Senior School – Academic life
Students in Woodbridge Senior School progress through a comprehensive curriculum, gaining knowledge across the entire breadth of academic study before choosing the specialised subjects they wish to take beyond year 9 to GCSE level and beyond. Whatever their talents, they get exceptional support every step of the way.

Teaching for success
Students at every level gain enormously from our unique and innovative approach to teaching. Our methodology enables pupils to not only acquire essential knowledge, but also be empowered to learn better, retain information and become more independent, through metacognition and self-reflection.
Creative and critical thinking
We provide each pupil with the essential intellectual skills needed for later study, including the ability to think critically and logically, capturing imagination and allowing for diversity of interests.
All academic subjects are important and help to develop different areas of the brain; for example, English develops the ability to use language precisely and creatively, whilst history and social sciences require that pupils are able to research and then construct clear, logical arguments based on their findings. In the creative arts, pupils are given extensive opportunities to create their own direction, and languages, pupils build intelligence, empathy, and understanding of different cultures.
STEM subjects
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics are exceptionally strong at Woodbridge. These subjects will allow pupils to fully embrace the ongoing technological revolution and are thus vitally important to students’ lives and careers. We deliver lessons that inspire pupils to think in an original and creative way.
Languages
Students are also strongly encouraged to learn languages, with French, Spanish, Mandarin, Latin, Greek and Japanese all available. Students in the senior school start from a very broad base of languages and can then study them further as a specialist subject.
The Junior Oxbridge programme
The FitzGerald Society, our Junior Oxbridge Programme, is aimed at high-flyers in Years 10-11 with a zest for knowledge and exploration. The programme includes a mixture of major events including a moot (mock law-trial), where pupils study evidence, create their own cases and bring them to court. Subsidiary activities include exploring logic problems set by GCHQ, and we also take part in the annual Alan Turing Cryptography Competition. Trips typically include the Bawdsey Radar exhibition or Bletchley Park.
Learning support
Woodbridge School maintains a diligent learning support scheme to help pupils across the academic spectrum – from the highly gifted to those who need extra assistance in class. Our well-proven tutor system identifies each pupil’s aptitudes and abilities, encouraging them to make the most of the opportunities offered through a personal development plan.

GCSE Options
Students will typically take 10 GCSEs, but exactly which ones will be down to a number of factors. While many subjects are compulsory or highly recommended, there are opportunities for students to also play to their individual skills, talents or goals.

Results & Outcomes
Despite the disruption to schooling during the Covid-19 pandemic, 2020 saw our Senior School students achieving new highs in terms of the grades attained at GCSE level! With 102 GCSE students in total, 25.4% of grades were a 9 (up from 22% in 2019), 43.4% were grades 9–8 and 68% were grades 9–7 (up from 58% in 2019), with almost 100% being over the pass grade (4).
The vast majority of students were able to follow their desired paths for their lives after Woodbridge Senior School – whether this meant continuing at the School for Sixth Form, going on to study further elsewhere or transitioning into a career.

Selecting GCSE’s support
Sometimes, students have queries or difficulties making decisions over which subjects to study for GCSE. Teachers and learning support staff will be available to offer advice and indicate which courses may be most appropriate for individual students, and why.
To take a look at the official subject selection form for GCSEs, please click on the link below.
Want to arrange a visit?
In addition to our open days, we welcome visits from parents and children looking for the right foundation for life ahead. We’ll be happy to show you around and answer any questions you have about the school, the staff and the support we offer our students.
Click below to go through to our simple booking form, and our staff will do the rest.