles, authors and practitioners. From the swashbuckling adventures of Homer’s Odysseus to the atmospheric and eerie scenes of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, students are provided with inspirational stimuli to spark their imagination, creativity and friendships.

GCSE Drama in Years 10 to 11 is divided into three components: understanding drama, devising drama and texts in practice.  Understanding drama is a written exam in which students explore the social, historical and political backdrop of Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers and acting techniques required to perform a given role. Students are also tasked with writing an evaluation of the work of live theatre makers. Our location in Knightsbridge enables us to take many enriching trips to the theatre.

In the devising unit students are required to create a piece of theatre inspired by a given stimulus and in the style of an influential practitioner. The devising unit is accompanied by a piece of written coursework. In previous years, students have studied practitioners such as DV8, Frantic Assembly and Brecht.

Text in practice is a practical component in which students are given two scripted extracts to perform. This year, students studied and performed scripted extracts from Charlotte Keatley’s ‘My Mother Said.’

Studying drama has made me more creative and enabled me to interpret people and situation in different ways. Elisha Year 10 GCSE Drama student

At A-Level we offer Drama and Theatre.  This covers Theatre Workshop, Text in Action and Text in Performance. Theatre Workshop is a practical component in which students participate in the creation, development and performance of a piece of theatre based on a reinterpretation of a text. This year, Timberlake Wertenbaker’s ‘Ash Girl’ and practitioners, Kneehigh provided the backdrop to a powerful and moving piece on the marginalization of mental health.

Text in Action is a practical component in which learners develop and perform a devised and scripted performance. Such performances have included, but are not limited to, Caryl Churchill’s ‘Top Girls’, Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Importance of being Earnest’ and Sophocles’ ‘Antigone’.

Text in Performance explores three plays, Mark Haddon’s ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’ adapted to stage by Simon Stephens, Tennessee Williams’ ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ and Caryl Churchill’s ‘Love and Information’. The social, historical and political backdrop of each play is considered in depth as well as the acting and design elements needed to bring the play to life.

We encourage all girls to take part in our extracurricular drama group ‘More House Players’.  In fact, some of the images on this page are taken from their recent interactive and immersive theatre performance ‘Beyond The Beaten Path which was written, directed and performed by the fabulous group of girls.

Drama at all key stages provides a rich experience for students to broaden their understanding and appreciation of the social, political, historical and cultural fabrics that shape the world we live in. By strengthening such understanding and fostering tolerance, empathy and teamwork, our girls are fast developing the skill set to become the Global citizens of tomorrow.

Drama is a fun, creative and expressive subject that interweaves different passions of mine such as Psychology, English, History and Art. I particularly enjoy studying the historical and cultural context of our given plays. Lina, U6 A-Level Drama student

English

The English Department at More House share a love of literature and a profound belief in its power to help human beings to understand the world, the past, other people and themselves. We see English language and literature as making a fundamental and intrinsic contribution to a student’s social, personal, and moral development; the growth of language is a means of exploring experience, bringing ideas and feelings into full consciousness, and developing every individual, regardless of age, background, or ability.

We are unapologetically literary in our approach; we believe that reading is precious and it lies at the heart of all that we do. We are committed to developing a strong literary culture in our school, in which students are motivated to read critically and communicate in new and innovative ways. As teachers, it is therefore our responsibility to demonstrate creative communication in our teaching practice and we seek to do this at all levels.

Our busy and vibrant department provide many extracurricular outlets for excellence and general interest, including creative writing competitions, reading for pleasure and public speaking and debating. We harness the rich resources we are lucky enough to have on our doorstep; each year group enjoys theatre trips, workshops, lectures and literary tours.

We are unapologetically literary in our approach; we believe that reading is precious and it lies at the heart of all that we do.

In Years 7 to 9 we aim to expose students to a wide range of accessible, challenging, and inspiring texts from a variety of genres and periods, and in so doing extend their insight into their personal, social, and moral development and prepare them for future lives in a challenging society.

We care about accuracy and aim to ensure that all students can spell and punctuate correctly, know how a sentence works and take pleasure in the subtleties of English syntax.

We encourage and foster creative, accurate, and skillful communication skills, both spoken and written, for a variety of purposes and audiences and within a variety of contexts of increasing complexity and demand.

