Subjects

In Art, we nurture curious, creative minds. We study both traditional and contemporary skills, exploring and critiquing the content of the world around us; helping students develop their own, personal, visual language.

Students develop skills in drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, digital and graphic design, film making and the use of sound and performance in art. Throughout all year groups, they are challenged to think philosophically.

We offer a variety of clubs to encourage wider participation in creativity. For instance, Trinity News, Photography Club, Film Club, Junior Art Club and Ceramics Club all challenge students to engage with different materials and develop their understanding of media further, while Art Society and Film Society host talks and debates from staff, students and visiting speakers, allowing students to grow in their knowledge. Our Shaw Gallery is also a wonderful resource which encourages students to exhibit their work, alongside invited external artists.

We have strong links with Croydon’s cultural heritage and regularly work with local artists, galleries and arts charities. The vast majority of our students of Art or Photography at A Level go on to their first choice of university or art college.

We are very hands on in Biology, and frequently that means getting them dirty! From dissecting hearts to cloning cauliflowers, students of all ages get first-hand experience of the latest scientific techniques.

Pupils use microscopes to learn about cells, tissues and organs from various organisms. We explore the world of micro-organisms by growing bacteria on agar plates; yeast is used to make alcohol; mushrooms are grown and yoghurt is made and then eaten.

Meanwhile, we use aerogardens to grow herbs to investigate the science of food farming and use propagation tanks to clone plants from all sorts of cuttings. Sensors of all kinds are coupled with data-logging software to measure and record rates of physiological processes in plants and animals.

Each year group takes part in a national competition every year including the British Biology Olympiad, where we have won gold. Our Wildlife Club plant gardens to attract pollinators – helping to fulfil our department ethos “Bee Kind”.

Economics

There has never been a more exciting or important time to study Economics: the financial crash, sovereign debt crises, Brexit and now a global pandemic, are just a few of the complex, topical issues that students will grapple with and debate in the classroom.

Students learn – and critique – policy responses that governments have implemented in a bid to achieve their macroeconomic goals, as well as finding out about the financial and social consequences of these decisions, both at home and overseas.

Along the way, in the microeconomics side of the course, we study the predictable, yet often irrational, behaviour of consumers and businesses and analyse how markets work.

Through the study of Economic, students gain many transferable skills, including advanced analysis and evaluation of current affairs, as well as abstract thinking and data handling. Economics complements many other subject choices and forms a strong part of any balanced A Level programme.

Business

The world is dominated by business, large and small, and A-Level Business helps students to understand how. Dynamic organisations reflect the values of society and the people working within them, and business is always changing.

Our textbook is frequently rewritten, because the challenges that businesses face change on a daily basis: As competitors launch new products, governments change regulations, consumers demand greater transparency and social responsibility, global economic recession hits, or a referendum that throws business plans into turmoil…

Through studying Business, students will:

• Learn how to form well-structured opinions backed up by evidence and analysis and put across arguments for and against theories and strategies
• Develop a sound understanding of models and concepts through a critical consideration of current business issues and case studies
• Work effectively with data, including accounting ratios and other key performance metrics

In Chemistry, students develop an understanding of the material world around them.

We blend innovative, exciting and thought-provoking practical work with the key principles of chemistry, so that students understand the relevance of the subject in day-to-day life.

Beyond the lab, the study of Chemistry allows students to employ other, transferable skills, such as understanding abstract concepts, analysing data, problem solving, manipulating mathematical figures, and expressing answers in a logical manner.

Outside the classroom, thriving Chemistry clubs offer students the chance to explore the possibilities beyond the curriculum.

Every year, our students also take the opportunity to enter national competitions, including the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge, Salters Chemistry Competition, Top of the Bench, Nuffield Analytical Chemistry Competition and the Chemistry Olympiad.

Well-attended Sixth Form Medical Society and Chemistry Societies also confirm the popularity of Medicine and physical science with our students.

Chinese is the most widely spoken language in the world and studying it offers students a fantastic opportunity to understand a unique culture.

Most of our Chinese lessons are conducted in the language, with immersion and lively teaching enabling students to improve their understanding in a vibrant and encouraging atmosphere.

