The Introduction of Colleges and Vertical Tutoring Explained
However, due to the increasing popularity of the school, the student population has been growing steadily. At the current rate, the anticipated student population, including the Post-16 Centre, will be approximately 1,450 by 2012.
We want to provide a closer level of support for each child, and to help them to face the challenges ahead. Following a review of its pastoral structure the school introduced a model to better meet the needs of the present and future generations of Tuxford students.
KEY PRINCIPLES
Some key principles that we are retaining and developing:
· People and learning relationships should be placed at the heart of education at Tuxford.
· Every child should receive a high level of individual care and attention that will help them reach their true potential.
· Every child should have a strong sense of belonging and identity.
· Every child should not feel 'lost' in such a big school.
· The majority of Tuxford students come to us from small village schools; we want to continue that 'small school' feel that contributes so much to our ethos.
From September 2009 we have operated a College System
· The students are organised into four Colleges that serve as their pastoral bases.
· Each College consists of 280-300 students from the 11-16 age group.
· Each College is organised into 15 form groups.
· Each form group consists of approximately 20 students.
We also introduced a Vertical Tutoring System
· Each Learning Team consists of approximately four students from each year group.
· Some Learning Teams have two tutors.
· Three or four Post-16 students are attached to each Team for part of the week.
· The older students have opportunities to act as leaders, advisers and assistant tutors within each Team.
· Learning Team time is fifteen minutes a day, in the morning. At this time, everyone takes part.
Our belief
We strongly believe that this system has created a more supportive structure for each child. It offers the older students a more focused and personalised level of attention from their tutor(s) as they prepare for their GCSEs, with increased opportunities for leadership and personal development. The younger ones now grow up with an in-built support system, with older students and their tutor able to help and advise them on literacy skills, organisational skills, homework, curriculum choices and personal development. The Learning Team has become an important focus for each child's development.
Many schools across the country have adopted this approach. In the majority of cases, they find that it lends a completely different atmosphere to the school with all kinds of advantages.