In Years 10 and 11 pupils are taught in ability groups and prepared for both English Language and English Literature GCSEs. Speaking and Listening is a non-examined, but integral, part of the current GCSE English Language examination.

At A level we follow the AQA (Specification B) English Literature syllabus. This course enables students to become confident, reflective and independent readers and writers.

They will be able to consider the content of works, themes, styles and techniques and the approaches of different authors, and confidently make considered original comparisons.

Success at A Level depends very much on a student’s ability to work independently by reading, researching and writing, and these skills are developed throughout the course.

Across all key stages we aim to bring the text being studied to life by visiting as many of our local resources as possible. This includes taking girls to see plays at The Globe, Young Vic, The Duke of York, The National and Regents Park Open Air Theatres. On occasion we have also visited Hyde Park for our creative writing inspiration.

Enrichment

Enrichment at More House is all about creating opportunities for the girls to explore their interests and ideas; develop their cultural and contextual understanding and build their skills in team and project work and as independent learners.  We feel the key to enrichment at More House has to be engaging the girls not just to participate, but to lead and model their leadership to younger years.  We want the girls to bring their curiosity into school – curiosity about their world, their community and their ideas.  Enrichment is a timetabled lesson each week for all girls.

In Year 7 to 9 the girls enjoy some curriculum time to skill up and explore their world, in a scaffolded environment.  Enrichment at key stage 3 focuses on enabling the girls to look at the world around them and develop greater understanding of areas of personal interest.

The girls are supported in learning about how to research, how to identify fake news and fallacy and how to develop their own ideas into realised projects and artefacts. They are taught how to plan and evaluate their ideas. Topics are varied and have included; Animal Abuse; Climate Change; Brexit for Young People; Knife Crime in London; Careers in the Film Industry; Women’s Rights in Saudi Arabia; Education in the UK; Gun Crime in America; Veganism; Horse Riding as a Sport; Gender Equality and The Voting Age in the UK.

Enrichment at More House is about giving and becoming More You. It enables you to challenge yourself and find skills and strengths you did not know you had. Lizzy U6

Pupils visit Art Galleries, Museums, Science Fairs to explore how the world is curated around them.  There is a debating club during the Spring term which is run by the Sixth Form and an Arts and Mandala Club in the Summer Term, run by Year 11 girls.

In Years 10 through to 11 enrichment events include hosting team challenges, hearing visiting speakers, debating opportunities and enrichment days during themed weeks in the spring term.

At KS5 in Years 12 and 13 enrichment is embedded in the LSP (Life Skills Programme) events, as well as from inter-House and inter-Schools Debating Competitions and from involvement in Cultural Projects such as Art Detectives and SPOKE (a national art video competition); lectures at the British Museum; the Science Institute and other academies.  In these years opportunities are presented for the girls to participate and to lead.

Recent projects have included researching and presenting, to a Dragon’s Den style pane, the identification of and sponsorship support for a girl’s education in a developing country; researching, creating and styling sustainable fashion items; researching and creating promotional videos for charities and the creation of  quilts for the homeless.

Our girls leave with a richly varied experience drawn from being part of a small community, where they can safely explore the edges around their familiar world; where their voices are heard and where they can learn to lead with confidence, assured in their knowledge and skillsets.

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

The Extended Project Qualification Level 3 is an independent research project undertaken by all Year 12s at More House School. We follow the AQA specification that places focus on project management, the responsible use of resources, developing and realising a planned project and reviewing progress and achievement.

The EPQ develops independence, research skills, critical thinking skills and academic writing skills. Students have the opportunity to choose from completing an academic report or an artefact project with an academic report. students in the past have written fully referenced academic reports, developed apps, filmed documentaries and carried out scientific experiments.

Topics that have been investigated have included:

  • The impact of climate change on the albatross
  • War crimes in Rwanda
  • Social media addiction in teens
  • Linguistic tuition and the NHS
  • Ancient Greek morals and modern terrorism
  • Diplomatic immunity
  • The origins of dreams

The focus is on personalised learning. Students are appointed a supervisor who guides and advises them through the process ensuring that they are best able to reach their potential in their research. The EPQ involves 30 hours of taught skills and 90 hours of independent work and students are given the skills to manage and plan their time. Lessons include debate and discussion about research processes and best practice.

The opportunities for research and project management with EPQ are extensive and The EPQ prepares our students for university and the world of work, whilst entrenching ethical research values, integrity and independence.

