Curriculum Overview

The curriculum of Harris Girls’ Academy East Dulwich is designed to challenge and inspire all learners whilst preparing them effectively for the future.

Our aim is to develop and deliver a broad, balanced and enriched curriculum that coherently builds on prior knowledge, ensures the development of high quality spoken and written communication and numerical fluency and ensures all students become successful learners who are equipped with powerful knowledge, and who grow into confident individuals and responsible citizens.

For further information about the curriculum please contact Tom Grocott on T.Grocott@harrisdulwichgirls.org.uk.

Key Stage 3 - Years 7-9

Key Stage 3 is where our students learn the foundations of knowledge, skills and understanding that they need to become experts in their subjects. Key Stage 3 is as broad as we could make it, with students having the opportunity to study 14 different subjects.

We believe Key Stage 3 is the perfect opportunity for students to experience as many different subjects as possible, whilst maintaining a focus on our core curriculum and their learning of the basics. This table shows the subjects we currently offer at Key Stage 3:

For further information about the curriculum please contact Tom Grocott on T.Grocott@harrisdulwichgirls.org.uk.

Key Stage 4 - Years 10-11

For Key Stage 4, students choose certain subjects to continue to GCSE level, alongside their core subjects. At HGAED all students complete the following courses:

• GCSE English Literature
• GCSE English Language
• GCSE Maths
• GCSE Science (Trilogy Combined Science or Separate Sciences)
• GCSE History and/or Geography
• GCSE Spanish or French

We are passionate that all students should have access to rigorous core subjects. As our curriculum develops, we constantly evolve the range of subjects we offer our students. Currently they will choose one subject from the following options blocks:

These options allow students to choose their own pathway. We engage parents in the options process with our Options Launch event and choices are made after the Options Marketplace, where students are able to meet with the Heads of Department and subject teachers to ask any questions they may have about the options process. We strongly advise students to select options they enjoy.

We believe that as many students as possible should face the academic rigour of studying a humanities and a language. These subjects are academically rigourous and enable students to understand the complex world we live in.They are some of the most powerful subjects for building active citizens.

All our courses are carefully selected to ensure they are fully accredited and count in the DfE performance tables as well as offering a rigorous and challenging, yet appropriate course.

Key Stage 5 - Years 12-13

At Key Stage 5 we are part of the highly successful Harris Federation Sixth Form with over 100 students studying at Harris East Dulwich Sixth Form. Students have the flexibility to study subjects across our two sites at Harris Girls' Academy East Dulwich or Harris Boys' Academy East Dulwich. 

rigorous and challenging, yet appropriate course.

Support for students

We are proud that our academy welcomes students of all previous abilities and we passionately believe that previous learning should not be a barrier to future success.

We appreciate that some students find it difficult to access the broad curriculum that we offer. All our staff are training in Quality First Teaching and adaptations to ensure all students thrive and succeed.

For some students we offer more specialised guidance, including a smaller class to assist with the delivery of the curriculum. The teachers leading this class are excellent Quality First teachers, supported by the experienced SEN team of teaching assistants and other professionals.

We provide additional support for reading, Literacy and Maths for student who require some extra help.