Prospectus

Everyone Successful.

Every Day.

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Welcome Thank you for the interest you have shown in The ACE Academy. We are incredibly proud of our Academy and our developing reputation for providing a safe, supportive and aspirant learning environment for all of our students, where everyone can be the best that they can be. Our students and staff work incredibly well together to achieve

Everyone Successful.

Every Day.

the best possible results for every individual child.

Our Sixth Form is growing year on year and it is our expectation that students starting in Year 7 will be with us for 7 years, moving into Sixth Form after gaining excellent GCSE results at the end of Year 11. All of our students enjoy state of the arts facilities designed specifically to enhance the excellent teaching at A level and Vocational courses, which therefore creates incredibly strong foundations for them to progress to University or other forms of higher education and training. Our strong relationship with the University of Wolverhampton through being the largest member of Education Central Multi Academies Trust, also plays a pivotal role in ensuring our students are ready for the next stage in their learning career, whether it be at our local Universities or further afield.

ACE stands for ‘Alexandra College of Enterprise’ and therefore we hold the development of skills based learning relative to being an entrepreneurial success, in high regard. As a result, our students enjoy a number of enterprise events and opportunities to engage with local and national businesses as an integral part of their curriculum experience. We are very proud of how our students rise to these challenges and the positive image they project of themselves and the Academy as a result.

As an Academy we have a strong commitment to traditional values and a focus on continuous improvement and development. That said, we embrace innovation and new technologies that can enhance our students learning experience.

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At The ACE Academy we fully appreciate that ‘Better Never Stops’. Our ambition is to deliver a world class education and allow our students to become highly successful and qualified people, with as strong sense of moral purpose.

We make no apology for placing a high priority on excellent behaviour, attendance and the highest possible standards as an expected norm. We care about our students’ development and achievements and endeavour to provide first class support and further opportunities for our students to thrive. We want our students to enjoy their learning experience and demand more from us to satisfy their desire for success.

We really do believe that we can offer a high quality education experience to every child who chooses to attend the Academy and wants to be a part of its ethos, vision

The ‘ACERS’ •

The ACE Academy will become the ‘Academy of choice’ for the Tipton community

We will be an outstanding place of learning and we celebrate and experience success

Challenge

through the achievements of our students and staff, resulting in a legacy of excellence

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through every single person striving to be ‘the best that they can be’ every day.

Enjoyment

endeavour to provide first class support and further opportunities for our students

Respect

the best possible education and success for your child.

inspired to achieve beyond their expectations.

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We look forward to welcoming you to the Academy and working with you in securing

and surrounding areas, where students experience ‘education without limits’ and are

Achievement

and values. We care about our students’ development and achievements and we to thrive. Our staff regard it as a real privilege to serve this community.

Our Vision

Core Values

The Academy will therefore, prepare young people to play an active part in a technologically mature society by providing them with exceptional knowledge, skills, attitudes and moral purpose to significantly contribute to our global society and experience 70+ fantastic years in an internationally competitive world.

• Self-discipline

ACHIEVE, CONTRIBUTE, EXCEL

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Mr Robin Grover Headteacher

‘Better Never Stops’ 4

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DRESS SMART BE SMART

Pastoral Care Appearance and uniform There is an expectation that all members

Year Teams and Tutor Groups

of the Academy will strive to look their

Children are allocated to a Tutor group

best. For students this will mean wearing

and a House when they enter the

the Academy uniform correctly and with

Academy and will stay with that tutor

pride travelling to, from and within The

group and House throughout their

ACE Academy.

Academy career. All aspects of support for academic progress and pastoral care

There should be no evidence of dye or

take place within that tutor group and

tints applied to the hair, and it should be

Year team. Your child’s tutor should

an appropriate style and length. Make

be your first port of call for any issues,

up and jewellery should not be worn.

concerns or queries that you may have

Please refer to the Academy website for

regarding your child. It is our expectation

guidance on our uniform policy.

that the tutor should know your child better than anyone else in the Academy

Advice is always available from the

and provide the necessary support for

Academy and parents are encouraged

them to flourish.

to ask when uncertain. Students can

Policies

and will be disciplined if they are not

A Head of Year, Behaviour Manager and

wearing the correct school uniform in

an Administrator will also be part of the

the Academy, to and from the Academy,

team that is responsible for the pastoral

as well as and on trips.

care and academic progress of your child.

Please visit our website www.acesch.co.uk for Academy policies.

They will work with tutors to ensure that

Policies are located under the ‘Policies’ tab.

students remain engaged, enthused and inspired in their education at The ACE Academy.

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Curriculum Structure Each student will follow a timetable that spans two weeks, 50 periods in total, 25 periods per week. Each period is an hour long.