The EPQ has provided me with additional academic stretch and challenge, as well as allowing me to demonstrate a real interest in a particular subject. Madeleine, Year 13

Geography

Geography opens a world of possibilities at a time when we need a balance between protecting our planet and protecting its people. Geography students become ethical consumers who are focused on sustainability and make a real difference in the world. Geographers understand the science, sociology, politics and economics behind the way the world works. Geography is a big picture subject with endless university and career opportunities.

In Years 7 to 9, students are provided with endless opportunities to explore and understand the world around them. In Year 7, students explore the world with maps and understand how climate creates fantastic places. They end the year with a cross-curricular project that looks at the sustainable fashion industry.

In Year 8, students take a deep dive into China, investigate tectonics and explore the UK coastline. Year 9 prepares students for GCSE Geography with a focus on the extremes in cities, African development and climate.

With Geography, the world is in your hands.

In Years 10 and 11 students explore both human and physical environments whilst studying GCSE Geography over two years. The course covers both physical and human geography with a UK-based unit that draws on both areas of study. An investigation of UK landscapes, focusing on coasts and rivers, is the first topic covered, before students explore changing cities and global development in places further afield. In their second year of study, GCSE geographers focus on ecosystems and their management, as well as energy use and resource management. A three-day field trip is undertaken and these skills are also examined.

Geography at A Level opens up a whole new world of discovery, analysis and critical thinking. Students study tectonics and how these events are managed around the world. Globalisation is studied in depth with an investigation into the impacts of regeneration on our local school area and the London Docklands.

The final year of study sees students exploring the superpowers of global politics and understanding the carbon and water cycles and their effects on our lives. Four days of fieldwork enable students to present a final research project, displaying their independence and deep geographical understanding.

History

The History Department at More House encourages girls to think critically, challenge assumptions and come up with their own interpretations.  We also aim to consistently contextualise their studies by reference to other historical and current events.  Through this approach, our students develop strong analytical and evaluative skills as well as a wider interest in current affairs and wider world events.  These are crucial skills in the modern world, where conceptual understanding, the ability to question assumed facts and logically draw links and reach informed conclusions remains as important as ever.

History is compulsory in Years 7 – 9 and is a very popular subject.  During these years, the girls broadly follow the National Curriculum, covering topics as diverse as the Roman Empire, the Black Death, the Tudors and the First World War.  Girls develop a contextual understanding of how Britain has developed politically, socially and economically through studying key events, concepts and institutions over time.  This both prepares girls for further historical study at GCSE and A Level, and also provides a valuable understanding of the world in which we live.  Girls are assessed through a variety of ways, from traditional essays and source questions to presentations, debates and even the creation of podcasts.

At GCSE level History in Years 10 & 11 we cover topics across the past thousand years, and around the world.  In the Tsardom and Communism module, we examine the reasons and ideologies behind the Russian Revolution and the role of the Soviet Union’s first two leaders, Lenin and Stalin, in creating and maintaining a Communist Society.  The strained relationship between the USSR and the USA in the Cold War module, covering case studies from Korea to Cuba is studied in detail.  We also spend time examining British history through the Elizabethan England in depth and we chart the fascinating journey of where power lies in Britain in the Power and the People module, from absolute medieval kings to today’s parliamentary democracy.  The course develops a range of skills, including source work, understanding significance and writing evaluative essays, all of which are vital for success in future study.

I am able to comment on historical events and compare them to current events. I am more confident at public speaking Current pupil

History is a very popular choice at A Level.  We cover three main topics; a breadth study on the Tudors; a depth study on Weimar and Nazi Germany (both of which are examined at the end of the course); and girls also complete coursework on the threat of revolution in England between the mid-eighteenth and mid-nineteenth centuries.  Students engage with primary and secondary sources throughout the course, and develop keen analytical and academic skills through considering and utilising historiography.  Independent work and wider reading is essential for this subject and these study skills are developed as part of the course with extra reading material being readily available and encouraged.  Sixth form historians at More House leave as confident, reflective and self-motivated learners with excellent skills for further study and life in the wider world.

These skills and interests are taken beyond the classroom. Many More House historians are involved in the Debating Society, and the department offers a History Reading group which is open to KS4 and 5 students and aims to develop historical understanding for all students involved, and particularly those looking to subject History or related subjects at university.  We also take advantage of our central London location to immerse students in the subjects they are studying by taking trips to local historical sites and museums such as the Globe, Hampton Court and the Imperial War Museum, as well as further afield to the World War One Battlefields and Berlin.