By GCSE, our students will be literate in the language, able to hold their own in conversations and recognising signs and wording. After A Level, students will have a more advanced conversational ability and will be able to progress either into business or further education using the language.

Our annual trip to China and Taiwan is always well subscribed and enjoyed by students, and we have established numerous links with exchange schools and colleges.

Latin is compulsory in First Year. As well as learning about Vesuvius, gladiators and daily life in Pompeii, the subject provides a solid grounding for other subjects as we cover linguistic competence, analytical scrutiny and cultural awareness.

We also offer Classical Greek up to A Level for those keen to explore the ancient worlds further. Both GCSE and A Level focus on linguistic competence, an ability to decipher and learn from ancient sources, and an appreciation of Greek tragedy or key military events through selected prepared passages.

Learning classical languages, including Latin and Classical Greek, provides the key to unlocking the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome.
With several different cultures found within a small geographical area – each made up of military alliances and conflicts, cultural differences and political ideals, a fascinating topic is brought to life.

Our teaching of Latin and Classical Greek is inclusive and interactive. Using technology-based class activities and unseen translations, lessons evolve into discussions that investigate these fascinating classical cultures.

The Western World owes a lot to its classical roots and so, through the study of Classics, our students experience the art, history and literature of the classical world and understand its relevance to the world today.

In dynamic and varied lessons, students develop a number of key skills, including translation, and have the opportunity to develop these in thriving co-curricular clubs.

We run an Ancient Olympics afternoon for our JBugs, and an Inter-form elocution Competition for our First Year, alongside our Lower and Upper School Classics Societies. Students also have the opportunity to enjoy regular trips to museums, Roman villas, and the classical sites of Greece and Italy.

The discipline of Computer Science is developing at a rapid pace and our department reflects its exciting and dynamic nature, giving our students an informed understanding of the changing world.

Students work on topics including game design, JavaScript, HTML and Python, to name but a few, to ensure they have exposure to the fundamental principles of the subject. Many have gone on to build their own websites, apps, games and virtual reality programmes.

Students also have the opportunity to build on their knowledge through weekly clubs, Royal Institute Computer Science Masterclasses, and the BAFTA Young Game Designers Award. The Oxford Computing Challenge is another regular fixture in our thriving co-curricular programme, with many students taking part.

Design and Technology prepares our students to fully participate in tomorrow’s world. It is embedded into the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) subjects and provides an excellent foundation for the product designers, engineers and architects of the future.

We encourage pupils to use their problem solving skills by responding critically, creatively and resourcefully to real-life challenges, looking at problems within different contexts whilst considering their own, and others’ needs, wants and values.

Through practical projects, students use materials and techniques to create functional solutions. The department is exceptionally well resourced and boasts some of the best facilities in the country. These include design suites and a large workshop space. A variety of specialist teaching areas are equipped with up-to-date resources and machinery, including 3D printers and laser cutters, allowing our students the opportunity to design and manufacture products to the highest possible standard.

In addition, the department runs a number of co-curricular clubs and societies, including light sabre building, drone club, wargames and engineering clubs.

In Drama, everyone’s contribution is significant and valued. We encourage students to explore and develop ideas within a supportive and creative environment.

Lessons are collaborative, so that students achieve a better understanding of themselves and others and improve life skills in teamwork and creative thinking. Together, we experiment with ideas and shape them through discussion and collaborative decisions, setting goals and achieving them through concentration, co-operation and creativity.

Students are given the opportunity to experience lessons in our wonderful performance spaces, which include the Mitre Theatre and Drama Studio. Both are supplied with modern stage equipment and students are trained not only as actors but also in how to utilise technical equipment, learning about drama both on and off the stage.

The department thrives beyond the classroom and curriculum, too, putting on three major productions a year, encompassing all students across all age groups. We allow students a showcase event, demonstrating to their parents through performance what they have achieved in the term. Opportunities are given for regular trips to the theatre, supplementing and supporting schemes of work and allowing students to critically analyse productions in preparation for the upper years.

