Senior School
The Curriculum
Moorland School follows the criteria set down in the National Curriculum culminating
in each child taking around 11 subjects at GCSE. We believe in retaining the best
traditional approaches and values in the education of our pupils, in order for
them to become well rounded individuals. Click here
for a list of staff.
Our broad based curriculum places a high priority on numeracy and literacy.
Every child is given a chance to shine within small teaching groups. There is
no streaming or setting in the early years as we feel that all our pupils should
have identical opportunities, specialisation is left as late as possible so that
career decisions are not made at too early a stage. The current senior timetable breaks down as follows......
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Number of lessons per week. There are 25 lessons per week (20 lasting 60 minutes
and 5 lasting 100 minutes).
GCSE compulsory subjects:
- Mathematics.
- English language
- English literature.
- Dual award science (which gives 2 GCSE's) or Triple award science (which gives 3 GCSE's)
- A foreign language, with a choice of:-
- IT
- RE
GCSE options:-
- History
- Statistics
- Geography
- Business Studies
- Art
- GCSE PE
SAT's
Moorland pupils take SAT examinations at key stage one, two and three.
Other Qualifications
- Sporting achievement awards (eg. Judo belts, gymnastic awards etc.)
- Speech and drama awards.
Homework
Moorland believes strongly in the value of homework which is set according
to the needs and abilities of each child. The amount of homework rises as each
child progresses through the school and we work closely with parents via a homework
diary that is signed regularly.
 Reporting
and Parental Contact
Pupils' work is scrutinised on a daily basis. Full reports are sent to parents
at the end of each term and report cards are sent at the end of each half term.
Quality work and effort is rewarded at all ages throughout the school via merits,
certificates and prizes. The Moorland system ensures that every child is working
to their potential and also highlights any pupil whose work is giving cause for
concern.
Regular parents' evenings are held that give the opportunity to question each
teacher privately. Parents are free to contact the Principal or individual teachers
at any time. The School can make special arrangements to meet the parents or guardians
of boarding children at any time.
- We enter our pupils for the Standard Attainment Tests at Key Stage 3 and for
GCSE at the end of Key Stage 4.
- French or German are compulsory subjects from year 7.
- Options for GCSE are chosen at the end of year 9, and parents and pupils are
fully consulted to ensure that the best possible choice is made for the future.
- Most pupils will take around 11 GCSE subjects, although in some case more
or less subjects may be taken if we consider it to be beneficial to the individual
pupil.
There is no streaming or setting in the early years as we feel
that all our pupils should have identical opportunities, specialisation is left
as late as possible so that career decisions are not made at too early a stage
in their development. In 2006, we acheived a 93% pass rate for 5 or more GCSE
grades at A*-C (details here).
Entry Requirements for Senior School
We expect pupils to come to Moorland and:-
- Work hard
- Achieve good grades at GCSE (many state school consider D,
E F, & G grades to be passes, we consider them as failures. A*, A, B and C
grades are passes).
We are a non-selective school and we do not use a formal entrance test. We
do however usually insist upon:-
- A taster day (with the pupil being able to demonstrate that they can cope
with the curriculum and been able to mix with their peers)
- Favourable school reports from the previous school(s).
Computing
The school has excellent facilities to allow pupils to develop their ICT skills
to the limit. The School has invested heavily in computers, networking and satellite
Internet access. Moorland has its own website (www.moorlandschool.co.uk) which
encourages pupils to publish their own work on the Internet and communicate and
collaborate with other forward thinking schools around the world.
Music
 Even if
you think your child has very little musical ability you may be surprised to discover
he or she has hidden talents. Classroom tuition is given in singing and percussion
work, this leads to further work on electronic music keyboards with the accent
on musical literacy for all. As well as performing and listening work, there is
also the opportunity to learn the art of composing. The school will soon be able
to offer all necessary preparation for GCSE.
Visiting teachers are available to offer a wide range of orchestral instruments,
guitar and piano and prepare pupils for graded examinations of the Royal Schools
of Music. The school can provide for almost any musical requirement your child
may have.
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English &
English &
PE
PE