Subject Leader of Geography

About Tudor Grange Academy

Tudor Grange Academy is an outstanding 11 – 18 comprehensive school situated in South Solihull with 1680 students (including 300 in the sixth form). The school was inspected by Ofsted in June 2014 who judged it to be outstanding.

Tudor Grange is committed to delivering a high quality educational experience for all its students; it is also committed to sharing its experience and expertise with other educational institutions to raise attainment for all students. To this end we are a National Support School. We have also been awarded World Class School status (one of only 16 schools nationally to have been given this status).

Tudor Grange is designated as a Teaching School Hub. This places the academy at the heart of the school improvement agenda and we are a key player in the educational change agenda. This offers our staff the chance to participate in, and facilitate courses for other professionals.

Tudor Grange Academy in Solihull has always been a beacon of excellence. Its focus on continuous improvement and belief that high quality teaching and learning is at the core of great schools has ensured that it has maintained its outstanding provision year on year.

Having secured outstanding provision for the students in their care, the Governors of Tudor Grange School, as it was, developed an ambition: every child deserves an outstanding education, not just the children within their school. They supported staff within Tudor Grange to engage fully in a wide range of national and international partnerships focussed on improving provision in schools. The Academies programme then provided an opportunity for them to sponsor a school in challenging circumstances, taking full responsibility for the quality of this provision and therefore potentially enabling them to realise their ambition.

In September 2009 Tudor Grange School, Solihull sponsored Tudor Grange Academy Worcester. The school is now oversubscribed and the school of choice within its local community. This successful sponsorship and effective school to school collaboration gave rise to the vision for Tudor Grange Academies Trust: a group working together in a model of meaningful, focused collaboration to achieve excellence in their schools.

The Trust, as at January 2022, is a Trust of twelve schools: five secondary schools, one all through academy and six primary academies. Restlessness characterises all our academies: we are not afraid to challenge complacency and weaknesses identified are seen as opportunities to improve, the energy and drive for the ceaseless journey comes from our key ambition: ‘Every child deserves an outstanding education.’

Working within a Trust offers opportunities for up to date training, cross curricular working, bespoke professional development pathways. All staff are encouraged to better themselves and we collectively celebrate success in a vibrant and healthy working community.

LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GOVERNORS

Principal

Mrs C Smith

Senior Leadership Team

Mr M Boyle (Associate Principal)

Mr T Pole (Associate Principal)

Mrs J Fitzroy

Miss K Knowles

Mr A Wright

Mr K Hindley

Chair of Governors

Ms Helen Mandleberg

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of Tudor Grange Academy is to prepare young people to play an active part in a technologically mature society by providing them with exceptionally high level skills, qualifications and attitudes that will benefit themselves and the wider community in an internationally competitive world.

OUR FACILITIES

Tudor Grange Academy Solihull was opened in 1956 as a grammar school for boys.  It occupies a site on the west side of Solihull in an extensive area of parkland.  Over the years our facilities have been extended and improved to offer our students the very best environment in which to grow and thrive.

The Academy is made up of 2 main buildings with additional specialist buildings for Sport, Music, Geography, Teacher Training and Technology. There is also a builiding on site to accommodate central Trust staff. The site also includes:

• 14 Science Laboratories

• Specialist building for Music with rehearsal rooms

• Six ICT suites with state-of-the-art multimedia PCs
 on a Windows platform

• Whole school network of over 300 PCs

• Media Studies suite with Mac PCs

• Student Services block with first aid and meeting rooms

• Large Sports Centre with Sports Hall and Changing Rooms

• Extensive sports fields surrounding the site

• Brand new 3G Astro pitch (opened Jan 2022)

• Two cafeteria style dining areas with additional Food Bar in playground

• Two large playgrounds with table tennis tables

• 6th Form Centre with 4 classrooms, study areas and lecture style seating for 50

• 6th Form only Café with study area

• 6th Form Quiet Study Area

• Specialist building for Design & Technology, Art and Business

• Specialist equipment in Design and Technology including 3D Printer, Laser Cutter   Microrouter, Sublimation Machine

• A new English / Media block with 14 classrooms

ACADEMIC ORGANISATION

At Tudor Grange Academy, the Tudor Habits are at the heart of everything we do. We believe that developing the whole student is essential and that to flourish in life you need much more than great grades. We set high expectations of every student to ensure that they excel across all aspects of Academy life.

