The school aims to maintain the range and depth of subjects appropriate to a selective school, whilst meeting the demands of the national curriculum. There is regular emphasis on traditional whole-class teaching, whilst, to provide a varied learning experience, use is also made, as appropriate, of a wide range of other teaching approaches, including group work, self-study and individualised learning. Attention to the individual and to his educational development, needs and success is fundamental.

Year 7: All pupils study English, Mathematics, Science, Technology, Information and Communication Technology, French, Geography, History, Art, Music, Religious and Social Studies (RSS), Physical Education (including Games) and Latin. Personal and Social Education is provided through these subjects and a programme of weekly tutorial sessions.

Year 8: As for Year 7, except that Science is replaced by the study of the separate sciences, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, and students add to the range of subjects studied, through a choice of either German or Classical Greek.

Year 9: As for Year 8, except that, in Mathematics and French, students are divided into bands according to ability.

Years 10/11: In Years 10 and 11 all students take GCSE courses in 10 subjects. All take English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, French and either Biology, Chemistry and Physics or a single award course in Additional Science. Able mathematicians may be able to take Statistics GCSE. In addition, students choose from three to five optional subjects from those taken in Year 9. All study for a GCSE in either ICT or Technology. There are further compulsory courses in PE, Games, Personal Development and RE, in addition to the tutorial programme.

Sixth Form: The vast majority of students in the school continue their studies into the sixth form, provided that they meet the entry requirement of at least 3 A grades and 2 B grades at GCSE. In addition, the school admits in the region of 65 external entrants annually at this stage. This is an academic sixth form offering courses to AS and A-level only. The AS-level assessment examinations take place at the end of the lower sixth year and progression into the upper sixth is normally dependent on a satisfactory performance in these. Most students will follow AS level courses in four subjects in the lower sixth and will continue with four in the upper sixth. In addition, most students will enter for General Studies A or AS level. The subjects offered at A-level are: Art, Biology, Chemistry, Classical Civilisation, Classical Greek, Computing, Economics, English, French, Geography, General Studies, German, History, Latin, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Physics, Technology. Homework Homework, which plays an important part in the school's academic programme, is set for each weekday evening in all years.

In Years 7 to 11, subjects are allocated homework times, the timetable is given to pupils at the beginning of the academic year, and each pupil is issued with a planner which acts also as a means of communication between the school and parents.

Independent work and research are an integral part of sixth form study, and assignments are set on a regular basis.  Continuous records of pupils' assessed work are maintained by teaching staff. These allow for detailed monitoring of academic progress. Parents receive reports, and there is an evening set aside for each year group so that parents may discuss their son's or daughter's progress with subject teachers and tutors.