Our public examination results are excellent.  Over 60% of GCSE students achieved grades 9 – 7 each year since 2019, and our most recent A Level cohorts (2020 and 2021) have achieved 100% A* – B.

History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme. Mark Twain

I am able to quickly understand the disadvantages and advantages of certain policies and describe how they will affect people on a personal level and the wider country, (sometimes more than one country) Current pupil

History of Art

Art records power, status, revolution and evolution and so the History of Art is the History of Mankind.

Artistic representations of the world are inevitably embedded in the social, political, economic and historical turmoil of the time and the art becomes a commentary on that turmoil.  And yet, as recent events have shown us, it is a singularly one-sided story from the perspective of the victor that we traditionally engage with.

At More House we like to take a holistic view – looking at unconscious bias, diversity and ethics in our curating the Canon and our studies incorporate non-Western and Primitive as well as Classical Art – Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, from the Caves to the Contemporary.

In Years 7 to 9 Art History is incorporated into the Enrichment Curriculum, enabling the girls an insight into cultural studies from various civilisations from which to springboard their own creative and critical thinking development. Projects become personal and team endeavours and we have adapted a cross-curricular model, spring boarding from cultural stimuli that incorporates 4th Industrial Revolution SMART thinking and skills. Recent projects have included studying local environments and interpreting these with pop art inspired responses and looking at textiles and Sustainable fashion and creating multi-media responses.

In Years 10 to 11 we are piloting Level 2 Personalised Projects (GCSE equivalent) in Art Historical topics selected by girls after studying works in the London Galleries.

We also take trips to Europe; Recently to Florence, Rome, Paris, Barcelona, Madrid to support student research and development of understanding. We attend a number of Art History Conferences and workshops with Universities and Galleries, as well as enter Art History Competitions, including Spoke and Articulation.

At key stage 5 we offer EPQ and A Level in History of Art where the girls get out of the classroom and experience the world in terms of ‘Time and World’ travel.  Due to our unique central position in SW1, the streets of London provide walking tours around 1000 years of Architecture and art history.

Through History of Art, they enjoy Co and Cross-Curricular Study – Mythology, RS, Philosophy, Humanity, Classics, Literature and learn to communicate with knowledge and authority.

The subject provides hands on opportunities in learning, making it visceral and real through attending workshops and conferences and with gallery visits in the UK and Europe.

The subject enables acquisition of knowledge and skills in visual analysis and in depth study. Girls study the themes of War and Nature from past and present, from all over the world, and depth period study of 19th and 20th century art.

History of Art is a joyous and manageable subject, developing critical future-proofing skills in analysis, literacy, debate, discussion, critical thinking and enables the girls to enjoy great art, follow world leaders, meet media moguls and develop academic study.

The subject is versatile and broad and leads to a range of careers in politics, the arts, media, business and academic study.

It is a story of utopian dreams and belief in the future, but also one that involves a critique of modernity. Sverker Sörlin

Mathematics

Mathematical understanding helps us to understand the world in which we live. It underpins, often in an unseen role, many aspects of modern life including credit card security, the spread of pandemics, stock market predictions, computer gaming and decision making in businesses. It facilitates many other subjects: artists learn about perspective, musicians appreciate different rhythms and intervals, economists like to model and predict trends, computer scientists use logic based on mathematical principles, biologists and geographers utilise statistics as well as more obvious links to physics and engineering.

At More House School, mathematics is taught in a way to develop students’ confidence in the subject. Developing confidence helps boost motivation which in turn leads to increased attainment and a passion for the subject. As a department we offer extra sessions to extend the maths taught beyond the curriculum as well as sessions to support students where necessary. The department is dedicated to ensure that all students fulfil their potential during their time at More House.

Not only are the lessons incredibly enjoyable and coherent but also all the teachers continually encourage each student and are always there to help if needed  Josie U6

In Years 7 and 8, students follow the Maths Progress course which helps to prepare them with the fundamentals required to begin the international GCSE in Year 9. The GCSE is then studied over three years to ensure that each topic can be covered in depth with time spent on reasoning and problem solving, rather than rushing through the course in two years.

