Contents

1. Welcome to Our School
2. Our aims
3. Our ethos
4. Technology College Status
5. Curriculum
6. House System
7. Extra-curricular activities
8. Philip Morant College

Welcome to Our School

Philip Morant is an 11-18 Comprehensive School, primarily serving a catchment area on the west side of Colchester. Our local primary schools are Gosbecks, Hamilton, Home Farm, Lexden and Prettygate Primary Schools. We also admit up to 10% of our students as part of our admissions criteria as a Specialist Technology College. The school site which extends to about 35 acres, provides excellent playing fields. There is a range of buildings, some built in the 1960’s when the school was established, to more recent accommodation including the Mathematics Faculty, the Technology Faculty, the Post 16 College and a purpose built Resource Base for Hearing Impaired Students. The school has an unfolding programme of site improvement.

Philip Morant School and College has a reputation both for high quality academic achievement and care and support for all students. We also strive to be at the forefront of innovation and change in education. We are currently a Specialist Technology College and hold Sports Mark and the ICT Mark.

I hope you will find this brochure interesting and informative in outlining the aims and activities of Philip Morant School and College. The school is energetic and inclusive and continually seeking ways to develop and improve the opportunities we offer to the local and wider community. We strive to maintain a firm balance between our prime function of providing the highest quality education and care, in the broadest sense and attention to the individual needs of each member of the school and college. I hope this brochure will encourage you to come and visit us and see for yourself the ways in which we aim to draw the best from the talents, expertise and experience of all our students and staff.

We all look forward to meeting you.

Mrs Sue Cowans
Headteacher

Our aims

• To provide every individual in the school with an equality of opportunity and encouragement to realise his or her full potential.
• To help prepare students to lead constructive and fulfilling lives.
• To develop the necessary personal and social skills and well being to become responsible and autonomous members of the community.
• To develop in all members of the school a responsible attitude as guardians of the environment.
• To provide students with the opportunity to obtain the essential qualifications and entry skills for their chosen careers and the life skills necessary in a rapidly changing society.
• To promote in young people a respect for religious, spiritual and moral values and an understanding of different ethnic origins and cultures.
• To encourage all members of the school to develop positive self esteem and to value the ethos of the school community.

Our ethos

We believe that our ethos will be best achieved by:

• providing a well-ordered, stimulating and enjoyable atmosphere in which deep learning and effective teaching can flourish
• establishing a caring environment through an effective House and Faculty system, in which each student becomes a valued member of a smaller community within the whole school
• establishing for each student a broad educational programme, balanced in its content and appropriate to his/her ability and overall needs, which will maintain as wide as possible a range of career and life opportunities
• offering students a wide range of extra-curricular activities and visits and building up strong community links
• making students aware of the causes and extent of world problems and the interdependence of the people and societies of the world
• encouraging all members of the school community to be considerate, courteous and caring
• expecting from all members of the school the highest possible standards of dress and conduct

Technology College Status

Since 1994 Philip Morant has been designated as a Technology College. We are one of a specialist group of schools across the country receiving enhanced funding to develop Technology, Mathematics, Science and Information and Communications Technology.

As a result we have refurbished our Design and Technology accommodation, providing a modern multi-media, high technology environment for teaching and learning. We also have an on-going development programme for continually upgrading computer systems. The school has a wireless network and all staff use laptops to enhance learning and pastoral support.

The benefits of Technology College Status extend into all areas of the curriculum and our aim is to achieve excellence in every subject.

Curriculum

Academic work is organised within seven faculties, including Learning Support. The curriculum at Philip Morant aims to provide opportunities for all students to learn with an appropriate level of pace and challenge. We are determined that all students will make very good progress and become well equipped with the essential learning skills of literacy, numeracy, information and communication technology and reasoning.

We want students to enjoy learning, as this is the best means of encouraging and stimulating high levels of progress and attainment for all. Rich and varied contexts are provided within school. External trips and visitors to the school provide additional opportunities for students to extend skills, knowledge and understanding.