When studying English at Trinity we aim to inspire interest and confidence in the use of language, as well as enjoyment of reading literature and media.

Our teaching is varied and interactive, using dynamic activities and learning experiences, within a classroom atmosphere that is relaxed and positive.

We encourage our able students to take the lead in class, and to pursue their own interests outside the classroom. Our co-curricular provision includes Lit Soc, advanced level discussion groups, theatre trips and Creative Writing Club.

Our trip to New York is always oversubscribed and thoroughly enjoyed by students and staff alike, bringing alive the themes and narratives studied as part of A Level syllabi.

Through studying French, students can become independent, ambitious and reflective learners. Our teachers bring to life both the culture and the language, with specialisms covering literature, history, politics and art, helping students to develop an international outlook.

As our students progress through KS3 towards iGCSE, we incorporate authentic language experiences into the curriculum, from sampling French delicacies to learning about “la Francophonie”.

Learning French means so much more than the mundane accumulation of grammar and vocabulary. Outside of the classroom, students improve their knowledge and understanding through co-curricular activities, including a weekly French football club, allowing them to use their language skills in new settings.

From taking a dive into the ocean to see coral reefs up close with virtual reality goggles, to exploring topography using our augmented reality sandbox, in Geography we bring the outside inside, in ways that inspire and challenge our students.

Our aim is to exceed our students’ expectations of what Geography is; whether we are attempting to find solutions to the global development gap, or pioneering new ways to improve water security: There is something to capture everyone’s interest.

By its very nature Geography is a multidisciplinary affair. Straddling both the arts and sciences, we encourage all students to participate fully.

We take this outside the classroom during field trips, whether day or residential. These range from orienteering in Lloyd Park just around the corner, to exploring the jungle and coral reefs of Borneo.

Meanwhile, local schools join us every year for the Geographical Association’s WorldWise Quiz, and students regularly attend lectures at the Royal Geographical Society and enter the Young Geographer of the Year competition.

In German lessons, from the outset, our students talk about themselves, their family, and their hobbies. We also encourage the exploration of culture by reading about German towns, famous German scientists, inventors or musicians, and aspects of contemporary German news.

By the end of GCSE and A Level, students are fluent enough to hold a sustained conversation in German, and will have a full and detailed understanding of the history, culture and society of German-speaking countries and the role they play within Europe and the wider world.

Our co-curricular activities, including inter-form quizzes, competitions and celebrations of cultural events and festivals, allow students to learn about many of the interesting facets of German culture. This is further encouraged during our annual exchange to Bonn, which has been established for many years. Students stay with local families, and see their language levels improve rapidly, both in terms of what they can understand but also what they can confidently express themselves.

In the Sixth Form, we run a study visit to Dresden, Weimar and Berlin, where students learn about what life was like in East Germany before the Berlin Wall came down.

Learning in the classroom is also supplemented by trips to see films and plays – either in German, with subtitles, or in translation – at venues such as the BFI, Goethe Institute, the Almeida or Royal Court theatres.
All of this allows students to become more internationally and culturally aware which will help them in their lives after Trinity.

The study of Politics is an opportunity to develop your own response to two fundamental questions of Western intellectual history; first, who should govern, and second, how should they do so? Almost every decision you take involves politics at some level.

Government and Politics produces students who are confident debating, constructing coherent arguments, and drawing parallels between everyday experience and political theory. The course should appeal not only to those interested in the challenges of the twenty-first century but also to those who enjoy philosophy, history, forming their own ideas and, of course, discussion.

In the Lower Sixth, the course develops an understanding of contemporary politics in the UK. This involves investigating the key elements of British politics, with a particular focus on the role of Parliament and the Prime Minister. Students are introduced to the ideology of the main political parties, the UK election system, and the role of pressure groups.

In the Upper Sixth, students study the US political system, political ideologies and their role in contemporary politics. The former will involve investigating the effectiveness of Congress and an assessment of the Democrats and Republicans, as well as an analysis of the role of the Presidency. The latter takes students through the most influential political philosophers and ideologies, and considers how these ideas influence political thinking and society today.

