MOULSHAM HIGH SCHOOL S p e cialisi n g i n E n glish a n d H uma n i t i e s
A D D I T I O N A L INFORMATION
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WELCOME Welcome to Moulsham High School. We hope this booklet will help answer any immediate questions you may have about the school, but should you require further details please do not hesitate to contact us or visit our website at www.moulshamhigh.org
ADMISSIONS Students are admitted to Moulsham High School at age 11 without reference to ability or aptitude. The intended number of admissions for September 2017 is 252. In the event of over-subscription, places will be allocated using the following criteria in the order given. 1. Looked after children and children who were previously looked after. [As defined in Section 22(1) of the Children Act 1989] 2. Children with a sibling attending the school, including the Sixth Form, at the point of making the application. [Local Authority sibling definition applies] 3. Straight line distance from home to school, those living closest being given highest priority. [Calculated electronically by the LA using data provided jointly by the Post Office and Ordnance Survey] Applications for places must be made directly through the Local Authority by the closing date published in the Secondary Education in Essex booklet. We respect and value the linguistic, cultural and religious diversity that exists in the wider community and welcome students, staff and visitors of all backgrounds. We are committed to challenging attitudes that promote racial discrimination, thus ensuring respect for all and preparing all students for life in a culturally diverse society. A copy of our equality policies can be found on our website. We will ensure that any child in public care is sensitively supported and that confidentiality is maintained. We have high aspirations for the educational and personal achievements of children in public care and will ensure that they have equal access to the curriculum, additional educational support and all areas of school life. We will provide a supportive climate in school to enable them to achieve stability. A copy of our education of children in public care policy can be found on our website.
SCHOOL ORGANISATION PASTORAL The school is divided into two parts: School Pastoral
Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11
The Sixth Form
Years 12 and 13
Each year group in school pastoral has its own Standards & Progress Leader and an assigned Pastoral Manager. The Sixth Form is led by a Head of Sixth Form supported by an Assistant Head of Sixth Form. Each year group is supported by its own team of Form Tutors, who work within a competitive House system. The Standards & Progress Leaders and the Head and Assistant Head of Sixth Form are responsible for your child’s learning and welfare throughout the school. They are senior figures within the school and are experienced in overseeing the academic progress, personal development and wellbeing of all students in their care.
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ACADEMIC The school is divided into eight faculties. Each faculty has its own head, who is responsible for ensuring that there is high quality and excellent outcomes across the departments he/she manages. Heads of Faculty monitor student progress to ensure that high standards are achieved and maintained.
SCHOOL DAY The school week is divided into 25 x 1-hour periods for teaching purposes, providing a total lesson time of 25 hours per week for all students. In addition, time is allowed for registration, assemblies, break and lunch.
Monday to Friday
Morning
Afternoon
09:00 to 13:25
14:05 to 15:25
ENGLISH AND HUMANITIES SPECIALISM Moulsham specialises in English and humanities. The school chose this specialism because it incorporates English, which underpins the entire curriculum, and because humanities • is about the human dimension to learning, one of the many strengths of this school; • is more than a one-subject discipline, with a range of good practice that can be shared by all; • provides a broad range of interesting learning opportunities which we believe our community will enjoy; • prepares our students to play an active part as citizens of the 21st Century. The humanities subjects are geography, English, PRE (philosophy, religion & ethics) and history.
HOUSE SYSTEM Students are allocated to one of five Houses – Crompton, Knight, Marconi, Strutt or Tindal. Sixth Form students and a member of staff lead each House. The aims of the House system are: • to strengthen the sense of community and ‘belonging’ across year groups; • to create further opportunities for competition across the school; • to increase student participation and engagement; • to recognise the efforts made by students in both sporting and non-sporting activities; • to further reward students for their achievements; • to develop leadership skills in the Sixth Form within a friendly, competitive ethos. Running totals of overall House points earned for each House are displayed on House noticeboards and on the school’s website. The name of the winning House is displayed on the winners board and a House trophy is awarded. Individual students who have earned significant numbers of points are also rewarded separately.