Click here to find about more about Tudor Habits.

The philosophy of Tudor Grange Academy Solihull is that each student is entitled to a broad, ambitious and equitable curriculum.

Broad because it allows children to supplement a strong academic core of subjects with a range of artistic and creative subjects.

Ambitious because we believe that every child should access a curriculum that provides them with the cultural capital and essential knowledge they need to be educated citizens.

Equitable because every child will access this curriculum, regardless of their background or past experience, and because this universal entitlement means that every child will have the potential to take advantage of a range of opportunities in later life.

Curriculum planning is undertaken by subject experts from across Tudor Grange Academies Trust and is adapted to ensure that it meets the needs of the students at Tudor Grange Academy Solihull. Subject experts have considered what is most valuable about their subject and the curriculum is built around these fundamentals.

Key Stage Three

In Years 7 and 8, students follow a broad, ambitious and equitable curriculum, in line with the national curriculum, including:

- English

- Mathematics

- Science

- Art and Design

- Computing

- Design and Technology

- Geography

- History

- Languages (one of French, German or Spanish)

- Music

- Physical Education

In addition, students at Tudor Grange Academy Solihull also study:

- Religious Education

- PSHE

- Enrichment (including citizenship, careers and Tudor Habits including teamwork, leadership and resilience)

- Healthy Living (including Food, Nutrition and Health)

- Drama

Within this wide range of subjects, students learn the ‘fundamentals’ – the essential knowledge that students must master and commit to long term memory. These are the essential pieces of information we believe provide students with cultural capital.

Many students have a clear idea of the subjects they like the most and least by the middle of Year 9 and offering some choice at this stage engages the students as partners in their learning and leads to improved outcomes. During Year 8, full consultation takes place between staff, students and parents to support curriculum choices.

At the end of Year 9, students are given the opportunity to make curriculum choices and continue their core studies with specialisms. Options are structured in such a way to allow students a free choice. This ensures equity of delivery, with all students having equal access to subjects.

In Years 10 and 11, all students* continue to study a broad range of subjects which includes the subjects below in addition to their options.

- English

- Mathematics

- Science

- Geography or History

- Languages (at least one of French, German or Spanish)

- Physical Education

- PSHE

- Ethical studies (including RE, citizenship)

*For a small minority of students an alternative pathway is offered where students study one less GCSE qualification in order to consolidate their learning in the core subjects.

Key Stage Five

The curriculum at Post 16 is designed to prepare students for both university and the world of work. Each post-16 student has their own specific goal and ambition and we ensure that each student has a personalised curriculum that meets their individual requirements. Students choose from a diverse range of qualifications, so that they are able to participate in challenging and enjoyable courses.

Further information can be found here on our dedicated sixth form pages.

PASTORAL ORGANISATION

Students are looked after in one of six Colleges; Brunel, Darwin, Edison, Morse, Newton and da Vinci.  Each college has a College Leader, a College Intervention Co-ordinator (CIC) and a College Administrator.

When a student starts at Tudor Grange they are placed in one of 66 ‘vertical’ tutor groups.  Each tutor group has students from years 7-11 and is looked after by a tutor.  Their tutor will monitor all aspects of the student’s school life and is the first port of call for parents contacting the Academy.

Our  Student Services offers a range of facilities for our young people including a first aid room with a dedicated first aider available all day every day.

