Outwood Grange College
Encyclopedia
Outwood Grange Academy is a modern comprehensive school
and Sixth Form
in Outwood
, near Wakefield
, England
. It has a mixed intake of both boys and girls aged 11–18, and with in excess of 2400 pupils is one of the largest schools in England
. The college, established in 1971, was formerly known as Outwood Grange School prior to changing its identity in 2002. The current headteacher is Julie Slater.
In 2003 the school was achieving a GCSE pass rate with around 46% of pupils achieving five A to C grades. By 2005 that result had risen to 83%, an increase underpinned by the quality of an updated curriculum and new intervention schemes used to aid underperforming students.
technology college
status in 2002. Since then it has seen major redevelopment work improving college grounds, buildings and the facilities in general. This included major renovation works to the majority of the Upper College Block, where new ICT suites, a recording studio and improved reception facilities were created. The Lower College Hall also received attention and was equipped with retractable seating and conferencing equipment.
In 2005 a gravel playing field, commonly known as "redgra" after its composition of red gravel, was replaced with an astroturf
sports field after many years of fundraising. In the same year a new Business and Training Centre was opened, housing both the Business Department and additional training facilities for rental purposes. The college has used these advanced facilities to aid other schools in the region, and to participate in the launch of national initiatives such as "Make Your Mark Start Talking Ideas", which encourages youngsters to engage themselves with businesses.
Outwood Academies
In September 2009, Outwood Grange College opened as Outwood Grange Academy. Michael Wilkins is the Chief Executive of Outwood Academies and the Outwood Grange Family of Schools. North Doncaster Technology College (NDTC) will also re-open as Outwood Academy Adwick, part of the Outwood Academies chain which will be developed over the next few years.
Praising Stars, or 'E Grades' as they are commonly called, are given to students six times a year as a form of report to parents. It is commonplace for individual year groups to have assemblies which recognize and commend students who have performed well throughout the term achieving E1s, E2s and E3s.
In many cases individual teachers also use Praising Stars as a way of marking pieces of classwork
.
, beginning with C1 and ranging through to C6 (exclusion
).
Upon reaching a C4, a student is removed from the classroom and given a detention, during which they are provided a list of the expectations for behaviour in the classroom
. If, however, the student then chooses to not attend the detention they are given a C5, which results in isolation for one school day. A C6 is given if the situation escalates further, resulting in a fixed term of exclusion from the school. However, if this exclusion is extended for any reason it upgrades to expulsion, the pupil will receive a letter home.
s, the main provision of pastoral care
within the college, are organised, moving from the traditional horizontal structure to a more progressive vertical one. Although controversial, the plan progressed through consultation and has been put into place from September 2008.
The former structure saw each pupil belonging to a form group
of around 30 pupils from their own year-group, which they remain in, together with a teacher acting as a tutor
, for their entire school career. The new structure keeps a consistent teacher acting as a tutor to the group, but is mixed-age with pupils from all year groups being included in each mentoring group. This means that each group evolves every year, as older pupils leave and are replaced by younger pupils entering the school. Pupils entering the school are guaranteed, as in the past, to have at least one friend in their mentoring group.
Vertical structuring has been implemented in other secondary schools, the main advantages being seen as the mixing of ages leading to an increased sense of community
, allowing for pupils to share experiences, foster understanding and reduce bullying
.
Engineering & Manufacturing Award at the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust
Conference.
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
and Sixth Form
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
in Outwood
Outwood, West Yorkshire
Outwood is a district to the north of Wakefield, a city in West Yorkshire, England. The district is centred on the A61 Leeds Road south of Lofthouse. It was originally a small pit village, but there has been so much new housing in the last twenty years that the old village is now only a minority of...
, near Wakefield
Wakefield
Wakefield is the main settlement and administrative centre of the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England. Located by the River Calder on the eastern edge of the Pennines, the urban area is and had a population of 76,886 in 2001....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It has a mixed intake of both boys and girls aged 11–18, and with in excess of 2400 pupils is one of the largest schools in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The college, established in 1971, was formerly known as Outwood Grange School prior to changing its identity in 2002. The current headteacher is Julie Slater.
In 2003 the school was achieving a GCSE pass rate with around 46% of pupils achieving five A to C grades. By 2005 that result had risen to 83%, an increase underpinned by the quality of an updated curriculum and new intervention schemes used to aid underperforming students.
Recent developments
Outwood Grange College achieved specialistSpecialist school
The specialist schools programme was a UK government initiative which encouraged secondary schools in England to specialise in certain areas of the curriculum to boost achievement. The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust was responsible for the delivery of the programme...
technology college
Technology College
Technology College is a term used in the United Kingdom for a secondary specialist school that focuses on design and technology, mathematics and science. These were the first type of specialist schools, beginning in 1994. In 2008 there were 598 Technology Colleges in England, of which 12 also...
status in 2002. Since then it has seen major redevelopment work improving college grounds, buildings and the facilities in general. This included major renovation works to the majority of the Upper College Block, where new ICT suites, a recording studio and improved reception facilities were created. The Lower College Hall also received attention and was equipped with retractable seating and conferencing equipment.