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BEHAVIOUR FOR LEARNING Moulsham is a well-disciplined school and we strongly believe that it is in the interests of everyone that it remains so. Great emphasis is placed upon creating an atmosphere that is calm, ordered and conducive to hard work and achievement. Students are expected to behave in a civilised way and staff ensure that high standards of discipline are maintained. We believe that encouragement is important and helps promote good work and positive attitudes. We praise, reward and celebrate the achievements and efforts of those students who work hard and follow the expectations set out in the student code of behaviour. Achievement postcards are sent home in recognition of excellent effort/work and an extensive range of rewards recognises high levels of attainment and effort in all subject areas, as well as significant contributions to life within school or the community. Outstanding achievements are recorded in the ‘Headteacher’s Book’. Subject and sports awards are presented in end-of-term assemblies and the achievements of students in all year groups are recognised at annual awards evenings. Sanctions are administered in strict adherence to the school’s policy on such matters. Minor misdemeanours may result in verbal or written warnings, the setting of detentions, extra work, or by some useful community activity around the school. In cases of persistent or severe misbehaviour, students may be separated from their peer group in school or suspended formally for a fixed period. On rare occasions the governors have judged it necessary to remove a student permanently from the school roll as a consequence of his/her inability to conform to normal school life; such decisions are not reached without serious consideration by, and extensive consultation with, all the appropriate agencies. A copy of the school’s behaviour policy can be found on the website.
TEACHING AND LEARNING Moulsham offers a broad and varied curriculum to all its students in order to meet their individual and specific learning needs. The school recognises and provides opportunities for more able students by offering work to stretch and challenge, activities that enrich, and by promoting high attainment and good progress. It also ensures that the curriculum is accessible to all students, regardless of ability, disability or background. The governors’ statement of educational aims states: ‘We regard it as important that all children are able to develop as fully as possible during their school lives; that they achieve levels of attainment, maturity and independence that will enable them to follow suitable and satisfying occupations and activities; and that they have the ability and will to make a positive contribution to the life of the community. To help achieve these ends, the content of a child’s education should draw substantially from each of the following broad areas of learning and experience: linguistic, mathematical, cultural, aesthetic, creative, scientific, technological, spiritual, moral, human, social and physical.’ The resulting experience should reflect the following broad education aims: • to help students develop lively, enquiring minds, the ability to question and argue rationally and apply themselves to tasks and physical skills; • to help students acquire knowledge and skills relevant to adult life and employment in a fast changing world; • to help students to use language and number effectively; • to help students understand the world in which they live and the interdependence of individuals, groups and nations; • to help students appreciate human achievements and aspirations.
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ASSESSMENT The assessment of an individual student’s achievement in a fair, consistent, comprehensive and accurate way is an integral part of the teaching and learning process and all staff are expected to adopt, as part of their routine practice, the basic principles of assessment, assessment for learning, target setting, marking and homework. All students in Years 7 to 9 are set an annual target for each subject, which they work towards meeting by the end of the school year. Targets are recorded on the front of the students’ exercise books. Students and parents are kept informed of the progress being made towards achieving these targets through: • the regular marking and assessment of students’ work; • an annual examination; • a termly data sheet, one of which will form part of the student’s annual report; • an annual parents’ consultation evening. Students in Years 10 and 11 are set a target in each subject that is the GCSE grade they should be aiming for at the end of Year 11. Their targets are recorded on the front of their exercise books.
SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS & DISABILITY EQUALITY All students have the right to a broad and balanced curriculum and Moulsham has a well-established student support team to help students with special needs. The student support department works closely with the parents and with the SENCOs of feeder primary schools when making decisions about the most appropriate provision for individual students with special educational needs. Provision is aimed at including all students within the mainstream curriculum. At Moulsham we are committed to ensuring equality of education and opportunity for disabled students, staff and all those receiving services from the school. We aim to develop a culture of inclusion and diversity in which people feel free to disclose their disability and to participate fully in school life. The achievement of disabled students will be monitored and we will use this data to raise standards and ensure inclusive teaching. A copy of the school’s student support policy can be found on our website. The school has the advantage that much of its accommodation is on one level and, following a review of physical access, modifications have been made, including the installation of lifts and ramps, to improve access to all areas of the buildings. The school’s equality policies can be found on our website or copies can be requested from the school.
EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY The school recognises the value of, and seeks to achieve, a diverse workforce that includes people from differing backgrounds, with different skills and abilities. The school will take positive steps to create an employment culture, through its governing body, managers and other employees, workers and volunteers, in which people can feel confident of being treated with fairness, dignity and tolerance, irrespective of their individual differences. This commitment extends to the whole school community and others connected with it and complements other equalities policies within the school. We also have a responsibility to promote community cohesion, developing good relations across different cultures and ethnic, religious, non-religious, and socio-economic groups.
