Moyles Court School Moyles Court, Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 3NF T: 01425 472856 F: 01425 474715 E: info@moylescourt.co.uk W: www.moylescourt.co.uk Charity No. 307347. CReSTed Registered. www.moylescourt.co.uk
Introduction to Moyles Court It does what small schools do best Moyles Court does what small schools do best. We appreciate that what we achieve with our pupils today provides a glimpse of the adults who will shape our world tomorrow. This is why the academic, sporting, outdoor activity and social opportunities available involve challenge, support, hard work and fun..all necessary for a successful adult life. Moyles Court School is situated in a stunning location within the New Forest National Park, less than a mile off the main road between Ringwood and Fordingbridge. We are a small and friendly school with capacity for just 200 girls and boys from Nursery to Year 11 (2 1 /2 to 16 years old), providing a nurturing community for wonderful childhood memories to be created. The school owns the fourteen acre site including: :: Historic buildings :: Modern sports hall :: Extended Early Years and Nursery facilities :: Junior and Senior Schools :: New outdoor multi-sports courts :: Extensive sports fields :: New library facility :: Art and ICT studios :: Girls and Boys boarding houses :: Bouldering wall and abseiling facilities :: Junior School Gardens Beautiful heaths, woodland and streams provide an ideal playing and learning environment for children. Please come and see for yourself, as a warm welcome awaits you. Contents 01 Introduction to Moyles Court 03 A love of learning 05 Early Years 07 Junior School 09 Senior School 11 Boarding 13 International Boarding 15 Pastoral Care 17 Extra Curricular Activities 19 Creative Arts 21 Sport 23 Beyond Moyles Court 01
A love of learning Small class sizes and a committed, experienced team of teaching professionals enable pupils to develop in a caring, disciplined and supportive environment. Individual talents are nurtured and passions for learning given direction and expression. Moyles Court School provides a wide range of learning activities combined with first hand experiences. Pupils are given the opportunity to explore their interests and acquire new skills. They are encouraged to work together and also to become independent, capable of making their own decisions. We aim to develop confident and reflective learners. Off-site study visits as well as visiting speakers, theatre and study groups all enrich the vibrant teaching and learning experiences. Investment in 21st century technology (a dedicated fibre optic internet connection, a Virtual Learning Environment, on-line GCSEs and extensive Wifi) enhances the learning experiences throughout all areas of the school. Our Stretching the More Able scheme, Independent Learning Strategy, Learning Support Department (we are CReSTeD registered) and English as an Additional Language experts ensure all pupils are supported and challenged as appropriate. 03
Early Years Since 2008 all Moyles Court pupils have met or exceeded the Early Years Learning Goals, before moving from Reception to Year 1. Through structured activities and play children are encouraged to learn a wide variety of skills. Play is an especially important part of academic and social development since it allows children to acquire knowledge, skills, concepts and attitudes in a meaningful and fun context. It also allows children to make informed choices and become confident, independent learners. Numeracy skills are developed enabling children to count, measure and develop basic numerical skills. They are assisted in completing number worksheets and forming numbers correctly. Literacy skills are introduced through the characters of Jolly Phonics, which helps children to progress to basic reading skills. When ready the children are given reading words and then a reading book. These are taken home to encourage parents to play an active part in their child s learning. Topics are introduced termly to the children and take into consideration all areas of learning. 05
Junior School We have an enthusiastic and dedicated team of teaching staff who offer an exciting, varied and enjoyable primary curriculum. Lessons are carefully differentiated to meet the needs of all pupils, ensuring progression and the achievement of high standards of attainment. Teaching and learning is through a creative curriculum where subjects are merged to place learning into real life experiences. All the areas of the National Curriculum are covered but not always in discrete subject areas. Whilst the core subjects are delivered by the class teacher, the children also benefit from specialist teaching in Design Technology, Sport, Music, Singing, Spanish and/or French. Swimming is also part of timetabled lessons from Reception to Year 6. The children at Moyles Court School benefit from a stunning and extensive site. The grounds are divided into areas for play and educational activities. There is a wood, a pond and outdoor play equipment and there is also extensive outside garden space for individual classes. Regular events and activities are planned for the children to showcase their achievements. Research shows that a child supported at home can make as much as 30% more progress. Moyles Court is surrounded by fields and woodland providing great opportunities for the children to benefit from outdoor learning. We have a Forest School leader on the staff and endeavour to ensure that every child has the opportunity to participate in Forest School activities during the school year. 07