In 2005 a gravel playing field, commonly known as "redgra" after its composition of red gravel, was replaced with an astroturf
AstroTurf
AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such as...
sports field after many years of fundraising. In the same year a new Business and Training Centre was opened, housing both the Business Department and additional training facilities for rental purposes. The college has used these advanced facilities to aid other schools in the region, and to participate in the launch of national initiatives such as "Make Your Mark Start Talking Ideas", which encourages youngsters to engage themselves with businesses.
Outwood Academies
In September 2009, Outwood Grange College opened as Outwood Grange Academy. Michael Wilkins is the Chief Executive of Outwood Academies and the Outwood Grange Family of Schools. North Doncaster Technology College (NDTC) will also re-open as Outwood Academy Adwick, part of the Outwood Academies chain which will be developed over the next few years.
Tracking student progress
The college uses a series of effort grades known as "Praising Stars." The system uses grades prefixed with the letter "E", standing for "Effort", which range from E1 (Brilliant) to E3 (Reasonable) to E6 (Exclusion).Praising Stars, or 'E Grades' as they are commonly called, are given to students six times a year as a form of report to parents. It is commonplace for individual year groups to have assemblies which recognize and commend students who have performed well throughout the term achieving E1s, E2s and E3s.
In many cases individual teachers also use Praising Stars as a way of marking pieces of classwork
Schoolwork
Schoolwork is work assigned by a teacher, school, or other educational institution. The term generally refers to both work completed at home , as well as work completed during class . Typically, schoolwork is done in class, during the time period allotted by the instructor...
.
Disciplinary measures
The school uses a system of escalating "consequences" as a framework for disciplineSchool discipline
School discipline is the system of rules, punishments and behavioral strategies appropriate to the regulation of children and the maintenance of order in schools. Its aim is to control the students actions and behavior....
, beginning with C1 and ranging through to C6 (exclusion
Expulsion (academia)
Expulsion or exclusion refers to the permanent removal of a student from a school system or university for violating that institution's rules. Laws and procedures regarding expulsion vary between countries and states.-State sector:...
).
Upon reaching a C4, a student is removed from the classroom and given a detention, during which they are provided a list of the expectations for behaviour in the classroom
Classroom
A classroom is a room in which teaching or learning activities can take place. Classrooms are found in educational institutions of all kinds, including public and private schools, corporations, and religious and humanitarian organizations...
. If, however, the student then chooses to not attend the detention they are given a C5, which results in isolation for one school day. A C6 is given if the situation escalates further, resulting in a fixed term of exclusion from the school. However, if this exclusion is extended for any reason it upgrades to expulsion, the pupil will receive a letter home.
Pastoral care
In early 2007 the college revealed plans to restructure how tutor groupTutor group
A tutor group is a term used in UK schools, broadly equivalent to the United States term "homeroom". The term is most frequently used in Secondary schools where students may be taught in a number of different groupings throughout the day...
s, the main provision of pastoral care
Pastoral care
Pastoral care is the ministry of care and counseling provided by pastors, chaplains and other religious leaders to members of their church or congregation, or to persons of all faiths and none within institutional settings. This can range anywhere from home visitation to formal counseling provided...
within the college, are organised, moving from the traditional horizontal structure to a more progressive vertical one. Although controversial, the plan progressed through consultation and has been put into place from September 2008.
The former structure saw each pupil belonging to a form group
Form (education)
A form is a class or grouping of students in a school. The term is used predominantly in the United Kingdom, although some schools, mostly private, in other countries also use the title...
of around 30 pupils from their own year-group, which they remain in, together with a teacher acting as a tutor
Tutor
A tutor is a person employed in the education of others, either individually or in groups. To tutor is to perform the functions of a tutor.-Teaching assistance:...
, for their entire school career. The new structure keeps a consistent teacher acting as a tutor to the group, but is mixed-age with pupils from all year groups being included in each mentoring group. This means that each group evolves every year, as older pupils leave and are replaced by younger pupils entering the school. Pupils entering the school are guaranteed, as in the past, to have at least one friend in their mentoring group.
Vertical structuring has been implemented in other secondary schools, the main advantages being seen as the mixing of ages leading to an increased sense of community
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
, allowing for pupils to share experiences, foster understanding and reduce bullying
School bullying
School bullying is a type of bullying that occurs in connection with education, either inside or outside of school. Bullying can be physical, verbal, or emotional and is usually repeated over a period of time.In schools, bullying occurs in all areas...
.
Awards received
In 2005 the school received the Rolls RoyceRolls-Royce plc
Rolls-Royce Group plc is a global power systems company headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second-largest maker of aircraft engines , and also has major businesses in the marine propulsion and energy sectors. Through its defence-related activities...
Engineering & Manufacturing Award at the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust
Specialist Schools and Academies Trust
The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust is an independent, not-for-profit, membership organisation with headquarters in the United Kingdom, dedicated to raising standards and achievement in secondary schools in England and internationally...
Conference.