UCAS University Applications

UCAS (The universities and Colleges Admissions Service) is the organisation that processes all full-time applications to UK universities and colleges.

It is an independent charity providing information, advice and admissions services to inspire and facilitate educational progression. Their services support young people making choices after their GCSE’s as well as those applying for undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

It is there to support you, as well as your son or daughter through every step of the application process.

Services provided by UCAS include several online application portals, a number of search tools and free information and advice directed at various audiences. This includes students considering higher education, and students with pending applications to higher education institutes. All students and their parents, legal guardians will be fully supported by the school at every point.

Whilst UCAS is best known for its undergraduate application service (the main UCAS scheme), it also operates a number of other admissions services:

Conservatoires UK Admissions Service (CUKAS) – for performing arts at a UK conservatoire.
UCAS Teacher Training (UTT) – for postgraduate teacher training schemes.
UK Postgraduate Application and Statistical Service (UKPASS) – for some postgraduate courses.
UCAS Progress – for post-16 education and training.

UCAS sends all applicants a monthly Newsletter full of useful information, reminders, advice and competitions.

Careers & Personal Development

We maintain close links with a range of higher education providers and encourage students to consider all their options before making a decision about their next career steps. Those choosing to go on to university will be fully supported through the entire UCAS applications process.

Day students and boarders alike benefit from our broad enrichment programme which includes theatre trips, talks and presentations from our own academic departments as well as inspirational external speakers renowned in their fields. We encourage students to participate fully in extra-curricular activities including sport, the arts and voluntary work to leave us as well-rounded, ambitious and considerate citizens.

Careers support in our school has four essential and interlinked principles:

Careers Education –a planned programme in the curriculum that gives students the knowledge and skills for planning and managing their careers.
Careers Information –including learning options, skills, occupations, labour market information and progression routes – facilitated by a range of on-line resources, including access to the National Careers Service, university research resources, the apprenticeships portal and a range of research tools.
Careers Advice and Guidance –personalised help to identify long-term goals and to plan the steps to attain them – including access to advisers who can provide a careers interview.
Work-Related Learning –experiences within and outside of the curriculum that help students learn about economic wellbeing, careers and enterprise.

The Sixth Form Virtual Learning Environment (Edmodo) has information covering topics including university applications (UCAS), careers, work experience, specialist tests, entrance examinations, gap years, apprenticeships, volunteering and student finance.

Useful links

University and College Admissions – ucas.com
AQA Examination Board – aqa.co.uk
Edexcel/BTEC Examination Board – https://qualifications.pearson.com/
OFQUAL – https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofqual

The Moorland International Academies

Life at Moorland International Boarding School

Moorland School, founded over 100 years ago, has long since been an educational jewel in the United Kingdom, attracting students from all across the Ribble Valley, Lancashire and the wider world! Moorland School remains dedicated to providing bespoke educational opportunities for all children, from nursery age, right through to 6th Form. We make sure that all of our pupils, whether they are local or from far overseas, are safe, happy and making excellent progress. To be part of Moorland School is to be part of the Moorland Family.
Life at Moorland School
At Moorland School we take our responsibility to create a home from home atmosphere very seriously. Every member of staff go above and beyond to make sure that every student is well looked after and afforded the necessary pastoral care, help and support. Our staff team are well-versed in making sure our pupils receive the relevant nurture and support, this can cover every aspect of life at Moorland from laundry matters, medical appointments, career guidance to choosing the right footwear for a weekend walk or trip!
A Home from Home
Moorland School is housed within one campus, which is nestled amidst beautiful rural grounds in the small market town of Clitheroe, Lancashire. This safe haven provides safety, security, modern facilities, spacious learning areas as well as a genuinely homely feel. Our scholars are all able to focus on their studies and their development, free of the distractions of urban noise and other disturbances. Clitheroe itself is home to its own castle, coffee shops, fine dining restaurants, unique shops and a train station that serves Manchester directly on a daily basis (hourly services).
A Safe Haven
Moorland School selects students based upon their behaviour and attitude to learning (ATL). This policy allows the School to create a warm family learning environment, where ALL students can achieve their true academic and social potentials in a safe, secure, happy and confident learning setting. Moorland School adopts and enforces a zero-tolerance to all forms of bullying.
The Right Attitude to Succeed
At Moorland School, we celebrate ALL student’s strengths and work tirelessly to build confidence in areas where students need to develop. The School uses a whole host of CAT, SATS and GL guided assessments to ascertain IEPs and flight path information for every student. We make sure that students have targeted intervention as early as possible, to ensure that academic attainment and confidence is achievable for every pupil. Small class sizes (much lower than other independent schools) and the efforts of a dedicated teaching team, mean that nothing is ever missed in this respect.
Inclusive and Supportive
The Moorland Football Academy is a truly inspirational programme that combines first-class football skills development with educational excellence and opportunities. The programmes offered are the culmination of years of carefully developed coaching methods which focus upon intense delivery, mentoring and social development techniques to produce the best all-round football talent.
Moorland Football Academy
The Moorland Ballet Academy have developed a dedicated Classical Ballet programme, which is responsibly supported through an intense educational structure, to ensure ballet development does not have to affect academic performance. The technique of Classical Ballet is learned and perfected in a highly structured daily routine and delivered by Royal Ballet rained professionals in a bespoke new facility.
Moorland Ballet Academy
Life at Moorland School is about fun, happiness, security, warmth, progress, development, opportunities and being able to celebrate being yourself. Through this journey, friendships are formed that may last a life time.
Developing Friendships to Last a Life Time

Moving Daniel from the local comprehensive school during the Easter of Year 8 was the best decision we have ever made. Prior to Moorland, Daniel felt sick every morning and made himself ill, making every excuse not to go to school as he didn’t feel like he fitted in and he always said he didn’t feel safe. Dan was quiet and withdrawn, walking stooped with his head looking at the floor. Since coming to Moorland, Dan is a confident young man who loves going to school and walks tall. Now when Dan is unwell we have to force him to stay at home!