Senior School Our Senior School curriculum is designed to excite, stimulate and motivate our pupils to become the independent thinkers and problem solvers required in this modern age. We recognise that exam success is important to allow pupils to progress in the future, but perhaps more vitally, they need the skills, values and confidence to be successful and happy citizens. Our small classes help to provide quality learning experiences and attention to individual needs. Every pupil is stretched and challenged in a supportive and caring environment. GCSEs are the focus from 14-16, delivered in ability specific sets. Subjects examined in recent years are shown below. :: English :: Sciences :: History :: Art :: Music :: Drama :: Catering :: Mathematics :: ICT / Computing :: Geography :: Design Technology :: Photography :: Textiles :: Physical Education :: Religious Studies :: French :: German :: Mandarin :: Spanish (core subjects shown in italics) Pupils may take up to 12 GCSE/IGCSEs and most are entered for at least 8, with results well above the national average. Pupils leave us as confident young adults and we have a 100% success rate in placing Year 11 leavers in their next place of education with many gaining scholarships along the way. (See the school website for up to date academic performance data) 09
Boarding Moyles Court provides children with the care and space they need to grow up happily, within a thoughtfully structured and secure family environment. Full, weekly and flexi-boarding are all available. A maximum of 50 boarding pupils ensures a very caring and nurturing boarding experience, available from 7 years old. Living comfortably in a happy and committed community of caring children and adults is the ideal of any family home. We are extremely proud to be the first choice for many UK and international families. We have years of experience looking after families of Her Majesty s Armed Forces as well as those from overseas. They all recognise that we provide a happy home for their children and in doing so, give the peace of mind every parent needs and deserves whilst working and living away. Fourteen acres of school grounds within the New Forest provides a wonderful rural environment in which to play, explore and grow up. A close-knit team of experienced residential house parents and support staff provide high levels of care. Frequent communication with parents and flexibility for visits and weekends away is standard. Two School Nurses give full time cover and provide expert medical care, arranging all necessary medical registration for boarders and overseas pupils. An impressive programme of after school clubs, events and weekend activities is balanced allowing time for informal socialising and play. Weekends include a mix of organised activities (including cinema and shopping trips, sport, ice-skating, ten-pin bowling, forest walks, beach visits, theme park excursions as well as down time, for children to relax with their friends in the boarding houses. A former pupil comments: Everyone is just so close, just like a family. The Housemothers are really like second Mums to us. I really feel I can trust them and all of my friends. I will so miss everyone when I leave Moyles Court but know that the friends I have made over the years at school will be my friends for life. 11
International Boarding (also see Boarding section) A small school and boarding environment provides excellent conditions for children to begin their education and life overseas. A small number of international boarders join Moyles Court each year. Numbers are limited to ensure their experience at Moyles Court is a truly English one. They are well cared for by a dedicated and experienced staff who have a genuine and heartfelt interest in them. The school is conveniently located for international travel, operating an all-inclusive taxi service to and from Heathrow, Southampton and Bournemouth airports. Specialised English as an Additional Language Lessons are provided by experts and English Language Learning at Moyles Court School is highly effective. International students are amongst our most successful scholars, gaining fluency in English and scholarships to their next destination. In recent years our international pupils have come from Spain, France, Hong Kong, China, Belgium, South Africa and the Netherlands. Our dedicated fibre optic internet connection and Wifi makes keeping in touch easy. Isabel, a pupil from Hong Kong comments: I love the learning environment and the people here. I really enjoy all my subjects and Art is my favourite. I would like to go to Art College in the future. Everyone is so friendly too. The boarders and staff are lovely and really helped me settle in when I first started. We also get to go on great trips at the weekend to go bowling, cinema or ice skating. 13
