At a school like the Manchester High School for Girls Preparatory School, we, as teachers, have the privilege of being able to build a curriculum that best serves the girls we have in our community. Knowing our girls well and knowing what is in their best interests is fundamental to inspiring an innovative approach to their development; both academically and personally. In a world where employers increasingly draw attention to the lack of work-place readiness in young people, at MHSG we have an eye on ensuring our girls are real-world ready, despite being at the start of their educational journey in the Preparatory School. We don’t believe that this preparation should be solely in the hands of our Senior School colleagues. It should fall to us too; where the foundations are laid, upon which all future potential will sit, and we are more than ready to take up that challenge. This is not simply limited to talk of preparation for the world of work. Our aims go much further. We aspire for our girls to achieve an inner confidence which unlocks their ability to be agents of change, a willingness to use their abilities for everyone’s betterment and the fulfilment and sense of well-being that comes from knowing that they can make a meaningful difference in the world around them.
This year we have launched our new Enquiry-Led Curriculum. This is not a new educational concept, but a well-respected framework that enables us to craft meaningful learning and skills development around what our girls need now, and for their futures. We have taken apart a traditional approach to subject teaching, used the knowledge, skills and understanding drawn from this and put it back together in a way that adds true meaning for our girls. Taking their natural curiosity and helping them make sense of what and perhaps most importantly why they are learning is at the heart of what we are hoping to achieve. Under-pinned by five curriculum drivers: citizenship, digital futures, oracy, sustainable environments and leadership, we are innovating an approach that will equip our girls for every stage of their onward journey. They will be introduced to a termly or half-termly ‘enquiry question’, such as ‘What is the art of being human?’ and ‘Does more choice bring more freedom?’. These over-arching questions provide a thread to link ideas, subjects and experiences together, encouraging the girls to make connections, think critically and develop their own informed responses, rather than simply learning a collection of facts. Rest assured all traditional topic areas, knowledge and understanding will be taught in ways that help the girls to understand ‘why it matters’.
We have not stopped there. We have applied these curriculum drivers to our established ‘enrichment provision’ so that the girls continue to enjoy experiential learning in a way that will support their future skills development. All girls in KS2 across the year will have opportunities to develop their skills in the following areas: personal finance, DIY, First Aid, community action, outdoor learning, charitable endeavours and sustainability. These lessons in small groups of 12 or 13 mixed ages helps girls develop the skills, confidence and character beyond the classroom, giving them opportunities to make decisions, solve problems, work collaboratively and contribute positively to their community. Moreover, bringing girls of different ages together in small KS2 groups adds another valuable dimension, with older girls developing leadership and mentoring skills while younger girls gain confidence, learn from their peers and see themselves as future leaders. Furthermore, each girl will have their time with me, the Head of the Preparatory School, to have their opinions heard on everything from the school menus to how marking and feedback helps them learn. Our girls are not backward at coming forward, but we are teaching them the skills to express an opinion respectfully, to advocate for what they believe in and to know their contribution is valued. This underpins self-esteem and if we are going to prepare our girls for a life without imposter syndrome, they must be taught to lean into their strengths.
As you would expect in a school like ours, the core curriculum areas of Maths, English, Science and PSHE remain at the nucleus of all of our academic endeavours. They are the keys that help our pupils unlock the wider curriculum and enable them to express themselves fully and, in this regard, nothing has changed.
If you want to learn more about our innovative and exciting new curriculum and enrichment programme, visit us on one of our many Open Days – we would love to talk to you about what we do.
