Manor College of Technology - Curriculum

Curriculum

Key Stage 4 students are able to select from a variety of 'free options' including courses within Health and Social Care, Leisure and Tourism and Art and Design. The curriculum was selected by QCA as an example of good practice and was included in a national publication distributed to schools in England and Wales. Manor is Hartlepool’s highest performing school, and in 2004-06 produced the best performances by any Hartlepool school since the LEA’s inception in 1996.

In 2006 the College achieved 73%. It appeared in the DfES '100 Most Improved Schools' list three consecutive years, reaching the top ten in 2005. In 2005 The Specialist Schools Trust ranked Manor as the 12th most improved Specialist School in the country. Manor’s Contextual Value Added score is ‘1’, on a scale of 1-100, placing the College among the highest performing schools in England. Manor is the only specialist school in the Tees Valley to have membership of The SSAT’s three ‘clubs’; the '70%+ Club', the 'Most Improved Club' and the 'Most Value Added Club'.

Manor College was designated as a SSAT Mentor School in 2004-5 and the Headteacher is one of the Trust’s 30 Consultant Headteachers.

Manor focus's on the development of 'thinking skills'. Children have their individual learning styles assessed and staff are aware of this information. The ‘Accelerated Learning’ team are examine new teaching styles and disseminate good practice across the College. The QCA’s Key Skills courses are available online.

Manor College has five 'Year leaders' under the direction of the deputy Headteacher and the Director of Children’s Services. Year leaders retain responsibility for their 'Year groups' but have a more clearly defined remit regarding academic monitoring.

Manor subscribes to the government’s ‘Every Child Matters’ agenda and OFSTED described the College’s care for its students as ‘outstanding’.

In 1997 the College instituted a Student Council which meets each half term with the Headteacher to discuss issues of mutual interest and concern. The College has a well-developed Prefect system and the eight Senior Prefects meet with the Headteacher every fortnight in addition to having numerous diplomatic and representative responsibilities. The College Council is also Hartlepool’s Junior Rotary Club (Interact club).

Manor College has been inspected on three occasions (in November 1994, November 1999 and November 2005) and on each occasion the Registered Inspectors have been extremely complimentary. In 1999 the Inspection could not identify any key issues - the ultimate compliment from any OFSTED team . In 2005 Manor was judged to be outstanding (Grade 1) by HMI and OFSTED and is one of only five schools in the North East to achieve this standard.

There are 73(FTE)(2006) teachers at Manor College, giving a teacher/student ratio of less than 1:15. The College has detailed policy documents and procedures relating to performance management, induction and staff development. The College’s work in this area was recognised in 1997 when the College received ‘Investors in People’ status. It was re-accredited for the third time in 2004.

The school has a music and science block and has achieved Yamaha Music School status. Sport has a high profile and a successful bid to the Football Association enabled them to create a changing complex, completed in 2003. The College has FA Charter status and is the regional centre for the development of boys and girls football. Hartlepool United’s 'School of Excellence' is based at Manor College.

The College has a senior management team of nine, including the Headteacher, a Deputy Headteacher, six Assistant Headteachers and the College Bursar. It received the European Foundation for Quality Management’s (EFQM) Award for 'Excellence in the Public Sector'.

Manor College has partnerships with the universities of Durham and Sunderland.