Many of our students go on to study Mathematics at A Level and some will also study the Further Mathematics course. Our A Level students help run support sessions at lunchtime for younger students and attend online lectures throughout the course to extend their knowledge in areas of interest beyond the specification. Throughout the year groups, the use of technology is embedded into the curriculum with MathsWatch, ActiveLearn, Desmos and Geogebra used daily by the department.

Modern Foreign Languages

Bonjour, Guten Tag, Hola!

75% of the world’s population does not speak English at all, so in our ever connected globalised community, learning to understand and communicate in another language has become even more important and is now considered a key skill for our modern society.

At More House three modern foreign languages are offered; French, German and Spanish.  The curriculum for all three languages is based on the communicative method, where our girls apply grammar more confidently, learn to speak more fluently and know how to listen and read for greater understanding and knowledge of other cultures and ways of life.

In Year 7 all girls learn French as their first foreign language.  Through in-class teaching, speaking activities, online grammar, translation and comprehension tasks, group work and games, it is intended that the confidence in speaking, writing and translating grows along with the accuracy in application of their language.  We cover exciting topics such as: my family, home, holidays and free-time.  At the end of Year 7 our girls have taster sessions in German and Spanish and from Year 8 to the end of Year 9 all girls learn French along with one additional foreign language.

From Year 10 when girls start their GCSE subjects we develop the knowledge and skills covered in the lower school.  There is more emphasis on application of grammar to ensure that the speaking, writing and translation skills are the most creative and effective.

He who knows no foreign languages knows nothing of his own. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

We also develop the listening, reading and understanding skills which are required to be successful at GCSE level.  The girls cover a wide range of topics, many of them familiar with lower school topics, ranging from family & friends, my city and holidays to my school, the world of work and global issues.

At A-Level our MFL curriculum follows the Edexcel Pearson course and it covers topics pertinent in the countries where the language is spoken both in Europe and the wider world.  We delve into topics that range from artistic and cultural influences, political and societal change and the girls also read foreign language literature and study a film in depth.

Our students learn how to communicate at a fluent level in both speaking and writing and develop their skills in research, presentation, translation and summarising in the target language.  Girls learn to read and listen more effectively and respond more readily and spontaneously to a wide range of materials across a wide range of topics, both in-class and online, ready to make them more global citizens for our modern world.

At More House we truly value diversity and recognise what our multinational and bilingual girls bring to our whole school community.  At both GCSE and A-Level we fully support girls in their public examination entries, which they gain in addition to their taught language(s) at school.  The Modern Languages department guides pupils with their native language examination entries, namely: Arabic, Italian, Japanese, Persian, Polish and Russian.

To further enhance the MFL curriculum at school, we offer a wide range of trips during the academic year to different language groups.  We have a well-established trip to Montpellier for our French students, along with a long-running trip to Alicante, Spain, aimed at improving oral proficiency and confidence.  For our German students there are opportunities to go to Christmas Markets in the Rheinland and to visit Berlin on a cross-curricular trip with the History department.

Music

Over three quarters of the school take part in regular musical activities, both at lunchtime and after school. The department enjoys a high profile, both within the school and the wider community, and presents four significant concerts each year at local venues including Cadogan Hall. The jewel in the department’s crown is the annual Easter choral concert, which every year features major large-scale choral works accompanied by a professional orchestra, and features soloists taken from the student body. More House is the only London day school that takes students on an International music tour every year. Recent trips have included singing in Santa Croce in Florence, St Patrick’s Cathedral in New York and performing at the Beatification Ceremony for Pope Paul VI at St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

The Key Stage 3 curriculum for Years 7 to 9  is designed to be accessible and enjoyable for students of all abilities, from beginner to advanced musicians, while also being excellent preparation for the demands of further study. Students are introduced to the elements of music such as tempo, tonality, and dynamics.  All students learn the importance of reading music notation, through traditional methods as well as via the use of state-of-the-art technology. Our recently installed Mac suite offers our girls professional audio engineering, and composing experience via the use of Logic Pro X, and Sibelius Ultimate. From the outset, our girls gain an early understanding of the fundamentals of composition and have a lot of fun in the process.