As a family we cannot thank all the staff enough for the opportunites Dan gets and the way he loves learning now. Dan also completed his first ever voluntary school trip abroad skiing with Moorland in Year 9. This for us as a family was hugely significant, as he is such a home bird and we were so happy that he loved the experience.

We chose Moorland as it is small and our experience is that the staff know Dan intimately so that they are able to encourage, support and motivate him to get him to achieve his best potential. On the Moorland School buses it says ensuring every child comes home happy. Dan definitely comes home happy.

The Fletcher Family Year 9 Parent

Both our daughters attended Moorland Private School from year 7 and have thoroughly enjoyed their school life here. Initially contacting the school as our eldest daughter was experiencing a lack of confidence at her previous primary school, she has developed into a resilient, mature, self-aware young woman, becoming Head Girl at Moorland in Year 11.

The Moorland teaching staff are very friendly, approachable and passionate about their subject. It is clear to see a feeling of mutual respect between staff and pupil around the school. Due to smaller class sizes, teachers are able to provide individual support in class and are also available outside of class for extra support in person and through the online learning system, Edmodo. The timetable was developed to take account of their individual preferences, subject combinations and higher levels of study. It has been very pleasing to see our girls enjoying their academic studies and taking ownership of their own learning, completing independent study and wider reading to pursue their academic interest and career aims. As a College Lecturer myself, I realise the importance of these skills to maximise their potential through Sixth Form and University life.

The Spence Family Year 10 & 11 Parents

Right from the start, Moorland School was the right choice for our children. My daughter and my son joined Moorland in 2007.

They are happy when they go to school and they are happy when they come home, therefore they are achieving great results and we are very proud of them.

Pastoral care is embedded within the School and all the pupils’ needs are carefully accounted for. Communication is way beyond what we would normally expect, we have direct email addresses to all teaching and admin staff, giving us 24/7 access to the School.

We feel an important part of the Moorland Family and they are an important part of ours, and as a consequence we are very proud to be raising outstanding children with good hearts.

The Burby Family Year 10 Parents

Our children started their Moorland journey 7 years ago, and it has proved to be the best move we could have made. Both Dominic and Gabrielle were made to feel right at home from day one.

We have seen the School go from strength to strength, whilst not losing the ‘family’ feel and their core values. Dominic achieved 11 GCSEs at Grade C and above, way above what previous schools were telling us he was capable of.

Gabrielle still attends Moorland, and we continue to see her flourish with the support of the caring teaching team and school staff. Gabrielle is encouraged by her teachers, and afforded their complete time, support and energy. The latter helps her confidences in the social and academic sense.

As a family, it is paramount to know that your children are safe, happy and reaching their true potential. At Moorland, we know that this is truly the case for our children.

The Cheetham Family Year 10 Parents

Moorland News

Moorland School is no stranger to big names and guest coaches across our academies, but they come no bigger than the guest superstar we had the opportunity to welcome in the first week of November. A footballer who needs no introduction; whose accolades include previous three times Premier League, four times African Player of the Year, African Cup of Nations and Champions League winner; whose personality and kindness proceeds him everywhere he goes, we were incredibly pleased to welcome Yaya Touré to Moorland Football Academy.
Read more The Moorland Family welcomes Yaya Touré!
As a socially conscious organisation, we have selected Children’s Hospital Pyjamas as our way to give a little more to society this term. Children’s Hospital Pyjamas are a UK based charity, who collect donations of brand new pyjamas, from the public, and then donate to Hospitals, Hospice’s, School Hospital Teams and Women’s refuges up and down the country. These are then given to poorly or less fortunate children who are inpatients.
Read more Children's Hospital Pyjamas - From the Moorland Family to Another
Three of our talented students have been called up to represent Kenya U17's and Botswana U20's to compete in the CECAFA/AFCON qualifiers this December.
Read more Three called up for International Duty! Representing Kenya & Botswana!
What a proud day, to welcome Moorland Ballet Graduate, Joshua Webb back into the studios. Josh is currently a dancer with San Diego Ballet Company in the USA. Due to Covid he has been home in England, reapplying for his visa and will be returning to perform with the company in the not too distance future.
Read more Guest Teacher - Former Moorland Ballet Graduate, Joshua Webb
In our efforts to overcome the challenges we face during these difficult times; it is always a joy to see the students of Moorland Ballet make the most of a wonderful opportunity. We had the great pleasure of welcoming Charlotte Tonkinson of the Royal Ballet to chat live with our Students via Zoom.
Read more Screen Time - Educated and Inspired with Charlotte Tonkinson
Tuesday the 14th was the last fitness session of the term for the Moorland Ballet Academy 6th Form and with this and current global circumstances in mind, the students and their Ballet Director, Mr Kidd, decided on an impromptu fundraising drive.
Read more Bringing a Little Brightness to Clitheroe - Fundraising for Papyrus
Moorland School's Juniors enjoyed an excellent trip in the great outdoors. They spent time learning about our local river, The River Ribble, luckily for us, the river is situated right next door to the school! Miss Walberg led the walk on the breezy sunny day, she focused on teaching the children about the features of the rivers and how they come to be formed.
Read more Exploring the River Ribble, Clitheroe - Junior Day Out