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ATTENDANCE Good attendance at school is one of the ways that we can ensure the safety of young people and is considered part of the safeguarding duties of this school. Furthermore, it promotes the best learning opportunities, punctuality and reliability – all valuable attributes for a successful working life after school. The DfE advises that “Reducing absence and persistent absence is a vital and integral part of schools’ and local authorities’ work to promote children’s welfare and safeguarding; ensure every student has access to the full-time education to which they are entitled; ensure that students succeed whilst at school; ensure that students have access to the widest possible range of opportunities when they leave school.” Moulsham has attendance targets and initiatives to reduce both unauthorised and authorised absences in line with the national average. For further details see our attendance policy on the school website.
CHILD PROTECTION – SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN Our child protection policy (safeguarding children) and procedures follow the guidance issued by the Essex Safeguarding Children Board (ESCB). The ESCB is a statutory multi-agency organisation that brings together agencies who work to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people in Essex. A full copy of the child protection policy is available on our website. As part of the school’s recruitment and vetting process, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and other statutory lists and local intelligence checks are sought on all staff. In addition, all teaching and support staff regularly receive guidance and training on child protection and the boundaries of appropriate behaviour and conduct. Each year group has its own designated member of staff for child protection who, where appropriate, will refer matters to the Whole School Designated Child Protection Coordinator (a Deputy Headteacher) or, in his absence, his deputy (another Deputy Headteacher).
HOME SCHOOL AGREEMENT Moulsham is proud of its links with the families of our students and, as required by the Government, has a home school agreement in place. Parents will receive a copy of this statement of expectation, which they and their son/daughter will be invited to sign when their child joins the school.
PARENTPAY ParentPay allows parents to make and monitor payments online for anything associated with the school, e.g. trips and visits, music tuition, voluntary contributions and student lunches. This avoids students having to carry cash or cheques.
HEALTHY SCHOOL AWARD The school has been awarded the Essex Healthy School Award, having been judged on a series of criteria that included, amongst others, our PSHE, food technology and PE provision; the food being sold in the refectory; the way the Student Council works; and the different activities available to students outside of lessons. Moulsham was found to be a healthy place in which to learn. We were the first school in Essex to achieve Enhanced status, the highest level of the award.
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UNIFORM Moulsham believes that school uniform plays an essential part in school discipline and that a transparent and consistent school uniform and presentation policy supports positive behaviour and discipline; encourages identity with, and support for, school ethos; ensures students of all races and backgrounds feel welcome; protects children from social pressures to dress in a particular way; nurtures cohesion and promotes good relations between different groups of students. Above all, we believe that appropriately worn school uniform and high standards of presentation support effective teaching and learning. This is also part of this school’s commitment towards preparing young people for the expectations of adult working life. Where students deliberately choose to wear uniform that does not conform to school policy or does not meet the school’s presentation standards, the school behaviour policy will be implemented. A copy of our school uniform and presentation policy can be found on our website. Uniform can be purchased from Schoolwear Plus, who are able to supply every item required. Compulsory items that must be purchased from the school’s supplier are: Compulsory items
Optional items
Blazer (embroidered with school logo and Form and House colours)
Jumper
Tie (boys only)
Girls’ Trousers
Girls’ Skirt
Sports Team Jacket
Boys’ Rugby Shirt
School Tracksuit
Sleeveless Slipover
Football/Hockey Socks PE Polo Shirt Navy Sports Shorts (Other items of compulsory clothing may also be purchased from any high street retailer provided they meet the uniform standards required.) Every effort has been made to keep the items of uniform simple and inexpensive and parents are asked to co-operate with the school by ensuring that their children come to school appropriately dressed.
THE CHAUCER BUILDING The Chaucer Building is specifically designed to help students with their independent learning. The building has two wings – a library wing housing a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books, study support material, DVDs and video conferencing facility, and some computers; and a media wing with an ICT suite, citizenship materials and university prospectuses. The Chaucer Building is open for use by all students before school, at break and lunch times, and after school. It is also open for Sixth Formers during their study periods.
HOMEWORK We place great emphasis on the quality of teaching in the classroom. However, additional learning is needed if every student is to achieve his/her personal best. Regular homework consolidates the learning completed in class and encourages students to develop habits of self-organisation and self-discipline. The quantity of work set increases as students progress through the school. It is the responsibility of students to check their homework tasks on “Show My Homework”, which can be accessed using the link on the school website. For further details about homework, take a look at the homework policy on our website.