In addition, our students are introduced to a wide range of musical genres. This plays an integral role in any student’s development and in the music education we offer. Singing is a major part of study at Key Stage 3 and all members of Year 7 and 8 are members of the Junior Choir (which, for Year 7, is a timetabled lesson). We have also recently introduced whole-class instrumental lessons for Year 7. Every girl is given the opportunity to study either the violin, the clarinet, or the ukulele for the year as part of a timetabled academic lesson. This has proved very successful and is a valuable experience for the students. Our students gain a wealth of knowledge that helps them become confident individuals who are interested in the wider world.

I love Music GCSE because not only does it bring out the creative side in us but we also learn the meaning and history behind all of it. Yesim Year 11 pupil

During Years 10 and 11 for the GCSE syllabus the academic activities of the department continue to thrive and our results at GCSE in particular are strong. Our aim is to offer Music GCSE to any student that wishes to undertake one of the most rewarding subjects on offer. By the end of Year 9 each student will have gained the breadth of knowledge required to choose Music GCSE.   As well as studying for assessments in performance and composition, the syllabus provides students with the opportunity to study music across the last 400 years of the Western Classical Tradition, studying instrumental music from Bach to Beethoven and vocal music from Purcell to Queen. Students also study musicals, film music and fusions of styles from around the world. Each year, exam students are given the opportunity to present both performance and composition coursework in public at small-scale concerts.

Sixth form music students continue to explore music for their A level in more depth and complexity, expanding their understanding and appreciation for all genres. The course offers flexibility and choice very much in the spirit of More House School as a whole, and in addition to study of the Western classical tradition, students can select optional units ranging from 20th Century Art Music and World Music to Jazz, Pop and Musical Theatre. Each year, exam students get the opportunity to present both performance and composition coursework in public at small-scale concerts within the school.

We have a number of different choirs that run including Show Choir and Junior and Senior Chamber Choir who recently sang Ola Gjeilo’s ‘Luminous Night of the Soul’ which can be heard on our school video.  Our Chamber Orchestra has also become one of the school’s most dedicated and accomplished ensembles. The department organises regular trips to make use of the wealth of musical interest in London and further afield. We arrange regular theatre trips in London, and for the past few years have taken Year 9 for a backstage tour, singing workshop and matinee performance of Les Misérables. There is an annual music trip which this year is heading to Tuscany and is incredibly popular with girls.

Physical Education

The Physical Education department at More House is committed to developing social and physical skills through a rich range of sporting activities, clubs and trips.  Enhanced by the diverse range of exceptional facilities on our doorstop, the students of More House are encouraged to develop a passion for sport.

As teachers, we value the stimulating challenge that sport provides for our students, leaving the opportunity to cultivate resilience and bestow a holistic approach to learning.

Students will develop physical literacy in the form of functional movements and sport – specific development. Our girls will find themselves in challenging scenarios where they will be expected to be creative, make decisions and reflect on their performance and the performance of others.

Each year group has a morning of Games, which is offered at one of our extensive top facilities on offer in the local vicinity.  In addition to timetabled lessons, we offer an array of clubs which take place before, during and after the school day.

Our extracurricular programme is run by a dedicated and highly skilled group of staff and external coaches, and is also supplemented by senior pupils. Each year group enjoys a busy fixtures programme played against other local independent schools. The competitive sporting year culminates in an annual Sportswomen’s Dinner to recognise and celebrate the achievement of our athletes.

In Years 7 – 9 the Physical Education curriculum aims to develop and refine the fundamental motor skills and principles of sport. Students will become more confident in demonstrating movement skills within a range of physical activities and will become determined, resilient, competitive independent learners.  Our major sports include netball, athletics and rounders. Alongside these sports students will participate in badminton, tag rugby, football and tennis.

In Year 10 and 11 all girls will receive core PE lessons once a week. The curriculum offers a multi-sport experience to engage the girls and foster the desire to live a healthy and active life.  We recognise the significant mental and physical benefits that come with regular opportunities to play sport and learn new skills. Alongside our traditional sports of netball, badminton, athletics and rounders, our curriculum offers students the addition of unconventional sports such as indoor wall climbing and exercise classes such as boxercise and yoga.

For those that wish to further their studies of PE, More House offers GCSE PE which has produced a number of rewarding success stories. Students are often able to utilise the sports they engage with outside of school complemented by those complete in PE and extra-curricular clubs.

At A Level all our students continue to receive one core PE lesson a week.  There is endless proof that maintaining a positive well – being has an irrefutable impact on productivity and ability to live life to the full. Lessons include the opportunity to visit local fitness centres alongside playing competitively in sports such as netball and rounders. Those taking A Level PE will follow the OCR syllabus, where students have the chance to explore theoretical concepts within a practical setting and will be given a fantastic insight into the amazing world of sports performance.

