Year 9 marks the beginning of the Senior School. Students are given the opportunity to study a broad range of subjects, helping them make an informed choice when they pick from our 26 GCSE-level options for Year 10. We encourage students to focus on key transferable skills such as communication, organisation and team building in order to prepare them for future external examinations and to help them become more independent.
We are also keen to develop students beyond the classroom through our wide and varied co-curricular programme, opportunities for contextual learning, deep scholarship, external visits and activities. This also ensures that students joining Leighton Park in Year 9 settle smoothly and quickly make lasting friendships.
The majority of our students regularly represent the school in sport, participate in music, drama, art, debating and further subject based competitions and experiences. This is a key part of the Leighton Park experience as students are able to focus on aspects of character such as resilience, organisation and take their learning to the next level.
Leighton Park has won the national Independent Schools Association (ISA) Award for Excellence in Pupil Personal Development 2022.
All students in Year 9 have the opportunity to begin the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award which includes four key areas. The first three allow students to choose areas they want to develop or focus on: skill, physical and volunteering. The final aspect culminates in an overnight expedition involving detailed planning, collaborative work and decision making before making a camp and cooking for themselves. The expedition is undertaken during Activities Week in the Summer term.
With a broad and balanced timetable, students experience the richness of our curriculum while beginning to consider their GCSE pathways. Whether in the classroom, the lab, the music studio, or on the sports field, Year 9s are supported to think critically, work collaboratively, and engage confidently in their learning. The promise of choice is ever-present, with 27 GCSE options on offer, Year 9 is the perfect time to begin shaping those decisions.
Watch this short video guide to discover how a typical day helps students prepare for the next exciting stage of their educational journey.
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