Year 9 is the first year of our Senior School and one of our main entry points. 60 students transition from Fryer, our Lower School, with 20 new students joining from secondary schools and prep schools.
Our outstanding Year 9 programme enables our students to be in the top 1% for academic progress at GCSE, according to ALPS data for UK schools.
We’re focused on supporting you to succeed as yourself. You’ll get to experience exciting new subjects, like Engineering, Music Tech and Global Perspectives. You can spend time with friends and learn new skills in one of our 90+ co-curricular activities, like Drone Club, Model UN, Football Skills Training or Mindful Art – there really is something for everyone.
You’ll get lots of support too, in small classes with specialist teachers. You can call your teachers by their first names – and they’ll be by your side every step of the way. You’ll also have time each day to check in with your dedicated academic tutor.
A sense of belonging gives you the confidence to flourish. We’re here to make sure that happens. You’ve got your own Year 9 Commons to catch with friends in break time and lunch. Our House system, Sport for all and Music for all programmes give everyone an opportunity to shine, whether on the stage, the sports field or getting creative.
House and co-curricular activities are mixed with the other year groups, giving you the chance to make friends who share your interests, within an inclusive and kind community. With students from 45 different countries, you can learn more about the world and enjoy other cultures and global perspectives.
While our GCSE students are in the Top 1% in the country for the academic progress that they make, our focus is on you loving your learning. Our STEAM academic programme blends valuable analytical and critical thinking skills with creative habits of mind – giving you the skills to make connections and work together with others to create solutions.
Average class sizes of 16 give you plenty of individual attention and helps you develop excellent skills to share and refine your ideas.
Academics are important but you are so much more than your grades. We lead the UK for student personal development – winning the Independent Schools Association Award for Pupil Personal Development in 2022/23 and the Award for Future Readiness in 2024/25.
Our Creativity, Activity & Service (CAS) personal development programme and super-curricular programmes help you explore your greatest passions, learn more about yourself and develop the confidence to achieve your remarkable potential.
If sport is your thing then we’ve got good news. You can play sport every day if you want, with two Games afternoons each week and more than 30 sports to choose from in our co-curricular programme. Football, Hockey and Netball are our key sports, with excellent coaches, great facilities and multiple teams in each year group. Basketball, Judo, Tennis and Swimming are also important sports here, with specialist coaches.
In football, we partner with Chelsea Football Club, with their coaches coming to lead skills training workshops each week. We also partner with the Reading Rockets Basketball Team and Camberley Judo Club.
We’re perhaps best known for our phenomenal Music department but creativity runs deep at Leighton Park. 60% of our students study an instrument with one of our 27 instrumentalist teachers.
In Drama, you can get involved in our incredible productions and take lessons with LAMDA or Trinity (Musical Theatre). Our Loop Dance Company is a wonderful community of dancers and you can study towards NATD qualifications.
The Creative and Performing Arts are supported by incredible facilities, including our sector-leading, Music and Media Centre, two Drama studios and Dance Studio, seven Specialist Art studios and the very cool Design Studio and huge MakeSpace.
We want you to Live Adventurously, to push yourself, enjoy new experiences and have fun with friends. Our Year 9 residential trips are the perfect opportunity to explore and gain independence. Unleash your inner adventurer through our outdoor education programme, including the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award.
Travel the world on our international language trips, sports tours and ski trip. Learning should never be boring. We’ll make sure you have the experiences and inspiration to unleash your inner drive.
Education is a partnership and we’ll expect you to put the effort in. We’ll provide you with incredible learning spaces, specialist teachers and up-to-the-minute learning technology to make sure your hard work is optimised.
Our stunning new School Library will inspire you to new heights. Most subjects have their own academic buildings giving university campus vibes and our 65 acres of beautiful parkland will give you the perfect backdrop for success.
Boarding can be a brilliant opportunity to get the most out of School, to live with friends and to develop more independence. Full, Weekly or Flexi Boarding is available in Year 9. You’ll share a modern, ensuite room with one or two friends. Boarders’ socials and weekend trips mean there is plenty to keep you entertained.
As well as British students, we have students from 45 different countries meaning that you can make friends from around the world.
Take a look at a day in the life our Year 9 students, at Leighton Park.
For busy families, juggling multiple commitments, our model provides the reassurance that your children are well looked after, exploring their different interests in a supportive and aspirational learning environment. Flexible boarding is also an option across all year groups, subject to availability.
The Leighton Park Learner Profile is a touchpoint for our students and staff, reminding all members of our teaching and learning community of the aspects of education that we value most greatly. These approaches and skills have an impact across the whole curriculum and enhance the educational experience for each subject as well as within cross-curricular activities. The School’s Quaker values are at the heart of the Learner Profile, underpinning everything that we do.
We don’t have a set uniform in Years 9-11. Instead, students have a dress code. It is important that you look smart and take pride in your appearance but you have some flexibility around how you do this.
All our Year 9s are strongly encouraged to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme. Students are expected to take part in at least three co-curricular activities each week, broadening their horizons with new experiences, meeting new friends and learning about themselves.
The promise of choice lies at the heart of Leighton Park’s curriculum with students exploring subjects in breadth and depth. Students are supported to explore new areas and build on their subject knowledge, enabling them to make an informed choice when it comes to selecting subjects at GCSE level. We’ve only been able to cover some of our more unusual subjects below but hope to add more soon. Watch our subject videos to hear what our students think.
Use the icon in the top right of the video to select different subjects.
Year 9 students study a broad and balanced curriculum to prepare them for GCSEs. Use this subject finder to explore which (i)GCSEs we offer at Leighton Park and see details of each subject’s syllabus.
Take the next step by selecting an option below, or if you want to drop us a quick message, you can do so with the form.
Δ