Politics

Politics has recently been introduced as an A-Level option at More House, and has been a popular choice amongst students.  In Politics classes we seek to understand the political world around us, drawing on examples from current events to assess the effectiveness of institutions and the nature of democracy.  Students are encouraged to read widely and engage in current affairs, and they develop strong analytical and evaluative skills, as well as gaining confidence through debates and giving presentations.  Lessons are a safe space for students to discover and voice their own views and opinions, and where they learn to also listen to and appreciate differing views.  Students who have studied Politics at A-Level continue to a range of degrees and professions, including law, teaching, politics and banking.

We follow the Edexcel Politics A-Level course.  In the first year students study modules on UK Politics (focusing on democracy and participation, political parties, electoral systems and voting behaviour) and UK Government (focusing on the constitution, Parliament, the Prime Minister and executive and relationships between the branches, including the Supreme Court).  By the end of this part of the course, students have a firm grasp of the workings of both the British political system and of the way that politics interacts with the public.

In the second year of the course, students study Global Politics as their comparative module.  This part of the course deals with big concepts such as sovereignty and globalisation, human rights, power and developments, regionalism and the comparative theories of realism and liberalism.  The wide-ranging nature of Global Politics compliments the diverse student body we have, and allows students to explore their understanding of the wider world.  Alongside Global Politics, students study Political Ideologies, including the core ideologies of liberalism, conservatism and socialism.  Our non-core ideology is feminism.  Through covering such a range of concepts and topics, students develop excellent skills and understanding which benefit them in a range of subjects.  It also provides an excellent basis for understanding the complex world in which we live.

Outside the classroom our Politics students are equally active.  They are frequently involved in assemblies, they help run mock-elections at election time and we have trips to key institutions, including Parliament and the Supreme Court.

Psychology

Everything we do in the study of mind, behaviour and human experience is relevant, insightful and eye-opening to the most fascinating study of ourselves. Our true commitment to inspiration and real-life application permeates all our learning endeavours.

The Psychology course at More House School is a popular option for A level students. Psychology is made relevant to students studying a variety of subject streams to help them gain an understanding of how the human mind works in different stages of life and situations, and why people react the way they do. These are core skills that are used in all interactions for example in the classroom, in relationships, work, law, business and marketing to name just a few.

The broad introductory course covers social, cognitive and biological psychology as well as the formation of our love blueprint and attachments, allowing students to experience a wide range of topics that will help them make informed decisions if they choose to pursue psychology at a tertiary level. Social norms, social groups and their influence on us, perceptions of normality, how our brains interpret our surroundings, and how we change throughout our development, mental disorders and their treatments, memories and thoughts along with the key psychological theories that underpin the studies of these areas. Students who do not wish to continue into tertiary study will still develop excellent skills that will be relevant to all, including independent thinking, critical analysis and research skills.

Psychology is life and life is Psychology!

Our expert teacher is a currently practising psychologist who is able to present relevant and current material in an extremely engaging fashion. We use case studies and enrichment material that have been selected with the current students’ interests in mind. The small classes allow for bespoke feedback in all areas of study. Debates and discussions and skilful mediation by the teacher, expand our students on to deeper thinking and explore the multifaceted subject on many sides. Dynamic and exciting lessons motivate the students to pursue their independent studies outside of the classroom as the study of Psychology gives them a unique opportunity to discover more about themselves.

Visits to the the Old Bailey, London’s Central Criminal Court, allow students to apply their knowledge of memory reconstruction and watch how the use of leading and open questions unfolds in court proceedings as well as the opportunity to get a glimpse of what forensic psychology is in action. A very popular area of study in the second year.

Students may see themselves as future counsellors, clinical psychologists, business psychologists or forensic psychologists. The More House School Psychology course educates and helps students to prepare for all of these possibilities. The course has been developed with the British Psychological Society to be up to date and relevant.

