Lower College

Wonder & Curiosity

At CLC, students are welcomed into a vibrant and happy community, full of curiosity, support and wonderful opportunities.

In Lower College (Years 7 - 8), girls are encouraged to make the most of a broad range of subjects and experiences, develop friendships, and immerse themselves in a community of ambitious young women.

Life in Lower College

Our Lower College curriculum aims to enrich and inspire each girl to explore her individual interests and develop her creativity.

Students study Maths, English, separate Sciences (Biology, Chemistry and Physics), Computing, Humanities (History, Geography, RS and Classics) and at least two Modern Foreign Languages during Lower College.

The Arts are fundamental, with Music, Drama, Art and Design, and Engineering, Enterprise and Technology (EET) also studied, and an extensive range of co-curricular clubs and activities.

Wellbeing and academic progress is overseen by the Head of Lower College, with excellent support from Tutors, Houseparents and teachers.

From September 2026, Lower College will focus on Year 7 and 8 (LC1 and LC2) only, with Year 9 moving to become part of the Upper College Division, forming a three-year pathway towards GCSEs and beyond.

A focused Lower College Division will create an enhanced and very special environment, in which pupils can grow in confidence, independence, and self-awareness at a crucial stage in their CLC journey.

LC students will continue to focus on learning how to learn, rather than on assessment rubrics or outcomes; encouraging pupils to take more intellectual risks, develop curiosity, and build their confidence as learners.

Early exposure to reflecting on strengths and interests will support a smooth transition into future choices without driving pupils to specialise too early. As they progress through school, with a greater understanding of who they are, students can begin to shape their personalised curriculum in UC3 and beyond.