Pupils will follow a timetable that resembles that of a typical secondary school pupil in many respects, with a variety of subjects similar to those listed for Year 7 included. The Head of Prep delivers a significant proportion of these lessons in the dedicated Prep classroom, providing stability and continuity for our youngest pupils.

Pupils’ curriculum includes Art, English, French, Mathematics, Music, Science and Physical Education and Games. Tutorial periods with the Head of Prep are also an important feature and will incorporate delivery of our Life Education programme (Personal and Social Development).

All pupils follow a curriculum consisting of:

Art and Design, Computing, Design Technology, Drama, English, Food Technology, French, Games, Geography, History, Latin, Life Education (Personal and Social Development), Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Religious Studies, Science and Textiles.

All pupils follow a curriculum consisting of:

Art & Design, Biology, Chemistry, Design Technology, Drama, English, French, Food Technology, Games, Geography, German or Spanish, History, ICT & Computing, Latin, Life Education (Personal and Social Development), Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Physics, Religious Studies and Textiles.

All pupils follow a core curriculum consisting of:

Biology, Chemistry, English, Games, Geography, History, Life Education (Personal and Social Development), Mathematics, Religious Studies, Physical Education and Physics.

Pupils study three subjects from French, German, Spanish, Latin, Classical Civilisation and English & Communication skills.  The latter of these courses is designed for pupils who may benefit from some additional academic support.

Pupils also choose three creative and technical subjects from Art and Design, Computing, Design Technology, Drama, Food Technology and Music. 

Pupils choose seven subjects in order of preference from the list, according to the combination rules given below:

Art and Design (A) Art: Ceramics Option (A) Biology (S) Chemistry (S) Classical Civilisation (H) Classical Greek Computer Science Design and Technology Drama Food and Nutrition

French (M) Geography (H) German (M) History (H) Latin Music Physical Education Physics (S) Religious Studies (H) Spanish (M)

Combination Rules

We would normally expect each pupil’s curriculum to satisfy the following four rules. 

If your desired combination does not, then please get in touch for a further discussion.

We will then try to accommodate these choices into our timetable blocks.

(A) Art & Ceramics - Pupils may not study Art & Design and Art: Ceramics in combination

(H) Humanities - Pupils must include at least one of the four Humanities subjects marked (H)

(M) Modern Foreign Languages - Pupils must include at least one of the Modern Foreign Languages subjects marked (M)

(S) Sciences - Pupils must include at least two of the Science subjects marked (S)

Prospective Year Ten who are new to the school will be asked to indicate their subject preferences upon application.

While every effort will be made to satisfy each pupil’s preferences it must be stressed that the constraints of timetabling, staffing, set sizes, and facilities in technical subjects may mean a particularly unusual subject combination is not possible.

Where set sizes are particularly low, in any subject, it may make that subject unavailable.

Pupils will be asked to include reserve choices of course.  Reserve choices will be allocated in cases where the preferred combination of seven is not feasible and/or a subject is unavailable.

A small number of pupils in Years 10 and 11 will follow a curriculum including one fewer GCSE (or equivalent) course; instead attending additional lessons tailored to support the broader demands of the GCSE years and the examinable courses therein.  This pathway is generally available by invitation only (which will be sent, together with further information, by the Head of Year), and its allocation is dependent on the timetable restrictions imposed by the six optional courses followed.  

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During Year 11 pupils will select which courses they wish to follow as two year courses leading to A-Levels.  In many subjects it is essential to have followed particular courses for GCSE (or equivalent) in order to enrol for further study.  Pupils should therefore be mindful of this in their selections this year.  Pupils may gather further information on specific requirements for any A-Level course from the subject teacher and parents have the opportunity of asking at the Year 9 Parents’ Evening.  Pupils and parents should note that the School does not offer an A-Level course in Food and Nutrition, and that the availability of subjects at A-Level, as at GCSE, will depend on there being sufficient interest to make courses viable.

