Portsmouth High School has an excellent academic tradition; in terms of public examination results and entry into higher education it is amongst the best in the country. Our curriculum seeks to combine the best traditional values with modern methods of teaching.

In the senior school, our aim is to achieve a balanced programme of study that delays the need to make subject choices as long as possible. In this way the widest range of career options is maintained.

The subjects studied in each year are as follows:

Year 7
Art, Design Technology, Drama, English, French, Geography, History, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Mathematics, Music, Personal, Health and Social Education (PHSE), Physical Education, Religious Studies, Science, Spanish.

Year 8
Art, Design Technology, Drama, English, French or Spanish, Geography, German or Latin, History, ICT, Mathematics, Music, PHSE, Physical Education, Religious Studies, Science.

Year 9
Art, Biology, Chemistry, Design Technology, English, French or Spanish, Geography, German or Latin, History, ICT, Mathematics, Music, PHSE, Physical Education, Physics, Religious Studies.

Years 10 and 11 Core Curriculum
All girls will study the following courses which will enable them to gain six and a half GCSE passes:  

• Mathematics
• English Language 
• English Literature
• French or Spanish
• Biology, Chemistry, Physics (these three seperate science courses will lead to the award of two IGCSE grades - so called 'Dual Award Science') 
• Information Technology (short course worth a half GCSE).
   

Year 10 and 11 Option Subjects

A further three GCSE subjects are then chosen from the following: Art and 3D Design (Ceramics), Art and Design, Design and Technology, Drama, Geography, German, History, Latin, Music, Religious Studies and Spanish (for 'beginners').  In addition girls will follow non-examined courses in PE,  PHSE and Citizenship and Careers.

Once these subject choices have been made, pupils have the opportunity of gaining nine and a half passes at GCSE.