What parents want to know ... the right support .... at the right time
Settling in
Every year we welcome 300 students into Year 7 from a wide variety of backgrounds and primary schools. We have developed close links with our partner primary schools. During the summer term, Year 6 pupils are invited into the college to take part in various activities and, with their parents, they are encouraged to get to know their form tutors. In September the new Year 7s come into the college for a morning before the older students to give them time to settle into their new environment. Upon arrival everyone is placed in a tutor group. The form tutor is very important to the students and stays with them throughout their time at the college as they progress to Year 11.
Careful nurture - monitoring and assessment
Grange students make excellent progress. Students are set demanding individual targets for attainment and our teaching and support staff monitor their progress on a termly basis for each subject. Levels of attainment are then reported to parents/carers each term. Students are given regular feedback on their work to help levels and grades improve. Grange achievement goals
The college has well-established and successful policies which reward and encourage good behaviour and attendance. Students are awarded merits and achievement certificates which are greatly valued. All students from Years 7 to 11 have to wear school uniform. Parents play an essential part in these policies and are informed if there are any concerns.
The partnership with home
To help students plan their work, they are given a Student Planner which we encourage them to use fully. Homework is set on a regular basis and students record this and their targets in their planners. Parents are asked to sign the planners regularly so they can help to monitor their child's progress. We have homework and revision clubs so that students who need extra support can stay in college each evening to ensure that their work is kept up-to-date.
Specialist support
As part of our Excellence in Cities programme, we have extra lessons and residentials for gifted and talented students. Our excellent Special Education Needs department is supported by specialist classroom assistants and learning mentors. We provide additional study opportunities before school, after school and at weekends with access to our first class facilities.
Health and sex education
This is part of the compulsory Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Development course in Years 7 to 11. The sex education unit is taught in Years 9 to 11 by a teacher of the same gender as single sex groups. The course considers the relationship between the sexes with a strong emphasis on personal responsibility, within a moral framework and aims to enable students to make informed, responsible decisions. Staff are sensitive to the diversity of cultural, religious and family values and beliefs.
Religious education and faith activities
We lead the way in supporting the faiths and cultures of our multi-racial city, giving full respect to the different faiths with the following arrangements: Single faith meetings: provision will be made for students to attend a faith meeting (Christian, Hindu, Muslim boys and Muslim girls) once a week, unless they are withdrawn by parents. If students are withdrawn they attend normal tutor groups.
The daily silence: each morning the whole school observes one minute of silence allowing students to reflect on moral and spiritual matters. This is an encouragement of the daily self discipline of stillness and a sharing of an activity valued by all religions represented at the college. In addition, opportunity for prayer will be made wherever possible outside lesson time.
Complaints about matters relating to the school
Grange Technology College is committed to the highest possible standards in provision. This means that we will take all concerns expressed about the school seriously. We will deal with complaints as efficiently and effectively as possible and, if after investigation it is found that the complaint is upheld, we will take appropriate action. You should, in the first instance, discuss any concerns with your child's Tutor or year Director.
A full copy of our Complaints Procedure is available on request. Please contact the Headteacher's PA on 01274 775335.
