►►►其它中学

Moreton Hall 莫顿堂女子中学

Weston Rhyn, Owestry,
Shropshire SY11 3EW
Tel: 01691 773671 Fax: 01691 778 552

Website: www.moretonhall.org
· GIRLS, 7–18, Day & Boarding
· Pupils 310, Upper sixth 33
· Termly fees £2410–£4860 (Day), £4190–£6650 (Boarding)
· GSA, SHA, BSA
· Enquiries/application to the Principal

What it’s like
Founded in 1913, it occupies an attractive rural site of 100 acres of splendid grounds and gardens. The campus is a village-like community and the buildings are a mixture of the modern and the venerable. Completely refurbished and extremely well equipped with modern facilities; recent additions include an ICT centre, school-wide network, studio theatre, recording studio and radio station; it also has its own 9-hole golf course, floodlit games area and all-weather surface. The school looks for all-round ability and a happy purposeful atmosphere prevails. It is neither consciously progressive nor traditional in its approach. It is not academically exclusive but all girls are expected to be able to make a positive contribution to their own growth and that of the school. The teaching is good (a high staff:pupil ratio of about 1:8) and examination results are very good. The school prides itself on its careers department. Strong music and drama departments. A good range of sports and games, in which high standards are obtained particularly in lacrosse, and a wide range of activities. Moreton Enterprises has its own radio station and recording studio, and gives girls opportunities to learn business and entrepreneurial skills.

School profile

Pupils & entrance
Pupils: Age range 7–18; 310 girls (55 day, 255 boarding).
Entrance: Main entry ages 7, 9, 11, 13 and 16. Own entrance exam or Common Entrance used; for sixth-form entry, 6 GCSEs at least grade C (including sixth-form subjects). All-round abilities looked for; no particular religious requirements. State school entry, 10%–15% of main intakes.

Scholarships, bursaries & extras 15 pa scholarships, value £500–£1500: 10 academic/music, 2 all-rounder, 1 sport, 1 art, 1 drama (6 at 11, 3 at 13 and 6 at 16). Some bursaries, based on financial need; forces bursaries and for independent school teachers. Parents not expected to buy textbooks or stationery; maximum extras £300 including music tuition.

Parents 25+% in industry or commerce; 25% from professions. 70+% live within 50 miles; 15+% live overseas (expatriates).

Head & staff
Principal: J Forster, in post from 1992. Educated at Shrewsbury and Leeds University (English). Previously Girls’ Housemaster and Head of English at Strathallan.
Teaching staff: 34 full time, 12 part time. Annual turnover 5%. Average age 40.

Exam results
GCSE: In 2003, 38 pupils in upper fifth: 82% gained at least grade C in 8+ subjects; 8% in 5–7 subjects. Average GCSE score 58 (60 over 5 years).
A-levels: 33 in upper sixth: 18% passed in 4+ subjects; 73% in 3; and 6% in 1 subject + AVCE. Average final point score achieved by upper sixth formers 330.

University & college entrance 90% of 2003 sixth-form leavers went on to a degree course (36% after a gap year), 12% to Oxbridge. 16% took courses in medicine, dentistry & veterinary science, 23% in science & engineering, 6% in law, 25% in humanities & social sciences, 18% in art & design, 12% in vocational subjects eg nursing, physiotherapy.

Curriculum GCSE, AS and A-levels, Vocational A-levels (AVCE). 24 GCSE subjects, 20 AS/A-level, 2 AVCEs.
Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level (range 3–5), 3 at A-level; or AVCE plus AS and A-level. General studies not taken. 30% take science A-levels; 40% arts/humanities; 30% both. Key skills taught in discrete units to level 3.
Vocational: AVCE business, leisure & tourism offered. Work experience available; all lower sixth involved in Moreton Enterprises.
Special provision: Full-time learning support teacher (dyslexia and related disorders – no extra charge). Specialist EFL teaching (no extra charge).
Languages: French, German, Spanish, Welsh, Russian and Mandarin Chinese offered at GCSE and A-level. Partner schools and exchange scheme with Spain Germany, France. All second and fourth year linguists visit France, Spain and Germany.
ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject (2 lessons a week in Year 7, 1 in Years 8–11) and across the curriculum. 120 computers for pupil use (14 hours a day), all networked and with email and internet access. Some 70% of senior pupils own laptops.

The arts
Music: Over 70% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 10–15 musical groups including two orchestras, jazz bands, blues, wind bands, string groups, choirs. Members of Shrewsbury Choir and Orchestra; winners of local entry to BBC carol competition. Tours to Barcelona, Paris, Boston.
Drama & dance: Both offered. GCSE and A-level theatre studies, ESB, Poetry Vanguard exams may be taken. Most pupils are involved in school productions and majority in house/other drama. Several joint productions with Shrewsbury, including productions taken to Edinburgh Festival; also Shakespeare, house plays, Oh What A Lovely War to Edinburgh Fringe.
Art & design: On average, 20 take GCSE, 6 A-level. Design, costume design, history of art, pottery, textiles, photography also offered. Typically, 3 go on to art colleges each year.

Sport & activities
Sport: Lacrosse, netball, hockey, rounders, tennis, swimming initially compulsory. Optional: cricket, golf (own golf course), riding, basketball, volleyball, football, dance, self-defence, judo, fencing. GCSE and BAGA exams may be taken. 3 national lacrosse players (England U18, Wales U18 and U16), 9 county and regional players, county hockey and netball players.
Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (100+ involved). Community service optional at age 13 (200 participate). Up to 30 clubs, eg pottery, croquet, debating, film club, Leith’s cookery course, car maintenance. All lower sixth involved in Moreton Enterprises (Barclays Bank, radio station, Revive cosmetics).

School life
Uniform: School uniform worn except in the sixth form.
Houses & prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects, including head and second prefects – appointed by the Principal after consultation. Lower sixth are house prefects. House council and school council.
Religion: Compulsory daily assembly and Sunday church in the Anglican tradition. Relaxation of Sunday requirements for sixth form.
Social: Boarding houses twinned with houses at Shrewsbury School; many joint social activities/outings. Sports tours to USA and Canada, visits to Germany, France and Spain to stay with families; exchanges with schools in Europe and Australia. Meals self-service. School shop. No tobacco allowed; alcohol only permitted on restricted basis in sixth-form.

Discipline Punishments range from order marks to expulsion eg for drugs. Pupils failing to produce homework at any time would expect an enquiry as to why and be expected to remedy the situation at once.

Boarding Sixth form house with single (ensuite) rooms; 3 other houses of 60–75 (1 junior, 2 middle school). Resident qualified nurse; separate health centre. Central dining room. Sixth formers can provide and cook own snacks. Flexible weekend exeats each term. Visits to local towns allowed (Shrewsbury, Chester), according to age.

Alumni association run by Alison Pinder, c/o the school.

Former pupils Thea Musgrave (composer); Shanaz Pakravan (broadcaster).