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

As an Academy we feel strongly that the development of motor and interpersonal skills is enhanced by the opportunities and experiences students have outside of the classroom.  Hence, we provide a diverse breadth of activities that are part of a weekly timetable for students to opt into.  These activities run before, during or after school and are delivered by willing and specialist staff who want to relay their knowledge and passion.

The list below shows just a small selection of the programme on offer:

· Various Choirs

· Various Orchestras

· Sports Teams including Football, Rugby, Netball, Hockey, Cricket, Basketball,     Handball and Trampolining for both boys and girls

· Cheerleading

· Art and Photography

· Drama

· Dance

· STEM Club

· Combined Cadet Force (CCF)

· Chess Club

· Cooking Club

EDUCATIONAL VISITS

Tudor Grange Academy are able to offer a range of educational visits to our students to enhance their learning and give them opportunities to develop new skills and interests.

Our teaching and support staff are integral in offering these experiences to the students, and we are proud of the professionalism and commitment they display.

Below is a sample of some of the trips that have been available to our students in recent years.

Year 7 Adventure Day

Held in October with team building and sports activities. Giving students an opportunity to build new relationships with students and staff.

Duke of Edinburgh Programme

Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh awards are offered to our students in Year 9 and above. Students undertake activities in Volunteering, Physical and Skills and take part in two walking/camping expeditions. This programme builds confidence and independence and is widely recognised by employers and further educational establishments.

Sixth Form Visit to CERN

A level science students spend a weekend in January visiting the world famous CERN site in Switzerland, with recreational and cultural activities included, staying in hotel accommodation.

European Ski Trip for Years 9 to 11

This is a five day trip held in February half term, where students have an opportunity to take part in ski or snowboarding lessons, along with other recreational activities, such as bowling or ice-skating, staying in hotel accommodation.

European Football, Rugby, Netball Tour

GCSE PE students take part in European sporting fixtures during May half term, visiting theme parks and sporting stadiums in their leisure time, with accommodation in hotels.

Year 8 European PGL Trip

A nine day camping trip taking place in July, with a variety of water sports activities.

GCSE Visual Arts Trip to Europe

To help develop their drawing and photography skills, GCSE Visual Arts students can take part in this 4 day trip, staying in hotel accommodation, visiting museums and historical locations.

GCSE MFL Trip to Europe

This five day trip to Europe gives GCSE MFL students an opportunity to visit a country where the foreign language they are studying is spoken and to experience the cultural and recreational activities of the region.

We are proud to have been able to open

The Elms in January 2021

What is The Elms and who is it for?

The Elms is an Additionally Resourced Provision (ARP) at TGAS in partnership with Solihull Local Authority.

It is an eight place, placement provision for students in Key Stage 3 (Years 7 – 9) with SEMH needs. Specifically, it is for students who are currently not accessing school due to SEMH needs, specifically Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance (EBSN).

How will the placement work?

Students will remain on the roll of their home school but will be placed at The Elms for a period of time, up to two terms.

During this time, specialist staff will work with the student to support a successful transition back to the home school (or to a more appropriate setting, if the home school is not an appropriate option).

A small nurturing environment at The Elms

The Elms has a dedicated entrance and car parking.

The bespoke building has three break out rooms that can be used for meetings with families, professionals, specialist support sessions or one to one sessions with students.

There is a fully equipped kitchen where students can store food in the fridge or be supported to cook their own meals at lunchtimes. The main room will be used for communal dining as well as for more formal teaching sessions.

A second teaching area is set up as a mini-classroom so that students remain familiar with the classroom environment.

There is a large outdoor area that can be used for social time, outdoor learning and as a safe space for students. We want to work with students to create areas that they have ownership of, such as an allotment, herb garden or forest school area.

Curriculum at the Elms

To aid transition back to mainstream education, students will have access to a broad, equitable and ambitious curriculum at The Elms. An example timetable is below. The ARP co-ordinator would be involved with curriculum delivery and teaching students in a range of subject