Initially all girls have lessons in the traditional academic core subjects, in English Language and Literature, Mathematics, Geography, History, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, French and Latin, as well as in Music, Art, Drama, Food and Nutrition, Religious Studies, PE and ICT. In the second year of Senior House (Year 8) girls also begin Spanish.
Girls are encouraged to aim for breadth in their choice of subjects at GCSE level: Music, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Food and Nutrition, ICT and Business Studies, Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Double Award Science, Geography, History, Drama and Theatre Studies, Philosophy and Ethics and Physical Education are available in addition to a choice of foreign languages, including French, German and Spanish.
Religion
The school is Christian in outlook and welcomes girls of all faiths. Everyone is expected to attend morning assembly and to play an active part in planning and taking services from time to time. Girls attend Religious Studies lessons and the subject is a popular option for GCSE and A level.
Additional Learning Support
Working across both Junior House and Senior House, the Additional Learning Support department provides purposeful care and guidance to students throughout their time at Westfield. The highly skilled ALS team offer in-class provision, small group intervention and one to one support, always designed around the unique and individual needs of our pupils' academic and emotional wellbeing. Whether it is providing increased challenge or extra assistance, the pupil centred approach of ALS is at the heart of Westfield's aspirational and nurturing environment.
Careers
The school has a well equipped careers room with computer facilities and a reference library to which all girls have access. Careers guidance begins early in Senior House with a process of counselling leading to GCSE options and later to AS and A level choices. In addition to the Careers Tutor, other specialists advise senior girls. The school participates in a programme called "Preview" offered by COA (Cambridge Occupational Analysts Ltd). This is a very useful aid in helping girls make informed decisions about their future education and career. Sixth Form girls receive extra guidance from the Sixth Form Tutors with particular emphasis on interview skills. Help is given with applications to universities and other places of higher education. An established work experience and shadowing scheme provides opportunities for all senior girls.
Girls and their parents have access to a wide range of careers events. Use is made of parental expertise in a number of career fields and further academic studies. Girls who have left school recently are helpful in giving advice about their experiences, applications and successes.
STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.
As part of our commitment to encourage pupils to pursue interesting and exciting careers once they leave Westfield, we run a STEM programme in school. There is expected to be a huge growth in STEM careers over the next few years, with 58% of new jobs expected to be in STEM related disciplines. STEM graduates and apprentices are likely to have better job prospects and earn higher salaries than other graduates. We want to ensure that our pupils are able to take advantage of this by making the right choices at A-level and beyond. We would like to encourage our pupils to have the confidence to move away from stereotypes and to become a 'new generation of women in STEM'. You can find out what STEM opportunities exist for your daughter by following our blog.