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SIXTH FORM The school is justifiably proud of its Sixth Form, which offers a range of examination courses, a broad programme of general studies, numerous sporting activities and many opportunities for service within the wider community through our enrichment programme. The Sixth Form has a distinctly traditional flavour yet with a modern dimension. Sixth Formers are expected to support the school in a variety of ways and are encouraged to volunteer part of their private study time to help in Year 7, 8 or 9 classes or as Form Prefects. They do wear a uniform and are asked to show visitors around the school. They are excellent ambassadors for the school. The academic and social opportunities offered to the Sixth Form have resulted in its growth in recent years. (A separate Sixth Form prospectus is available on request or can be viewed on our website: www.moulshamhigh.org).
STUDENT MENTORS The first year at secondary school can be daunting for some students, so our Year 7s are given a helping hand by Year 11 Prefects who volunteer to act as peer mentors to new students; the Year 11s are on hand during morning and afternoon registration to listen to any worries or concerns. The older students are given advice and guidance and will refer any serious problems reported to them to the pastoral teams. Students can also talk about problems or worries they may have. The service is confidential, but any particularly worrying issues are reported to the designated person for child protection. Year 8 Form groups are also allocated Student Mentors and older students can access Student Mentors via their Pastoral Manager.
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Moulsham offers opportunities to participate in a wide choice of extra-curricular activities throughout the year. Students are encouraged to take part in, amongst others, the extensive range of educational visits, sports, music, drama and various subject-related clubs, as well as the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
SPORT All students are given opportunities to participate and compete in a wide range of sports. The excellent facilities at Moulsham include a state-of-the art, all-weather, floodlit 3G football pitch, swimming pool, gymnasium, sports hall, tennis courts, netball facilities, cricket field, outdoor athletics equipment, and access to squash courts and extensive playing fields. Competitive sports, both team and individual, are catered for within the PE curriculum and as part of numerous extra-curricular activities. School teams have competed successfully in association football, athletics, cricket, gymnastics, netball, rounders, rugby, squash and tennis. The department has also formed good working links with local clubs in a number of sports, including football, water polo and golf.
DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD The Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme is extremely popular and successful at Moulsham. The Award provides a challenging programme of activities – volunteering, physical, skills and expedition – at three levels – Bronze, Silver and Gold (Gold also requires a residential element). Participants noticeably gain in confidence and enjoy a great sense of personal achievement. The school arranges training and practice expeditions in preparation for their qualifying expedition to places such as the Isle of Wight, South Downs, Suffolk and the Peak District. Over the years a number of students have participated at Gold level and this has involved visits to many far-flung places including South Africa, Chile, New Zealand, Morocco and Slovenia. Students have the flexibility at this level to choose where they go for their expeditions and the method of transport they wish to use.
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PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION From Year 7 onwards students enjoy a programme of timetabled citizenship lessons covering national curriculum requirements plus personal, social, health and careers education and including topics on sex and relationship education (SRE) and developing self-esteem. Students in Years 7, 8 and 9 also participate in events such as drama productions and visits from speakers on a variety of PHSE issues. The school is keen to meet its obligations to young people whilst stressing the need for sensitivity and moral guidance. Teachers take careful account, therefore, of the age and maturity of the students whilst encouraging them to reflect on appropriate emotional and ethical dimensions. Parents have the right to withdraw their son/daughter from those areas of SRE that are not part of the national curriculum for science. The governors have formulated detailed policies on drugs, including alcohol, and sex and relationship education that can be found on our website.
CAREERS EDUCATION, INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE Careers education commences in Year 8 and is accompanied by an extensive programme of advice and counselling closely linked to students’ option choices. In Years 10 and 11 careers forms an integral part of citizenship lessons. Students explore their personal strengths and weaknesses to discover a wide range of occupations that might be appropriate. They also learn how to prepare job applications, compile CVs and present themselves effectively at interviews. We also have a well-stocked careers library that holds information on apprenticeships and higher education. During Years 10 and 11, students experience a range of enterprise education activities delivered through various departments and special activity days or events. In the summer term of Year 12 all students are expected to arrange a period of professional work experience or work shadowing with someone in a position of responsibility in industry or one of the professions. The school has strong and effective links with colleges and industry and computerised programs provide a wealth of job suggestions and ideas. In addition, advice from representatives from industry and the armed forces, as well as further and higher education, is available for KS4 and KS5 students at our annual careers convention in the autumn term.