Building an understanding of our past makes us better equipped to understand our present. Students studying History have the opportunity to learn about different cultures, political events and beliefs, whilst simultaneously developing the ability to craft arguments and analyse evidence.

From Medieval Europe to decolonisation, our Lower School History curriculum follows a narrative approach. At iGCSE, students explore 20th Century units, and, in the Sixth Form, all students study a balance of Medieval; Early Modern, and Modern History, in addition to independent study on a topic of their choosing.

Specialist teachers work with students to explore questions, rather than recite answers. In the Third Form and the Fifth Form we offer extended project work for all pupils to prepare them for History further up the school, where pupils are encouraged to complete their own research and, in some cases, present it to peers.

In the Lower School, we offer Sunday visits for pupils and parents twice a term in addition to the First Form Medieval Day and Third Form Battlefields excursion. In the Upper School, we run a weekly History Society for Sixth Form Historians, and the Black Lamp Society, for those intending to pursue History to undergraduate level, meets weekly.

Meanwhile, pupils in the Sixth Form are encouraged to enter essay competitions run by Oxford and Cambridge, to attend evening lectures during the week, and to benefit from our regular visiting speakers.

There is something for everyone when studying Mathematics. With opportunities to solve tricky problems in class or simply to practice methods and get really good at the basics, we style our lessons to suit all abilities.

Mathematics is such a varied subject. Students at Trinity get to experience the beauty of algebra, the usefulness of number, statistical techniques that will serve them well in future life and employment, and learn to think like applied mathematicians, using modelling to describe – on a simple level – the world in which we live.

We want to pass on our unwavering enthusiasm for the subject, help students achieve their best and offer the greatest opportunity to study Mathematics post-16.

Outside of lessons we run co-curricular clubs including Hard Sums and Very Hard Sums, Paper Geometry and Maths Society.  We also enter hundreds of our students into the UKMT Maths Challenges and are always looking out for opportunities for our students to participate in external competitions and lectures.

We believe that, with the right encouragement and guidance, at whatever level and in whatever style, the life of any child can be enriched and given a new dimension through Music.

Our department is one of the best equipped in the country, providing outstanding facilities for classroom music and comprising three ICT suites – running Sibelius and Steinberg Cubase music software – and ample breakout space for practical work. Trinity is also a Steinberg Certified Training Centre.

In the Lower School, students study a different topic each half term, ranging from Baroque and Indian to Film and Popular Music. Students work towards a creative outcome for each topic, either individually or as part of a group, with tasks tailored to ability, including ample extension opportunities for the most able musicians.

Singing is at the heart of our department. All Junior and First Year students perform as a choir at the end of their second term at Trinity, to give everyone the chance to perform in public, whatever their prior experience. All boys are able to join our Training Concert Choir during their first year, from which many go on to join our internationally-acclaimed Trinity Boys’ Choir. A successful Girls Choir is run in the Sixth Form and girls and boys sing together in a variety of groups including our Chamber Choir and Jazz Octet.

Our curriculum instrumental scheme lets new students who have not had tuition on an orchestral instrument before benefit from free tuition for two terms to help spark their interest in studying an instrument; while our annual Composer Fellowship programme, associate ensembles (including the London Mozart Players and Maggini Quartet), regular masterclasses from leading performers and teachers, and annual Musician of the Year Competition, all contribute to our thriving department.

Our PE and Games programme promotes physical health, leadership and teamwork through a broad and balanced curriculum. Lessons are challenging for all and active throughout. Each of our students has the opportunity to find a sport they will enjoy playing once they have left us.

GCSE students are examined on theoretical components to do with Anatomy, Physiology, Psychology and Socio-Cultural aspects of Sport as well as on their ability to perform and analyse sporting activities.

A Level students analyse and evaluate how athletes progress from a starting point to competition level, looking at what may influence how they progress to elite levels. They are examined on theoretical components and their ability to bring areas of the course together in one physical activity, where their practical skills are backed up by constructive analysis.

As an extension, our exam students and High Performance Athletes enjoy a day at Loughborough University learning more about how an elite athlete trains, alongside physiological testing.

We also work with local schools, with students running sessions for younger pupils, and Trinity hosts local clubs at our coaching days.