Religious Studies

Our teaching of religious studies is based on the faith and beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church. With Christ at the centre of all that we do, we strive for religiously literate and engaged pupils who have the knowledge, understanding and skills to reflect spiritually, think ethically and theologically and who are aware of the demands of religious commitment in their everyday lives. We seek to affirm the unique value and importance of each pupil, ensure that all pupils have the opportunity to grow in their faith and to provide a coherent and accessible curriculum that challenges the students academically, morally and spiritually. We endeavour to teach by example the Gospel values of Christ and to promote the Catholic faith, while encouraging the pupils to achieve their God-given potential. Ultimately we want to educate the hearts, minds and spirits of pupils and ensure that their lives are illumined in faith.  All pupils at More House will study RS through to GCSE level.

In Years 7 – 9 pupils follow the framework from a series called, “The Way, The Truth, and The Life.” This programme is based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Religious Education Curriculum Directory for Catholic Schools published by the Bishops’ Conference.

During Years 10 – 11 pupils are prepared for their RS GCSE which is a rigorous course of study, allowing the pupils to develop their knowledge of world religions, critical thinking and evaluation skills and self-understanding.  The exams at the end of Year 11 are in Roman Catholic Christianity and Judaism.

It is one of my favourite subjects because of the range of content covered, the wealth of philosophical concepts and the level of critical thought required to evaluate

The A level syllabus in Religious Studies provides a broad, coherent and worthwhile course of study. Pupils study three components: Theology (Introduction to Christianity), Philosophy of Religion, and Religious Ethics.

A-level religious studies encourages learners to develop their interest in a rigorous study of religion and belief and relate it to the wider world. Pupils are encouraged to develop an enquiring, critical and reflective approach to the study of religion, including considering the views of scholars/academics, the ability to analyse the nature of connections between the components they have studied, their own values, opinions and attitudes, in the light of their study.

Every pupil in the sixth form is required to attend weekly core religious studies. Pupils examine a wide range of philosophical, theological, ethical and moral issues, from euthanasia to medical ethics, faith and science to human dignity and human trafficking.

Pupils are able to critically reflect on and understand the meaning and importance of a range of sacred texts and sources of wisdom. Pupils demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the complexity of religious teachings and beliefs and personal choices and commitments. Pupils also critically evaluate religious and non-religious views and are well versed in independent and well-argued accounts of their own and others’ views.

Science

Science at More House inspires students to ask questions about the world around them. Our department is passionate about harnessing students’ natural curiosity to develop the deep understanding of Science and Technology that will be vital in their futures. We encourage our students to be creative in the application of their scientific thinking and offer opportunities for independent research for all students from Year 7 to Sixth form. Small class sizes enable us to tailor lessons to students, encouraging their passions and interests and ensuring that every student is supported to fulfil their ambitions.

All students at More House School study all three Sciences (Physics, Chemistry and Biology) from Years 7 to 11 when they sit their GCSE exams. After GCSE, many of them progress with one or more of the sciences to attain good grades at AS or A-level with the support and guidance of experienced specialist teachers.

To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle, requires creative imagination and marks real advances in science.

Our students are excited by science from the start of their journey with us in Year 7 through to Upper Sixth and beyond. Our A-level scientists are proud ambassadors for their subjects, often strengthen their own love of the subjects through sharing knowledge or supporting junior students through clubs while pursuing an interest with their own holiday projects.

KS3

In Years 7 and 8 our young scientists explore phenomena that they will have noticed in their everyday lives. How do we use and digest our food? Why is it hard to balance on a beam? How small is the smallest thing? We use scientific methodology and models to investigate these mysteries with experiments in laboratories with scientific equipment. More House School has a proud history of success in the Big Bang Fairs, both regionally and nationally. Students have the option of attending Science Fair Club where they choose an area of study and prepare for the regional Big Bang Science Fairs.

KS4

Students start preparing for their GCSE exams in Year 9 with an engaging curriculum that aims to bring the abstract theories of science into context. Cross-curricular links are made with Art, Mathematics, Geography, Classics, Robotics and Music to show how the fundamentals of science are core to all areas of our lives. Students have the choice of taking the Combined Science course or three separate sciences at GCSE.

KS5

More House School offers A-levels in Biology, Psychology, Chemistry and Physics. These are all taught in small university tutorial style classes. Students use the schools’ extensive experimental equipment to support their A level courses and add breadth and colour to take their knowledge gained beyond curriculum the courses.

Students are encouraged to work independently and read widely to foster their study skills and prepare them for their future and a love of lifelong learning. We run regular trips for students, taking full advantage of the nearby Scientific Institutes, museums, parks and Universities.