When deciding whether to choose a subject, a sound decision must only be based on the relative merits of the subject itself and the pupil’s ability in it, and never on any perception of the likelihood of either being placed with friends, or of receiving tuition from a particular teacher or group of teachers.  Pupils should be assured that the high standard of teaching, and the consistency of approach across and throughout all departments, is something in which the School has particular confidence.  The School is not in a position to make assurances concerning the allocation of specific teachers to, or within, particular option blocks; neither can it guarantee the allocation of pupils to particular option block(s) or teaching groups for given subject(s).  Furthermore, it is not possible to facilitate changes between blocks or groups based on pupil preferences. 

Most of our pupils remain at LGS for the Sixth Form and we are always pleased to welcome a good number from elsewhere; the latter very quickly settle and become highly-valued members of our community, enjoying their studies as well as all the other opportunities which support their transition to young adulthood.

Our Sixth Formers, whom we now call ‘students’, lead the way and set the tone at the top of the school. We are very proud of them! Not only do they achieve great things, but they thrive on the rounded programme which the school continues to offer, developing the softer skills which will stand them in such good stead for their future lives. Our visitors very often comment on their natural self-confidence and their ability to relate so well to others: “Well rounded individuals, confident but not arrogant, such a good reflection on the school,” as one parent put it.

We have recently reviewed our Sixth Form offering. We want it to be the best possible preparation, not only for university and apprenticeships, but also for life. We believe that our new Sixth Form Aspire programme offers a distinctive experience, enabling our students to keep ahead of the crowd.

The Academic Core is provided by A level study. Most choose three A Levels from the start of Year 12. It is possible to study four subjects, and for Further Mathematicians it is usually considered essential, but this route is suitable only for the most academically engaged and industrious students. The subjects available are:

Art & Design Art: Ceramics  Biology  Business Chemistry Classical Civilisation Computer Science Design & Technology Drama & Theatre

Economics  English  French  Further Mathematics  Geography  German  Greek  History

Latin  Mathematics  Music  Physical Education  Physics  Psychology  Religious Studies  Spanish

Students also complete the Ivy House Award in Year 12. This is an innovative Leadership programme, the likes of which is normally only available in the corporate world. The focus is on self-awareness, self-leadership and then the leadership and service of others.

Academic Enhancement and Enrichment is provided by a range of additional, non-examined courses, as well as specialist preparation for specific routes, including a comprehensive and very successful course for aspiring medics and support with Oxbridge. Many of our students also complete the Extended Project Qualification, which is an excellent research-based, independent piece of work on a topic which falls outside students’ examination syllabuses. There is a weekly lecture series in Year 12 on a variety of stimulating topics and supported by some very inspiring speakers.

Co-curricular participation is another vital ingredient, and one which supports personal development in all sorts of areas, normally alongside others and often in a leadership capacity. 

The Service element of Aspire is eagerly embraced by our students, who are all expected to contribute in some way to the school’s charity fundraising and community service. We want our students to leave us as generous individuals who will make a difference to the lives of those around them, whether in the UK or working more globally.

The entire programme is supported by Guidance and Preparation, pastorally and in readiness for university, apprenticeships and work. Students benefit from closer attention in smaller tutor groups, which contain a mixture of Year 12 and Year 13 students, with the former learning from the latter. The tutor monitors a student’s academic progress and happiness in the Sixth Form, as well as guiding university and apprenticeship applications, informed by a thorough and specialist careers guidance process.

The position of Leicester Grammar School as one of the top co-educational day schools in the country is based to a large extent on the achievements of our Sixth Form students. We nurture students who are independent, creative, highly qualified individuals, confident in their ability to make their chosen way in the world.

We expect much from our Sixth Form students in terms of their commitment to school activities and academic studies. In return, we are only too happy to be fully engaged with them in the team-effort necessary to achieve the highest standards.

We welcome applications from academically engaged pupils from other schools who want to play an active part in our Sixth Form life. Entry to the Sixth Form is by interview and offers of a place are then conditional on the GCSE grades gained.