Admissions 2021 Dear Parents

Moulsham High School is an exceptionally successful 11-18 school where pupils are encouraged to fully engage in the school ethos of enjoy, enrich and achieve to help develop well rounded students that are positive members of our community and beyond. The school has a history of academic excellence, consistently ranking in the top 10% of school nationally. The Real Schools Guide 2020 has placed Moulsham High School as the top non selective school in Essex, an accolade that the school has received for the previous 4 years. Moulsham High School was ranked 5th highest school for progress across the whole of Essex and 230th across the whole of England. Moulsham High School is, however, anything but an exams factory. We have an extensive range of extra activities designed to support the curriculum, mixed with numerous leadership opportunities and a wonderful working atmosphere, truly making Moulsham High School a wonderful community to be part of. All our work is underpinned by our broad, balanced and inclusive curriculum where students are taught all subjects throughout Key Stage 3 before making options choices at Key Stage 4. I hope that you find this information informative and helpful in clarifying your thinking about selecting your preferences for secondary school. It is intended to give you an insight into what makes Moulsham High School such a wonderful school. Miss J Mead

Headteacher

ENGLISH

We strive to ensure that the curriculum experienced by students in Years 7, 8 and 9 cements the transition from primary school, affords the opportunities to study texts that foster a love of our language and develops in students the highest levels of technical accuracy necessary for further study at GCSE and beyond. A wide range of extra-curricular activities 'punctuate' the English department's academic calendar, complimenting greatly the work of the classroom; visiting authors and poets, a plethora of competitions, a daily programme of clubs and numerous excursions make it a busy department, but also an extremely positive one. The following skills, amongst others, are developed by students in their English lessons.

MATHEMATICS

We all use maths every day, even if we don’t think of it that way. For example, we check our change at the shops, work out how expensive a new carpet will be and decide when we need to leave the house to get to the airport. At the other end of the spectrum, brilliant scientists are using maths to build the Internet and help us to understand the laws of the universe.

SCIENCE

Through their work in Science, students are taught the methods of How Science Works. They think about the role of ideas and evidence in science, using examples from today and the work of famous scientists in the past. They also learn how to carry out scientific investigations through planning, finding and presenting evidence, thinking about what the evidence means and asking what conclusions they can reach. Students will also be given opportunities to develop their critical thinking and independent enquiry skills in a variety of contexts within this subject. Through the content across all three disciplines, students should be taught:

scientific attitudes;

experimental skills and investigations;

analysis and evaluation;

measurement.

DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY

Whether it be an iPod that is easy to use or a desk that is just right for the home computer, good design makes things easier and more enjoyable to use. Design and technology lessons give students the opportunity to investigate how well familiar products and objects work and who they are really aimed at. By answering questions such as “Is this the right tool for the job?” students learn how to solve practical problems skilfully, creatively and with imagination. Students are taught to:

COMPUTING

In Computing, students will study themes including abstraction, problem solving, decomposition, coding, logic and algorithmic thinking. Our primary focus is on students being the creators and developers of software, not mere consumers for pre-existing software. The Computing curriculum also provides opportunities for creativity, such as bitmap and vector image manipulation – both of which are topics which are studied at a binary level at GCSE and A Level. Lesson and subject content now reflect the benefits of emerging and established technologies, such as Microbit, Python coding and making your own website with HTML5 and CSS. The HTML and Small Basic Units lead directly to JavaScript and Visual Basic which can be studied independently beyond the curriculum, should the student wish to do so, and we can support any student who wishes to pursue this further.

FOOD TECHNOLOGY

In years 7 to 9, food technology will instil a love of cooking in students and will open the door to creativity. Students are taught how to cook and apply the principles of nutrition and healthy eating. Cooking is an essential life skill and the students will be introduced to the methods necessary to feed themselves and others well, both now and in later life. Students will build up a repertoire of savoury and sweet dishes to help develop a healthy and varied diet. They will become competent in a range of cooking techniques and will learn how to adapt and use their own recipes. Students will also be encouraged to look at the sources, seasonality and characteristics of a broad range of ingredients, as well as the effects of different cultures on food choices.

HISTORY

History is one of the humanities subjects. History fires students' curiosity and imagination, moving and inspiring them with the dilemmas, choices and beliefs of people in the past. It helps students 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.

GEOGRAPHY

Geography is one of the humanities subjects. The study of geography stimulates an interest in and sense of wonder about places. It helps young people make sense of a complex and dynamically changing world. It explains where places are, how places and landscapes are formed, how people and the environment interact, and how a diverse range of economies, societies and environments are all interconnected. It builds on students' own experiences to investigate places on all scales, from the personal to the global.

MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Students in Year 7 will learn either French or Spanish, except for those in 71M who will learn both. Languages are part of the cultural richness of our society and the world in which we live and work. Learning languages contributes to mutual understanding, a sense of global citizenship and personal fulfilment. Students learn to appreciate different countries, cultures, communities and people. By making comparisons, they gain insight into their own culture and society. The ability to understand and communicate in another language is a lifelong skill for education, employment and leisure in this country and throughout the world.

DRAMA

Creativity, confidence, communication and literacy form the heart of drama at Moulsham. Students will come to appreciate the values and experiences of a range of people, cultures and historical eras, as well as learning skills to use on stage and back stage and appreciating the extensive history and vibrant, current world of the performance industry. All drama lessons are delivered by a team of

specialist and experienced drama teachers. Lessons take place in our two dedicated drama spaces, including our much-envied black box studio with permanent sound and light facilities.

