Curriculum to GCSE

Students at the College are prepared to take GCSEs in the core subjects together with optional subjects of their choice.

Our school hours are 8:20 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. but there are optional clubs afterwards on most days that continue to 5:30 or later.

Moon Hall College covers the Key Stages 3 and 4 of the National Curriculum. We take children from Burys Court, from Moon Hall School and from other schools into College 1 (Year 7) and into more senior years if there are vacancies.

We teach all of the national curriculum subjects except foreign languages. We use specialist subject teachers supported by dyslexia trained specialist teachers or assistant teachers.

English

Literacy is critical to the ability to access the secondary school curriculum. We use a phonic method (Phonographix) to teach reading and spelling. The higher language skills such as comprehension, inference and analysis are taught through in-depth reading of texts where we share the joy of discovering new ideas, new worlds and new experiences. Speaking and Listening skills are the foundation of all our English teaching. Pupils need to be able to communicate their thoughts orally before being able to write them. For this reason all our teaching begins with discussion and moves onto writing.

Mathematics

Mathematics teaches us how to make sense of the world around us through developing a child’s ability to calculate, to reason and to solve problems. It enables children to understand and appreciate relationships and pattern in both number and space in their everyday lives. We aim to promote enjoyment and enthusiasm for learning through practical activity, exploration and discussion. We use a variety of methods including lots of concrete apparatus for kinaesthetic learners to enable pupils to make progress even when they find the subject difficult.

Science

College pupils follow the DfES/QCA scheme of work for Key Stage 3 science using an in house course, loosely based on ‘The Heinemann Science scheme’. Practical work is considered a very important component of Science and incorporated whenever possible. Glossaries and student record sheets are provided for all units. A wide range of resource materials are available. At the end of every unit the children sit an End of Unit test to help them assess their progress and an end of year examination.

At Key Stage 4, pupils follow AQA Single Science GCSEs. This currently comprises six modules (two each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics) and a centre assessed unit which is a practical component. However some aspects of the course will change in September 2011 in line with ‘ofqual’ approved new GCSE syllabuses. We will keep Science provision under review to provide the best possible opportunities for our children.

History

Through the History curriculum we encourage pupils' curiosity and imagination, presenting them with the dilemmas, choices and beliefs of people in the past. It helps pupils to develop their own identities through an understanding of history at personal, local, national and international levels. It helps them to ask and answer questions of the present by engaging with the past. Pupils find out about the history of their community, Britain, Europe and the world. They develop a chronological overview that enables them to make connections within and across different periods and societies.

Geography

In Geography we look at physical and human aspects of the world. We try to understand why they are there, howthey happened and how they are changing so that we can appreciate what our futures might be like. We look at a whole range of topics such as settlements and urban issues, volcanoes, ice, deserts, the countries of Italy, Japan and the developing world as well as looking at maps and satellite images. We have the opportunity to go on field trips, for example studying how local rocks affect our landscape or to look at how our town centres are changing.

We aim to provide students with:

A varied and enjoyable Art education
Skills in drawing, painting, 3D, textiles and printmaking
Opportunities to achieve success

And to make them:

More aware of the natural and man-made environment
Able to enjoy investigating, making, learning about, understanding and to talk about their own work and that of others

We believe that all children should have access to an education in art and design where they are provided with a stimulus to explore and appreciate other cultures and to develop a critical judgement. It can develop co–operation, commitment, perseverance and tolerance leading to a respect for other’s views.

Art and Design

The Art Department aims to provide a varied Art education, where each student has the opportunity to explore a range of disciplines, including; drawing and painting, mixed media, three dimensional sculptural work and graphics based studies including ICT.

Students are encouraged to experiment with the materials, techniques and processes, exploring the potential of each. We also encourage students to develop good problem solving skills, by devising projects that focus on the individuals approach to tasks and to aid the development of their skills in testing and experimenting with the materials successfully. By adopting this approach students are given a greater opportunity to achieve their full potential.

All students have access to the Art Room where they follow the National Curriculum at Key Stages 1, 2, and 3. At GCSE level (Key Stage 4) we use the AQA examination board for the Art and Design syllabus, which allows the individual greater freedom to determine the type of work they would like to pursue.

We believe that all children should have access to an education in art and design where they are provided with a stimulus to explore and appreciate other cultures and to develop a critical judgement. Within each project reference is made to the work of past and present artists and/or designers from a range of cultures, where the students are shown how to analyze work in a practical setting, to discuss and to question.

This approach helps to develop co–operation, commitment, perseverance and tolerance leading to a respect for other’s views.

Information and Communication Technology

At Key Stage 3, (College 1, 2 & 3) pupils work on units which are mapped against the National Curriculum (2008). They explore many different aspects of ICT and work is often project based, although discrete skills are also taught. In particular, students explore the use of ICT to create original and high quality work including leaflets, presentations and websites. They use a range of ICT tools to support problem solving, and develop skills in programming through software such as Scratch. Students learn how to handle and manipulate data through database and spread sheet activities. They also learn how to change data and make predictions. They explore sound and video editing, and use ICT in many cross-curricular contexts. They also explore the risks of ICT, with a particular focus on internet safety and the use of social networking sites.

