Welcome to Secondary

Secondary school shapes both what young people know and the people they become. We want young people to leave Morna knowledgeable, curious and well qualified, but also kind, resilient, independent and confident: ready for further study, for work and for the wider world.

That means making the most of the time students spend with us. Lessons are engaging, purposeful and ambitious. My colleagues are warm and enthusiastic. They take an interest in students, notice when they are doing well and have high expectations of what they can achieve.

We also know that success does not look identical for every student.

Some young people need additional explanation, adaptation or support to access the curriculum successfully. Others need greater depth, pace and challenge. Both matter.

Our job is to understand where each student is, help them make genuine progress from that point and never allow either difficulty or prior success to become a reason for standing still.

The years of secondary education pass remarkably quickly. We want students to look back on them knowing that they were cared for, challenged and encouraged; that they achieved well, grew in confidence and made the most of the opportunities in front of them.

These years matter. We want to make them count.

— Jon Brook · Head of Secondary School

Students progress from the English National Curriculum in Years 7–8 to IGCSE qualifications in Years 9–11 and International A Levels in the Sixth Form. Alongside this, students study Spanish and Catalan language and culture, reflecting both our international community and our place here in Ibiza.

There is value in a strong academic core. There is also value in helping young people discover subjects in which they develop a genuine interest or talent. Our curriculum therefore combines traditional academic disciplines with creative, technological and contemporary subjects.

As students move through Secondary, they have more choice. Their curriculum becomes increasingly personal to them.

Where setting is used, it is subject-specific and reviewed regularly, recognising that students develop at different rates and in different ways.

We want students to achieve excellent qualifications, but learning is more than a route to the next examination. A good education makes young people curious. It helps them understand more about the world, discover what interests them and develop the confidence to ask questions, test ideas and form their own views.

Some of the most important experiences at school also happen beyond the normal timetable.

Our extra-curricular programme changes throughout the year and provides opportunities across sport, music, art, drama, technology, languages and many other areas. Recent opportunities include robotics, basketball, volleyball, boxing, guitar, art and media activities, alongside curriculum support sessions.

Students also take part in our school production, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, educational visits and student leadership.

These are not simply things to fill the time after lessons. They allow students to try something new. To discover an interest. To work with different people, take responsibility and experience success in different ways.

Good pastoral care does not begin when there is a problem.

It is part of everyday school life: greeting students warmly, taking an interest in them, noticing when something has changed, recognising success and making sure they know there are adults they can turn to when they need help.

Every student has a tutor and is supported by a wider pastoral team. Where more specialist help is needed, we have SEND and counselling provision alongside our senior pastoral staff. Parents also have clear routes for raising concerns and know who to contact when they need us.

Care does not mean lowering expectations. In fact, the two belong together.

Our expectations around Manners, Initiative and Commitment help young people develop positive habits: respecting other people's right to learn, taking responsibility for themselves and continuing when something becomes difficult.

Young people get things wrong. Adults do too. What matters is how we respond: putting things right, learning from what happened and getting back on track.

We want Morna to feel warm, safe and supportive. We also want it to be a place where students are expected to contribute, to persevere and to grow.

Young people are most successful when the important adults in their lives work together.

Parents know their children extraordinarily well. We see another part of their lives: their learning, friendships, successes, frustrations and the gradual changes that take place as they grow towards adulthood. Both perspectives matter.

We keep parents informed about academic progress and wellbeing, and we make it clear who to contact when something needs attention. Just as importantly, we want parents to tell us when something changes at home or when there is something we need to understand.

That partnership matters; we do a better job for young people when we work well with the people who know them best. We look forward to working in partnership with you.

A Level, IGCSE and progress outcomes at Morna International College, an approved examination centre for Pearson Edexcel and Cambridge International Education.

View our examination results