Access Keys:

 
 
Mitchell House School, Belfast
 

History

History is taught in the Senior school to classes of Year 8-12 for one hour per week. It is a cross-curricular subject, which incorporates Literacy, Numeracy and ICT.

Emphasis is placed on pupils developing skills in researching and managing information, working with others and self- evaluation.  These skills are taught through a range of topics including the Mitchells of Marmont, the Normans, Medicine, Rivalry and Conflict and World War One.

Pupils are encouraged to find out about topics of historical interest such as the Titanic and the First World War through visits to The Titanic Quarter and The Somme Heritage Centre.

In Year 10 all pupils have the opportunity to take Entry Level accreditation which is completed over eight terms.  This is based on 10 pieces of continuous coursework along with an oral module set by the examining body.

English

Ø     Senior pupils in the post Primary Department are encouraged to continue their effective use of communication, now becoming even more aware of  purpose as their communication contexts widens. 

Ø     Skills develop as opportunities increase to present ideas through a range of communication styles.

Ø     These presentation skills improve when the skills of interpreting information are in place.  Punctuation improves clarity of good ideas.

Ø     The pupils start to prepare for examination when their skills are ready.   Coursework requires understanding of poems and novels; presentation of ideas in  imaginative and factual formats and sharing ideas in group discussion setting on relevant topics.

Ø     With increasing opportunities to compare and evaluate the range of information faced, pupils can begin to justify their opinions with examples.

Business Studies

Business Studies is taught to our Key Stage 4 pupils by Miss Allen.  This year we are doing Young Enterprise Team Programme - have a look at our Young Enteprise page here.  Pupils have set up their business - looking at market research, customers, producing products and selling them. We go through all aspects of running a business.

 

We also complete Entry Level Qualification for Business Studies and we use real businesses and products when teaching.

 

 

Horticulture

Horticulture is being taught to pupils in keystage 4+ in conjunction with pupils from Ashfield Boys School through Shared Education. The pupils are taught in Mitchell House and make use of the poly tunnel and raised beds that the school has to gain practical experience. Pupils will gain accreditation by completing units of CCEA Occupational studies. The aim of the course is to allow pupils to gain knowledge and acquire the skills required to grow and care for indoor and outdoor plants. Pupils are expected to grow a variety of plants as well as developing a knowledge of the business side of horticulture. 

Music

In Mitchell House School, music has a valuable place in the education of our children as it can facilitate and enhance life skills. Through the study of music, pupils can improve physical and motor skills through performance and advance their ability to communicate through self-expression. They may also raise self-esteem through the satisfaction of achievement and gain confidence through group and individual study. Pupils are encouraged to develop their musical ability through the study of the following three areas:

     Listening.

     Composing.

     Performing.

 

Religious Education

Ø    Pupils in the post Primary school have opportunity to discuss issues and key questions showing the variety of opinions on issues regarding faith they question now or may meet later in life.

Ø     Pupils work with others in pairs and groups to feed back to the class to examine range of options and justify their own opinions.

Ø    Opportunities exist for accreditation as they show understanding of the connection between belief and lifestyles through study of an inspirational figure, how a particular faith worships and  a religious celebration.

Ø    When the pupils identify their tasks they use ICT to explore and present the information most appropriate for the task.

P.E.

PE is compulsory for all pupils in senior school (Years 8-10).

Pupils are given the opportunity to experience a range of different activities including:

Basketball

Boccia

Dance

Football 

Health Related Fitness

Indoor Kurling

Rounders

Table Tennis

A football tournament is played each year as an inter- school house activity. Students will also have an opportunity to have around 6 sessions of swimming per year. We take part in a number of special schools competition and enjoy a lot of support from disability sport.

Personal Development

Ø     In the post primary curriculum Personal Development is included in Learning for Life & Work (LLW.)

Ø     The themes of Health, Emotions, Making Decisions, Self Concept, Managing Change, Values and Beliefs, Learning about Learning, Safety, Relationships and Drugs provide opportunity to become more aware of choices with physical, social, emotional, cognitive & spiritual impact on young lives.  

Ø     Opportunity for accreditation exists as pupils display skills in a variety of cross curricular tasks that add up to complete awards at a range of levels in ‘Life and Living Skills’ from the OCR examining body. 

Ø     The five aspects influence so much of pupils’ everyday lives and are almost inseparable, providing a valuable balance in all their learning experiences.

Geography

Geography is very much a cross-curricular subject, incorporating Literacy, Numeracy, Citizenship and ICT.

While the emphasis is on topics of local interest showing relevance and significance for the pupils, the global aspect of the subject including cultural and geographical difference is widely explored as well as international issues.

As part of the Geography syllabus, pupils carry out observations and studies within the local school environment and can also enjoy fieldtrips further afield within the local area to enhance their understanding of particular topics. 