At Key Stage 4, students follow the OCR National accredited course. Many pupils begin to work on this during College 3, but complete the majority of the course in College 4 & 5 (years 10 and 11). This course is equivalent to a GCSE, and the students do well with its practical, coursework based units. There are no examinations. Units currently offered include ICT Skills for Business, Creating Computer Graphics for the WWW, Webpage Creation and Creating Video.

Touch typing is timetabled for all students up to College 3 within form time and prep lessons. Students also have access to specialist software such as Read and Write (screen reading software) and software to support the graphics, web design and video editing work. A range of hardware is available for the students to use including digital cameras, graphics tablets and a video camera. The School has also recently launched its learning platform (Moodle), allowing the students to access resources and to complete work from home.

Design Technology

The recently refurbished Design Technology workshop is a firm favourite with children from Year 2 up to year 11, who use a range of materials from timber and acrylic, through to pewter and glass and are taught a variety of skills and the correct and safe use of tools and machinery. Constantly challenged, they produce high quality, original and creative solutions to the projects that they are given. G.C.S.E. in Resistant Materials is offered to children in College 4 & 5 (years 10 and 11).

Music

In music, the pupils learn basic notation and composition. They listen to compositions of famous composers in order to enhance and develop their understanding of how music is structured, how compositions are created and what instruments are used. They experience music from different cultures and countries, and learn about how this music is created and the instruments that are used. They learn about the orchestra, and the families of instruments, and enjoy performing together as a class. Modern pop music will also be studied and performed, as well as jazz and rock and roll. Our pupils also learn about how music is used in the media. They will be given a chance to join a small singing group or a rock band which are rehearsed at lunchtimes and an opportunity to perform in an Easter production, - Bugsy Malone in 2011. They will have experience of playing a wide range of percussion instruments, and we will be introducing keyboard skills and music technology in the near future. Individual tuition in various instruments is available from peripatetic teachers.

Drama

Drama at Key Stage 3 concentrates on developing student's confidence and self-esteem through a cross curricular programme with strong links toEnglish, PSHE, Science and History. For example students will study the events of the 2nd World War,Homelessness, The Digestive System and The Origins of the Fairy-tale throughout their timein KS3. At the same time they will learn about the language of Drama and be encouraged to think about their ability to work in a team, listen to others and cooperate. At GCSE students take what they have learnt and apply it to coursework. They will have to respond to a range of stimulus material and be explicit about how they develop their drama in the way they do. They will have to think about the role of lighting, sound effects, costume and make up within a performance and evaluate their own performances and those of others. GCSE drama culminates in a final performance piece to an outside moderator. There is no written examination. This year College 5, our senior year, will be visiting Broadway, New York to see a show and to have some lessons at a theatre school.

Business Studies

Business Studies is taken as a GCSE subject, starting a two year course in College 4, and ending with a controlled assessment and two exams in College 5. It helps pupils to engage in the study of business and to develop as thinkers with inquiring minds. It is a discipline that encourages an interest in current affairs and appreciation of the perspectives of different stakeholders. Students examine what motivates people to go to work; both monetary and non-monetary motives. They also study advertising, marketing and the fast-changing ideas in E-commerce. The course helps students become aware of business organisations, how products are made and the bottom-line importance of finance. In addition, the course covers basic business law and the workings of the British economy.

Business Studies at Moon Hall College is now fully supported by an interactive learning package, published to run alongside the OCR syllabus we follow. This allows students to have the teacher-taught material reinforced at any computer in the school. The package facilitates multi-sensory learning; students can answer questions, watch videos and receive tutorials at their own pace.

Food Technology

Food technology will give the students a good basic grounding in different aspects of cookery including basic butchery, sauces, preparation of vegetables and fish. We also look at nutrition, healthy eating and the science behind cookery. A majority of the course is project work where the students have to design their own dishes with design briefs set by the examination board. Although there is a lot of theory in the subject, we back up those lessons with practical assignments such as experimenting with flour, eggs, bread etc. The children help on special occasions for example at Christmas where under our supervision and with our help they planned, cooked and served the Christmas lunch for the entire school.

Religious Education

Religious Education is taught at Moon Hall College in College 1, 2 and 3. Over these three years students are given an introduction to the six main religions of the world. Christian in ethos, the school aims to shed light on the religious ideas and rituals of others. The study of this subject highlights the common themes running through the religions as well as the differences.

PSHE

The aim of personal, social, health and economic education is to help children and young people grow and develop as individuals and as members of families and of social and economic communities. At Moon Hall College there is a strong focus on the development of pupils’ social and emotional skills throughout the school, and specific social and emotional skills are taught during PSHE lessons. In addition to this, pupils explore issues around the broad topics of sex and relationships, drugs and alcohol, financial capability and economic wellbeing. Pupils are encouraged to examine their own and other people’s personal values, increase their understanding of difference and diversity, analyse risks and influences that they encounter, and explore the consequences of choices that people make in their lives.

GCSE examinations

The school is a centre for GCSE examinations. All pupils are expected to take the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Science and IT, plus other subjects of their choice to give them the opportunities that they need for college places and careers. Our first cohort of pupils completed their GCSEs this summer (2011) and passed at the levels needed to go on to further education. We were very pleased with their individual results almost all of which exceeded expectations when the pupils joined us.

The GCSE results for 2010-11 are set out in the table below:

A or A equivalent	8%
B or B equivalent	23%
C or C equivalent	35%
D	25%
E	4%
F	6%