“

“

Underlying the

exceptional quality of

education is the

depth with which the

curriculum has been

thought through.”

Pupils are safe and they

respect others

differences.” OFSTED JANUARY 2020

The Learning Environment

Moulsham is a highly successful and flourishing school,

demanding high standards from all its students. Parents

can be confident that their son or daughter will be

challenged by the climate of hard work and high

expectation.

The high quality of teaching and learning across the

curriculum is supported by a major investment in

buildings and technology. This includes a fully-

equipped library

with all the facilities of a modern learning centre and

a state-of-the-art ICT system that is fully wireless

enabled. Students and staff are encouraged to use

the latest technology to aid communication, research

and learning.

We are extremely proud of our specialism in English

and humanities and the impact it has had across the

whole school. The humanities specialism has

enriched and complemented the curriculum and

provides superb opportunities for students to

develop their skills both in and out of the

classroom.

Moulsham High School welcomes students, staff and

visitors from all backgrounds. Our students understand

and respect the communities and environments in

which the live – locally, nationally and globally.

ART AND DESIGN

Key Stage 3 Art at Moulsham High School is geared towards nurturing independent and ambitious artists and delivers the skills necessary for students to find success at GCSE, A Level and beyond. Art students make positive contributions to the cultural life of the school and develop the confidence to create artwork which is original and personal by combining the use of traditional fine art media with modern technological processes.

MUSIC

For all who study music, whether through strong natural desire or a spirit of academic adventure, there is the enticing prospect of:

fostering a passion for, and a love of, a subject that enriches and enlivens people of all cultures;

cultivating a deeper understanding of the diverse musical world that surrounds us;

developing an enquiring mind and the ability to think critically and to make informed judgements;

nurturing a creative imagination;

discovering, experiencing, understanding, sharing and expressing feelings and abstract thoughts;

revealing intangible aspects of human experience that are embodied in the creative arts, especially through music.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

The PE department follows the schools ethos of Enjoy, Enrich and Achieve through offering a vibrant Physical Education in the setting of our excellent sporting facilities. Enjoyment is accomplished through offering a broad and balanced curriculum at Key Stage 3 that encompasses many different sporting contexts that make the use of our 3G astro-turf pitch, 20m heated indoor swimming pool, four-bay sports hall, specialist gymnasium, two multi-use games areas and extensive grass pitches. Traditional games such as football, netball, rugby, cricket badminton, tennis and basketball are combined with athletics both in the track and field and cross country disciplines, swimming and gymnastics, which covers floor and vault work as well as trampolining. This enables all students to develop an understanding of the demands of a healthy and active lifestyle as well as the opportunity to nurture a lifelong love of physical activity.

CITIZENSHIP and PSHE

As they grow older, students will need to get involved in the communities they live in and help change them for the better. Citizenship is the key here as students find out how our society works. They also learn how to communicate their ideas effectively and why it is vital to understand other people's views and to respect their rights. By teaching these skills, citizenship shows students how they can play an active and responsible part in society.

PHILOSOPHY, RELIGION AND ETHICS

PRE plays a vital role in finding out about and considering other people’s views and beliefs. During Years 7 to 9 students:

Learn to communicate their ideas and thoughts about a range of issues, e.g. the death penalty, morality, life after death, science and religious debates about creation;

Listen to others, respecting their views and beliefs;

Understand some key beliefs about Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and attempt to make comparisons between the religions;

Gain an awareness of the world around them, culturally and morally;

Learn independently;

Work as part of a group;

Assess their own work and that of their peers;

Complete at least three assessed tasks during each year;

Follow the Essex Agreed Syllabus;

“

Pupils take on

leadership roles and

support charities.

There is a wealth of

opportunities for

pupils to take part

in, things that reflect

their skills and

interests, which helps

prepare them

for later life.” OFSTED JANUARY 202

The School Community

All students are encouraged to contribute to the school

community, as well as working and competing together.

Relationships between students are excellent. There is an

active Student Council consisting of representatives from

Years 7 to 13. Meetings are held regularly throughout

the year and are well supported. Students are proud to be

elected and their voice on matters related to teaching and

learning and school facilities is valued.

Exciting and enjoyable extra-curricular activities take place

throughout the year and there is extensive participation in

the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, as well as music and

drama productions. We also have excellent sports facilities

and students of all abilities are encouraged to take part in the

wide variety of sports clubs available.

A House system encourages student engagement and

offers further opportunities for competition across the

school, rewarding participation and achievement.

… you can apply to Moulsham High

School through our Music Aptitude

Test for one of the 27 places.

What is Music Aptitude Test?

A musical aptitude test is designed to look for inherent musicality in a

student. This essentially means measuring their aural capacity and ability to

discern detail in pitch, texture, and rhythm.

How do I apply for Music Aptitude?

Simple – you complete the additional supplementary information form and

submit it to Moulsham High School. We will then allocate you a time and

invite you to the aptitude testing day on Saturday, 10th October 2020.

Any questions or concerns will be addressed during a specialist talk at the School’s Open Evening on Thursday, 24th September 2020.

Please be aware that this does not take the place of your Essex County Council preferences form

TOURS BEGIN AT 5.30 pm

The Headteacher’s presentation will take place in the

Auditorium at 6.15pm and 7.30pm.

Music Aptitude presentation will be held at 7.00pm