Moorlands Diploma (Years 7 and 8)
MOORLANDS DIPLOMA
This academic year (2009/10) saw the launch of the Moorlands Diploma – a comprehensive, two year curriculum beginning in Year 7.
The Moorlands Diploma takes the broad academic curriculum of Common Entrance, and builds upon it, adding subjects such as Art, PE and Music to pupils’ assessment. We believe that an approach that gives each pupil an opportunity to be recognised for their own strengths over a period of time is the way forward, and is a far more relevant approach to education than purely preparing pupils for a short stint of high pressure exams at the end of Year 8.
While ensuring that we maintain our high standards of academic rigour, we emphasise the strands of critical thinking, team work and leadership in all aspects of the curriculum – not only through our planning and presentation of lessons, but even going as far as bringing in outside experts to work with us in developing each pupil’s strengths, and finding ways to assist pupils in areas where there is room for improvement.
Our approach has been met with a great deal of interest. Secondary schools to whom we send pupils in Year 9 have been delighted with this initiative, recognising the value of a curriculum where pupils are taken beyond traditional teaching and testing.
Repton, one of the UK’s leading Public Schools, has agreed to moderate the Moorlands Diploma, and we have already had extensive talks with them, setting out the practicalities of this arrangement. This will ensure that we retain the highest standard in all areas.
We have been asked to be part of a discussion group made up of Southern Prep and Public Schools looking at alternatives to Common Entrance – based on the progress that we have made in this direction, which appears to be beyond that made by any other schools. We intend to continue taking the lead in the North of England, ensuring that Moorlands remains at the forefront of Independent Prep Schools.
Andy Chandler
Director of Studies
