Learning & Teaching

Learning is most effective when classroom and homework activities are varied, active, engaging and enjoyable. At Moor End Technology College we place a strong emphasis on developing an appetite for learning and equipping all pupils with the skills they need to progress both within school and their wider and future lives. Our curriculum is underpinned by the use of relevant information and communication technologies and pupils are encouraged to experiment with different learning approaches within supportive classroom environments.

Pupil progress

Moor End Technology College exists to enable each individual to achieve to the maximum degree possible. Our standards of attainment in public examinations and teacher assessments are good in both key stage 3 (years 7-9) and key stage 4 (years 10 & 11). Progress made from the end of primary school to when pupils leave the school at 16 years old is outstanding. Indeed, we consistently feature as one of the schools with the highest levels of "value added" across years 7 to 11 in the region.

The Student Voice

We try to never lose sight of the fact that the pupils are the most important consideration in everything we do at Moor End Technology College. As such, pupils' contribution to both the day-to day running of the school and key decision making is highly valued. The school council is a body of elected pupils that meets at least once a half-term with a member of the leadership team. Initiatives that pupils have played an active part in recently have included redesigning the school canteen menu and deciding on how pupils' toilets are allocated to year groups and rules for usage.

Extended school

School hours at Moor End Technology College extend before and after standard lesson times. The school has a very extensive programme of extra curricular opportunities and services available to all pupils. Examples include a breakfast club, martial arts, sports, games playing, learning to learn sessions and an ICT club. Parents and carers are also invited to join their children in most of such activities during after school sessions.

ICT

Moor End Technology College is very well resourced with ICT facilities. In addition to the taught ICT curriculum, pupils experience at first hand the power of ICT as a learning and teaching tool within all subject areas. In a typical school day, a pupil may download data from digital cameras onto laptop PCs prior to authoring a website resource. In Design & Technology learners may design a product using a 3-D software application and then actually make it using industry standard Computer Aided Manufacturing machinery. Our emphasis is not to simply expose pupils to computers, but to assist their understanding of the relevance of ICT both as a problem solving tool and a vital component of their future learning and careers.

Collegiate courses

As a way of broadening choice for pupils at school, Moor End Technology College is an active member of the South Kirklees Collegiate of schools. In years 10 and 11, pupils may be offered the opportunity to study courses such as GCSE Photography and GCSE Dance not currently offered at METC during the school day at other institutions. In addition, we currently host pupils from other schools studying GCSE Urdu and Music using the facilities and specialist staff knowledge of our staff.

Provision for pupils with a visual impairment

Moor End Technology College is privileged to be home to the Kirklees Education Authority unit for educational provision for pupils with a visual impairment. Such individuals are supported in accessing the same curriculum and other school opportunities shared by all other pupils. Those pupils with a visual impairment also have a dedicated resource base and team of specially trained staff for additional support.

Links with our partner schools

At Moor End Technology College we are strongly committed to working closely with our feeder primary schools and other partner schools. For example, the school supports a variety of activities for year 6 pupils prior to them starting at the school in year 7 including a transition day hosted at the school and subject specialists visiting primary schools. Our School Sports Coordinator also enhances these links.

The form tutor system

To ensure that individuals both enjoy their time in school and achieve their personal and academic potential, every pupil belongs to a form group. A pupil has a minimum of two contacts with their form tutor and fellow form members every day. Form groups are small, typically between 20-22 pupils, allowing a supportive and productive environment to be formed and developed. In addition, many form tutors stay with their form groups throughout a pupil's 5-year school career.

Continuing professional development

Our strongest asset as a learning institution is the staff of the school. In order to maximise the potential of each pupil, all our teaching staff are proactive in ensuring their subject knowledge and skills are developed to the highest level. This ethos also extends to all our non-teaching staff. In addition, the school has recently been granted CPD status in Design & Technology and we have over 30 schools who have worked with us on the development of the new Diploma in Digital Applications (DiDA) qualification in ICT.