Pastoral Care At Moyles Court School we recognise that when children feel happy and secure they will perform at their best. The small class sizes at Moyles Court School, alongside the supportive pastoral system, the codes of conduct and the PSHE programmes of study all help to ensure that this takes place. In a small school where everyone is known to everyone else, pastoral care duties are a shared responsibility. We discuss the children s pastoral issues during the weekly staff meetings so that all members of staff are aware of any specific needs. We also recognise the importance of working in partnership with parents to encourage the development of self-discipline, responsibility, respect and integrity in all our pupils. Every pupil has a key worker (Early Years) or a form tutor (Junior and Senior) who they see at least twice a day. Two School Nurses give full time cover and provide medical care, in conjunction with the local surgery. A buddy system ensures new pupils and those having taster days are well looked after. The school has an independent counsellor made accessible to pupils if required. The School Council, House and Prefect systems give all pupils opportunities for assuming roles of responsibility, as well as ways of contributing to the wider community. 15
Extra Curricular Activities Extra-curricular activities are essential in developing our pupils into well rounded, confident and skilled individuals. These activities allow children to find their niche, a niche in which they can succeed and further develop their self esteem. These sporting, creative, academic and enriching activities are available to all pupils, Monday to Friday during term time and are run by teachers, parents and outside providers. In recent years activities offered to pupils has included: :: Art and Craft :: Beavers :: Cabaret :: Cake Decorating :: Canoeing :: French :: Mask Making :: Outdoor Adventures :: Sailing :: Singing and Drama :: Tennis (Please see the school website for a full list of Activities) A thriving Outdoor Education programme includes mountain walking, expeditions, rock climbing, kayaking, the Duke of Edinburgh s Award, ropes courses and other adventurous challenges. Every year a group from Year 3 onwards takes part in a camp, challenging pupils and developing teamwork and leadership skills. 17
Creative Arts Performance opportunities and creative expression help to develop confidence and self-esteem as well as an aesthetic appreciation and awareness of the world. Whole school performances take place at least once a term, involving all pupils during the year. A grounding in practical techniques and skills is placed within the greater context of cultures, history and the complexity of our immediate and global communities. The Junior School Choir has rehearsals as part of their core timetable and performs at local churches. Moyles Court was recently shortlisted for the Independent Schools Association Award for Excellence in the Arts and has regularly won awards in the Good Schools Guide for Arts in Design Technology, Textiles and Art. 19
Sport The Physical Education and Games programme focuses on maximising opportunities for all pupils, whilst also providing competitive team fixtures against local schools. The wide range of after school clubs and weekend activities involve expert coaching and links with sporting clubs outside of school are encouraged. Moyles Court hosts large scale inter-school competitions in soccer, rounders and cross-country, which attract many local state and independent schools. The school is also involved in and supports local orienteering and running competitions, notably the Ringwood Rabbit Run. Separate Sports Days are held for Early Years, Junior School and Senior School and inter-house competitions add to our impressive range of sporting events. Sport is genuinely for all at our school. Physical participation contributes significantly to pupils personal development and hopefully a long-term healthy life style. Intellectually the discipline of team contribution, challenge, confidence and self-esteem are all delivered through the PE and Games curriculum. 21
Beyond Moyles Court Moyles Court provides an all-through learning environment, nurturing pupils at every stage and building on previous successes and achievements. Careers education is provided at every stage and in Years 10 and 11 pupils are prepared and supported as they make the transition to other establishments for Sixth Form studies. Pupils move on to a variety of educational establishments, including Grammar School, local Sixth Form Colleges such as Brokenhurst, Bournemouth and Poole College, Kingston Maurward and other Independent Schools. Wherever they go, they leave with great memories, great friends and fittingly prepared for their futures. 23