| Motto | Students first |
|---|---|
| Established | 1971 |
| Type | Comprehensive community school |
| Specialism | Technology |
| Location | Potovens Lane Outwood Wakefield West Yorkshire WF1 2PF England |
| Local authority | City of Wakefield |
| DfE URN | 108277 |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Students | 2,466 (2006) |
| Gender | Co-educational |
| Ages | 11–18 |
| Website | grange.outwood.com |
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[1] 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 Michael Wilkins.
In 2003 the school was achieving a GCSE pass rate with around 46%[2] of pupils achieving five A to C grades. By 2005 that result had risen to 83%,[2] an increase underpinned by the quality of an updated curriculum and new intervention schemes used to aid underperforming students.
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Outwood Grange College achieved specialist 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.
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.
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.
The school uses a system of escalating "consequences" as a framework for discipline, 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.
In early 2007 the college revealed plans to restructure how tutor groups, 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.[3]
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.[4]
In 2005 the school received the Rolls Royce Engineering & Manufacturing Award[5] at the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust Conference.