 Pupils have the opportunity to take Entry Level accreditation which is completed over eight terms.  This is based on continuous coursework with an oral module set by the examining body.

Performance Skills

Drama TEXT HERE

Art and Design

Students are given the opportunity to develop their own creative ideas by:

·         Researching, gathering and interpreting information from personal experiences, observation, memory and imagination and a range of traditional and digital sources.

·         Developing an appreciation of artists, designers and craftworkers from their own and other cultures.

·         Developing creative thinking skills using:

1.      Drawing and graphic media

2.      Printmaking

3.      Textiles

4.      Ceramics

5.      3-dimensional construction

6.      Digital media

·         Students are encouraged to evaluate their own and others work.

At Key Stage 3 students follow the Northern Ireland Curriculum. Students at Key Stage 4 study Art and Design at Belfast Metropolitan College. This allows them to make use of a greater range of facilities which enables them to produce work of a very high standard for Entry Level Exams.

Technology & Design

Design and Technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values.

Students acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on other subjects such as Mathematics, science, ICT and Art and they learn to become resourceful, innovative and capable citizens.

High quality Design and Technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and wellbeing of the nation and through evaluation of products students develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world.

Science

In science we are encouraged to participate in a range of experiments so we can learn to make observations and draw conclusions. We involve the cross curriuclar skills by using maths to record results, literacy to explain what we have found out each lesson and ICT is used to record our coursework evidence for example movie making.

In Mitchell House all pupils in Key Stage 3 study science and we follow the Northern Ireland Curriculum. This gives pupils a solid foundation before moving on to Key Stage 4 where they can complete a CCEA Entry Level Award in Science or complete the GCSE in science at Ashfield Boy's High School.

Languages: French

In Mitchell House pupils have access to languages from Class 3 in Primary and Key Stage 3 & 4 in Post Primary.  Pupils learn a wide range of topics in Primary such as: Greetings, Colours, Numbers, Days of the week/Months/Season, Food/drink, School & family.

At Key Stage 3 pupils learn about Leisure, Education & Future plans, Relationships, Family & Friends, Holidays & travel, Healthy Lifestyle and Food & drink. At Key stage 4 pupils learn about Self & others, Leisure, Home & Routine, Home Town & Environment and Tourism.

The pupils also get to sample some French patisseries throughout the year such as Croissants, Crepes and Pan au chocolate.

Maths

Our Maths teachers are Miss Allen and Mr Connolly. 

In Maths we do the Numeracy Hour.  We are put into three groups, we give our groups a name.  We go to three stations; Teacher table, Classroom Assistant table and Independent table.  During the lesson we move around the three stations. 

At the Teacher table our teacher explains new things and tells us what to do.  At the Classroom Assistant table we do our worksheets with some help if we need it.  At the Independent table we play maths games, use the whiteboard or use the iPads.

In Maths we do lots of topics including;

  • Algebra
  • Money
  • Time
  • Number
  • Handling Data
  • Shape, Space and Measure

We have opportunity to do GCSE Maths (in conjunction with Ashfield Boys High School) or CCEA Entry Level Mathematics at KS4.

Occupational Studies

Occupational Studies is an area of study were pupils can choose two units of work  from a choice of six groups, to complete accreditation with CCEA. The groups within Occupational studies are:

  • Technology and Inovation
  • Environment and Society
  • Engineering and Engineering Studies
  • Design and Creativity
  • Construction
  • Business and Services

Pupils at Key Stage 4 are currently working within the Technology and Inovation unit and completing a unit on Digital Music using ipads.

 

Learning for Life and Work

Learning for Life and Work (LLW) provides pupils with the opportunities to develop skills, Knowledge, understanding attitudes and values that help them:

  • prepare for adult life,
  • independent living and work
  • meet the changes and opportunities of contemporary society
  • and make informed decisions and take responsibility action throughout their lives

This area of learning contains strands of Citizenship, Employability, Home Economics and Personal Development.

Key Stage 3

Home Economics is taught every tear as a discreet subject. Citizenship Personal Development and Employability are taught as a rolling programme over the three years.

Key Stage 4

Citizenship, Employability and Personal Development are taught to pupils with the opportunity to obtain accreditation through OCR Life and Living Skills. 

Pupils continue to study Home Economics with the opportunity to gain Entry Level Home Economics.

Home Economics

Pupils at Mitchell House follow the Northern Ireland curriculum for Home Economics.It is taught to all pupils at Key Stage 3, with the main emphasis being placed on home, family and healthy eating. Pupils are given knowledge and skills to make informed decisions that will be beneficial to their quality of life. Pupils are encouraged through practical cookery lessons to learn and develop practical skills.

Pupils in Key Stage 4 have the opportunity to study the subject for Entry Level GCSE. All pupils at Key Stage 4+ follow a programme of independent living skills to build their  confidence and independence.