CHARGING POLICY Parents will be invited to make voluntary contributions towards the cost of providing activities both within and outside school hours. This is to cover various expenses, including transport, entry fees and insurance. We should point out that if we do not receive sufficient voluntary contributions and the trip is deemed financially non-viable, it might, as a consequence, be cancelled. Charges will be made for individual musical instrument tuition; board and lodging on residential trips; travel outside school hours and not required for the purposes of an examination course; ingredients or materials in food technology or design and technology where parents indicate in advance that they would like their child to bring home the finished product; appeals against examination results; for an unrecognised examination; for re-sit examinations that the student’s teachers believe to be premature; or for examination fees for students who fail to complete the necessary coursework or fail to sit the final examination. The school also reserves the right to charge for any malicious damage. A full version of the school’s charging policy can be found on our website.
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2016 EXAMINATION RESULTS GCSE RESULTS % Students achieving 5 A* – C, including Maths and English 2016 71 -
School National Average
2015 72 56
2014 54 55
2013 66 60
2012 62 58
Other GCSE Subjects: (Full courses) Subject Applied Art
% Students making expected progress in English from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 4 2016 88 -
School National Average
2015 91 69
2014 77 70
2013 78 69
2012 72 67
% Students making expected progress in Maths from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 4 2016 66 -
School National Average
2015 75 66
2014 61 65
2013 75 70
2012 71 68
% Students achieving A* – C in Maths and English 2016 71 -
School National Average
2015 74 58
2014 56 58
2013 67 58
2012 64 58
% Students achieving the E-Bacc School National Average
2016 40 -
2015 31.78 24
2013 31 22
2012 14 16
Attainment B
Progress 8 2016 +0.51
2014 22.5 24
2015 +0.32
2016 +5.6
2015 +5.36
% A* – C passes
Subject
% A* – C passes
74.29
Graphics
82.35
Business Studies
75
History
78.29
Child Development
100
ICT
70.73
Citizenship
50
Computer Science
55.81
Drama
79.17
Media Studies
74.29
Economics
76.92
PE
55.81
Fine Art
81.82
Religious Studies
86.36
Food and Nutrition
92.31
Music
92.86
French
84.75
Resistant Materials
66.67
Geography
75.17
Photography
94.74
German
84.42
National Curriculum Core Subjects: Subject
% A* – C passes
English Language
84
English Literature
80.42
Mathematics
75.10
Core Science
63.04
Additional Science
57.25
Biology
94.14
Chemistry
87.25
Physics
85.29
BTECS SUBJECT
Distinction A* (A* equivalent)
Distinction (A equivalent)
Merit (B equivalent)
Pass (C equivalent)
–
7
10
11
Business: Award
Other Qualifications SUBJECT
A*
A
B
C
D
E
F
AQA Use Of Mathematics
1
5
4
-
-
-
-
European Computer Driving Licence
4
9
9
3
-
-
-
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A2 RESULTS 2016 Entries
% PASS
Information Technology
5
100
Mathematics
15
100
88.9
Media Studies
12
100
15
100
Music
2
100
English Language
17
100
Photography
10
100
English Literature
25
90
Physical Education
6
100
Film Studies
13
100
Physics
5
100
Further Maths
6
100
Psychology
30
96.7
Geography
20
100
Religious Studies
13
100
German
7
100
Sociology
6
100
Government & Politics
9
97.5
Spanish
1
100
History
22
100
SUBJECT
Entries
% PASS
Art (Fine Art)
13
100
Biology
22
100
Chemistry
9
Economics & Business Studies
TOTAL
SUBJECT
284
PERCENTAGES
99.42
% Students Achieving A* – B at A-Level School National Difference
2015/16 55.23 -
2014/15 49.85 50.8 -0.95
2013/14 41.8 50.8 -9.0
2012/13 40.3 51.2 -10.9
2011/12 38.8 50.4 -11.6
BTECS All at Level 3 (Diploma = 2 A-Levels; Subsidiary Diploma = 1 A-Level) Distinction A* (A* equivalent)
Distinction (A equivalent)
Merit (B equivalent)
Pass (C equivalent)
Business: Diploma
6
14
4
0
Sport: Diploma
10
5
1
2
Creative Media: Diploma
3
13
3
0
SUBJECT
% Students Achieving A* – E at A-Level School National
2016 99.42 -
2015 99.7 98.1
2014 99.9 98.6
2013 98.2 98.8
NB: All results are unvalidated at the time of going to press (In-depth analysis of examination results available on request)
2012 98.0 98.5
MOULSHAM HIGH SCHOOL Specialising in English and Humanities Brian Close Chelmsford Essex CM2 9ES Telephone: 01245 260101 Facsimile: 01245 504555 Email: admin@moulshamhigh.org www.moulshamhigh.org
Academy Status