A high priority for our school is the self-esteem and emotional well-being of each individual and the formation of worthwhile and satisfying relationships. These are based on respect for oneself and for others, at home, school, work and in the community. Students need to learn to respond positively to opportunities, challenges and responsibilities, to manage risk and to cope with change and adversity.

The curriculum prepares students for the next steps in their education, training and employment and equips them to make informed choices at school and throughout their lives. This enables them to appreciate the relevance of their personal achievements to life and society beyond school, including leisure, community engagement and employment.

House System

Since its establishment, the school has provided pastoral care through a House system. On entry, students are placed into one of the five school Houses. The House team consists of the Head of House, Student Progress Coordinator and a team of tutors and support staff. This team provides students with a small, stable ‘family’ unit, to help them relate better to life in a large school.

Each house guides and supports the academic, social, and personal development of each student during their time at school. As a result, House staff build strong partnerships with students and their families. Students become extremely loyal to their House and there is healthy, positive competition between Houses. Each House also has a strong charity focus and all students are encouraged to take part in fundraising events.

Extra-curricular activities

Students at Philip Morant have the opportunity to participate in a very wide range of extra-curricular activities. There is a strong sporting tradition and the school participates fully in all the Inter-School, District and County Competitions as well as some National events. In addition Inter-Form and House competitions are organised across a wide range of activities. Clubs include Hockey, Netball, Basketball, Badminton, Football, Athletics, Tennis, Cricket, Rounders, Volleyball, Dance and Gymnastics.

We have a flourishing orchestra and two bands, which play regularly in school and in venues such as local primary schools, the Town Hall, Castle Park, and fund-raising events. We rehearse two choirs, and a variety of instrumental groups including wind bands and ensembles. We also have a 'signing choir' which has a national reputation. A strong focus on Music Technology has stimulated a keen following for modern composition and performance techniques and the formation of a number of Rock School bands, who compete in an annual Battle of the Bands.

Students who wish to participate in dramatic events will find many opportunities both on stage and in technical support. The school has an excellent tradition of musical and traditional drama productions involving students from all age groups. The most recent production, 'West Side Story' was produced by a large team of students and staff and performed to a highly professional standard in front of large audiences.

The School promotes a wide range of day and residential visits. Some are closely connected with the curriculum, such as field study visits, sometimes abroad, including visits to the battlefields of Belgium and France. Regular theatre visits support the school’s programme of Drama and English Literature. There is a residential adventure holiday for Year 7 which takes place at Easter each year and annual ski trips and other sporting activities.

In addition there is a wide range of clubs which take place either at lunchtimes or after school. Many of these are well established with others introduced as the needs and interests of current students evolve.

Prospectus Supplementary Information - Intake 2010

Prospectus Supplementary Information - Examination Results 2009

Philip Morant College

When students join us in Year 7 we hope they will be beginning a seven year partnership with us which will see them not only taking their GCSE examinations with us, but also continuing into the College for post-16 study.

Philip Morant is the only comprehensive school in Colchester with its own Sixth Form and we are delighted that so many of our students choose to continue to study with us after GCSE. The College builds on the strengths of the main school, at the same time having its own distinctive identity and ethos. Students in the College benefit from their own library, café and teaching rooms.

A strong emphasis is placed on students achieving their highest academic aspirations, while also being able to enjoy a wide range of extra-curricular activities. Above all the College aims to prepare students for their next step. Many progress to higher education while others move directly into employment.

A crucial part of our success lies in the care and attention that the size of the College enables us to provide. Staff-student ratios in teaching and tutor groups are excellent and each student has daily contact with a personal tutor who plays a pivotal role in academic monitoring and guidance.

Full details of the College are available in the College Prospectus.

Philip Morant School Prospectus
Rembrandt Way, Colchester CO3 4QS
Headteacher: Mrs S. Cowans M.Sc. NPQH
Telephone: 01206 545222 Fax: 01206 244000
E-mail: theschool@philipmorant.essex.sch.uk 
Web site: www.philipmorant.essex.sch.uk