Through the study of photography, students grow creatively and academically thanks to the conception and creation of thought-provoking conceptual art works.

We treat our students as practicing artists that stand to acquire and develop an exciting and transferable skill set.

Students experiment with a broad range of lens-based techniques and processes to explore the world in which they live, demonstrating independence, flexibility, spontaneity and excitement.

We focus on disciplines including photography, film and video, specialist lighting techniques, digital and darkroom experimentation, installation and projections, as well as more traditional disciplines including life drawing, sculpture and printmaking.

Students’ work is exhibited in our Shaw Gallery for parents, peers and guests to enjoy. To supplement class-based activities, we also take students to exhibitions in London, as well as abroad, including Venice, Florence, Barcelona, Berlin and Madrid, where they relate their work to that of professional photographers, artists and designers, from both present and past.

We teach Physics to inspire success, enabling our students to achieve above and beyond what they thought themselves capable.

To this end, we encourage active participation in discussions, questions and practical work during lessons.

Taking advantage of a well-resourced department, our committed and energetic teachers inspire students to develop the disposition and competencies of ‘real’ physicists, as they foster a curious and inquisitive approach to the world; a productive and resilient approach to learning; and the capacity for adaptive and logical reasoning.

Further Physics and the Physics Society are enjoyed by many students; keen to build on what they have learnt in class. Further Physics prepares the most academically able and interested students to succeed at a national level, and recently Trinity students have come in the top 50 in the country.

Students also take advantage of STEM activities and competitions, including entry into the Surrey Satro, the UK Space Design Competition and Weizmann Safe Cracking competition.

What can you change about a situation to make people more likely to obey you? Why do we forget things? Do people become criminals because of their genes or their experiences? Do humans learn behaviour the same way that dogs do? What techniques can the police use to help witnesses recall details of a crime scene correctly? What makes good scientific research? These are just a few of the questions that we look at in Psychology at Trinity.

We encourage students to evaluate scientific research and the theories that arise from it, covering topics as diverse as Social Psychology, Child Development, Psychopathology, Forensics and Neuroscience. Underpinning all of this is the study of research methodology and key debates within the subject. We look to apply theories to real life, such as understanding why eyewitness testimony is flawed and which treatments are the most effective for psychological disorders such as schizophrenia.

Part of our Lower Sixth course includes a trip to London Zoo for a workshop on phobias, where we experience hypnotherapy as a treatment for arachnophobia and consider the reasons why phobias might develop, as well as the extreme behaviour that can be entailed in a phobic reaction.

Students are encouraged to develop their knowledge and understanding of Psychology outside the classroom, through keeping up with current research in The Psychologist magazine, books and documentaries. They may decide to complete an EPQ or other independent research project to formalise this learning. Psychology Society meets regularly, giving students the opportunity to discuss topics outside of the curriculum and to hone debating and presenting skills.

In Religious Studies, students explore some of life’s most difficult philosophical and ethical problems.

Alongside the study of different religious traditions, students have the chance to explore questions of deeper meaning and debate challenging views and topics. They are challenged and helped in the development of their ideas and viewpoints, and have many opportunities to explore topics beyond the curriculum through Think Society, Junior Philosophy Society, our varied residential and international trips, and our extensive programme of visiting speakers.

We take an immersive approach to studying Spanish. Students communicate in the language from the outset, making learning the language fun and enjoyable.

We also draw on Spanish culture, bringing the language to life and making it relevant in today’s world. By the end of the Sixth Form, students will be sufficiently fluent to live in the Hispanic world, and have a detailed understanding of the history and culture of Spanish speaking countries.

Trinity students also have the opportunity to develop their fluency through our co-curricular clubs, where they enjoy games, debates and talks. Our Salamanca homestay visit is always a popular trip, too, whilst helping to improve language levels and inspiring further interest in the subject.

We have welcomed many esteemed speakers, including the Ambassador of Costa Rica, alongside academic experts on film and literature, while our annual ‘Colombia Day’ with James Allen’s Girls’ School celebrates the culture and society of the fascinating Hispanic world.