Transition

I am delighted to welcome you to Tudor Grange Academy Kingshurst.  We are dedicated to delivering an enjoyable, fulfilling and purposeful school experience which will open the door to many opportunities.  Your start at Kingshurst is very important to us and you will receive the care, stability and guidance that will reassure you and your family that you are on an uplifting journey in education.

The 1^st September 2018 saw the former CTC Kingshurst Academy become a fully-fledged member of the Tudor Grange Academies Trust.  Previously the Principal at Tudor Grange Academy Solihull and a current National Lead in Education (NLE), I have worked within the ‘Trust’ for the last six years.  I am fortunate to be able to draw on resources, expertise and a wealth of experience in school improvement and I look forward to seeing the impact at Tudor Grange Academy Kingshurst over the coming years.

Tudor Grange Academy Kingshurst is a thriving, mixed comprehensive school and sixth form of over 1380 students with outstanding facilities across every department area.  All staff are committed to see Tudor Grange Academy Kingshurst become the school of absolute choice within North Solihull.  There is a passion and enthusiasm to create and promote positive learning environments for all students, regardless of background or experience.  Embedding quality first teaching is at the heart of our school improvement and we actively promote key ‘Learning Habits’ across the academy, where students are: hardworking; inquisitive and resilient, whilst displaying the ‘Character Habits’ of being: respectful; responsible and aspirational.  All underpinned by the Tudor values; Tolerance; Unity; Democracy; Opportunity; and Respect.

I consider it a great privilege to be able to work within this community, knowing that I am going to enjoy the interactions with yourselves as I see you grow in confidence and develop an open minded approach in tackling the everyday issues that we face in society today.  All staff are committed to ensuring academic pathways are clear, whilst creating an environment where you feel safe and happy, and where mental well-being is a high priority.  I welcome you to explore our website and hope this will provide you with a wider insight into Tudor Grange Academy Kingshurst, and the provision on offer.

Thank you once again for choosing us as your school and please be safe and stay positive about the future.

 

Darren Turner

Executive Principal

There are 2 transition days planned (Wednesday 1^st and Thursday 2^nd July 2020) for students from Year 6 who have been allocated a place at the Academy in September 2020.  Students will spend the days getting to know their way around the building, meeting staff, and attend sample lessons. A Letter with full details will be sent to parents in mid-June 2020.

There will be a New Year 7 Parents Evening on Wednesday, 17th June 2020 (4:00-6:30pm) at the Academy. This will provide you with an opportunity to find out and meet your son/daughter’s new college leadership team, attend the Head teachers briefing and visit an array of information stalls to help provide you with everything you will need to know about the academy. Any specific concerns or information you require can be obtained/given on this evening. If this event cannot run due to government advice on social distancing and public gatherings etc. we will look to conduct this evening either later in the term or in the first week back in September.

A Meet The Tutor Evening is also planned for early on in the first half term so you can meet their new form tutor and discuss their start at the academy.

Our transition team works closely with your child’s primary schools in preparation for their move to secondary school. Members of our team, including SEND and Welfare staff, will visit Year 6 students in their schools to gather information and to get to know the students.  We will also speak to their class teacher and any other relevant key adults that may be working closely with them.

Mrs Smallwood, our SENCO, and her team will liaise with your child’s current school to ensure that we have all the information needed for a smooth transition.  She will meet the students and their teachers to ensure that students are provided with the right level of support when they attend the Academy.   Please contact Mrs Smallwood (rsmallwood@kingshurst.tgacademy.org.uk) if you feel you need to make an appointment to see her or a member of the team to discuss this further.  She will also be available at the New Year 7 Parents Evening on Wednesday, 17th June 2020.

An additional Transition Evening is also planned for more vulnerable students.  The aim of this is to meet with their new key staff and to view and discuss the additional support and guidance they can access.  A letter will be sent at a later time to confirm the time and date of this for those identified students.

You will receive an induction pack in May which includes all the information we need (i.e. current address, contact details and medical notes etc) before your child starts at the Academy, as well as useful information for you about uniform, how the academy is organised and the values we hold dear. 

You will be asked to complete a form in your induction pack which will provide us with the information we need.   A full time First Aider is based in the medical room throughout the school day where medication can be stored and administered. Our Lead First Aider, Mrs E Richardson, will be available on the New Year 7 Parents Evening to discuss any medical concerns.  Her email address for any correspondence is erichardson@kingshurst.tgacademy.org.uk

Uniform is available to purchase from our supplier at PB Sports.  PB sports are conveniently located only 500m from the school and have an online shop available also. PB Sports are always in attendance at the New Year 7 Parents Evening to discuss any queries regarding uniform items and sizes etc.

A link to our uniform page and detailed guide is here. You will also receive this guide in your induction pack.

This will be Thursday 3^rd September 2020.  Year 7 students will start at 8:30am and will meet their new form tutor.  All other year groups will start back at 9:30am.  This will enable year 7 students to have a calm and structured start to the new term. During the morning pastoral slot they will also spend time with their tutor group, receive their timetables and be given planners.

On the first day of school your child will be given a personal printed timetable and planner. Your child will need to check their timetable each evening and pack their bag ready for the next day. All students are issued with their own personal organiser at the beginning of each term for this purpose. It has a number of functions.

• A personal diary for daily work
• A place to record work to complete at home
• A communication medium between parent and teacher

The following items are to be brought into the academy each day. Equipment checks will be conducted at the beginning of each day, in registration time, to ensure the student has the right equipment to access learning tasks in lessons.

• 2 Pens (Black)
• 2 Pencils
• Pencil Sharpener
• Eraser
• Ruler (minimum 15cm)
• Glue Stick
• Green Pen (For making improvements to work)
• Colouring Pencils
• Highlighter
• Maths Calculator (Casio fx-83GT plus)
• Named Pencil Case
• Reading Book
• ID Card

Please note that for safety reasons liquid ink erasers, such as Tippex, are not allowed.

Mobile phones should, under no circumstances, be brought into and used in the Academy.

If a mobile phone is seen it will be confiscated and returned at the end of the day.  If it is confiscated a second time, we will ask that a parent or carer come to the Academy to collect it at a convenient time. Contact between parents and students and vice versa can always be made through the College Admin Office.

The Academy has a restaurant which is open from 8.00am until 2.00 p.m.  Break time for all year groups is 10:55 – 11:15am and lunch for Year 7 students is 12:20 to 12:55pm.  A range of sandwiches, wraps, fruit, salads, snacks (not including sweets) as well as a choice of hot meals is available. Payment can be made via ParentPay. Some students bring packed lunches.  You can view a sample of menus and learn more about the internet payment system via https://www.kingshurst.tgacademy.org.uk/parents/catering/

If you require any further information about transition and starting the academy please see a list of the key people below. We look forward to meeting and getting to know you through the transition process and hope your son/daughter thoroughly enjoys their time with us over the next 7 years!

Key People

Transition Leader	Mr Lee Parfitt	lparfitt@kingshurst.tgacademy.org.uk
Admission queries	Miss Natalie Grady	ngrady@kingshurst.tgacademy.org.uk
SENCo	Mrs Rachel Smallwood	rsmallwood@kingshurst.tgacademy.org.uk
Lead First Aider (Medical)	Mrs Emma Richardson	erichardson@ kingshurst.tgacademy.org.uk
School Admin Office	0121 329 8300	office@kingshurst.tgacademy.org.uk