Post 16

Our aim is to provide, a rich, broad and balanced curriculum that motivates our students to want to learn and achieve more.

Students’ subject choices are guided within range of both Academic and Vocational

It will also allow our students to identify real areas of strength that they may wish to pursue in their own time or through the

Qualifications at Level 3, each subject has 10 hours curriculum time. Our offer at

variety of wider-curricular clubs and activities that the Academy provides.

Post 16 also includes a personal development course named ASPIRE, preparation for ‘the next stage of their learning career’ with individual and group ‘Information,

Key Stage 3 Teaching hours per fortnight

English

Maths

Science

PE

History

Geography

RE

French

ICT

Music/Art/ Drama

8

8

7

3

3

3

2

3

2

6

Technology

ACE time*

3

2

Students who require additional literacy or numeracy will not study French and will have extra Maths and English lessons. *ACE time includes SRE, Citizenship and Financial awareness

Key Stage 4

English

Maths

Science

PE

Citizenship

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Option 4

Teaching hours per fortnight (Yr 10)

7

8

10

3

2

5

5

5

5

Teaching hours per fortnight (Yr 11)

8

7

10

3

2

5

5

5

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Advice and Guidance’, plus a varied range of enrichment opportunities.

Students can choose up to 4 Level 3 options from: Business Studies

Art

Chemistry

Psychology

French

Music

English

Maths

PE

Media

Physics

Hair/Beauty

Drama

Design Technology

Photography

Law

Geography

Sociology

Travel and Tourism

History

IT

Textiles

Health and Social Care

Accounts

Biology

All students study a GCSE in Maths, English, Science (2 GCSEs) and Citizenship (including SRE and RE).

Provisional Exam Results The most recent examination results and information on OFSTED can be found

Students have a choice of 4 options these include:

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Business Studies

Drama

RE

Music

Computer Science

Geography

Health and Social Care

ICT

French

Resistant Materials

Art

Media

PE

Third Science

Food Technology

Design Technology

Statistics

History

Travel and Tourism

Sociology

under the ‘Ofsted’ section of our website.

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“ We are all

Wider curricular Success

better than we know.

If only we can be brought to realise this, we may never be

We are very proud of our students’

Students across various year groups have

achievements in activities outside of

taken an active part in community life in

the normal academic curriculum too.

the following ways:

We actively encourage them to take part in activities that enrich their curriculum

prepared to settle for

experience and represent the Academy

anything less.”

and themselves with pride.

• Organising and delivering a Citizenship campaign at local Methodist Church with Adrian Bailey, local MP • Musical performances the local

In addition to various sporting accolades

Kurt Hahn

Methodist Church for the elderly

here are some achievements from last year that have made our Academy

• Flag bearer at Tipton Cemetery to celebrate the cemetery winning a

community very proud.

community award.

Year 9 students of History designed a monument which has been shortlisted

Please visit http://www.acesch.co.uk/news

for the ‘Football Remembers’ competition

for more information about our wider

to design a National Memorial Arboretum

curricular success.

in Staffordshire. If the students win, their design will be built in the arboretum and their prize awarded by Prince William and Theo Walcott.

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Admission of Primary School Students Determined admission arrangements for admission of students in 2015.

In all cases, if the number of applicants exceeds the number of places available,

Our admissions process is part of the Local Authority co-ordinated scheme.

places will be allocated on the basis of

The Academy’s admission number is 300. Where the number of applications

distance between home and Academy,

is lower than the admission number, all applicants will be admitted.

as measured in a straight line from home to the main entrance to the Academy.

If The ACE Academy is over subscribed, after the admission of students with statements

Priority will be given to those living closest

of special education needs where the Academy is named in the statement, priority

to the Academy.

for admission will be given to those children who meet the criteria set out below, in priority order: 1. Children who are in public care and children who were previously in public care but ceased to be so because they were adopted (or became subject to a residence order or special guardianship order).

2. Children with a particular medical condition which can be met most appropriately by the Academy. Applications must be accompanied by a medical declaration form signed by the child’s General Practitioner or Consultant confirming the condition and detailing the child’s needs. All applications under this criterion will be assessed by the Governors to decide whether the child’s needs can be met most appropriately by the Academy.

3. Having a brother or sister at the Academy (but not in 6th form) at the time of admission.

4. Distance measured in a straight line from a child’s home to the Academy’s main entrance (as determined by the Head Teacher).

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Admission to Sixth form Post 16 Advice and Guidance

Up to 20 Post 16 places will be made available for students who are not currently attending the Academy.

The Academy is a big family; it is full of people you can trust and rely on for help.

There are teachers who will challenge you to think for yourself and people who will prepare you to take your first step into the working environment.

Post 16 Student and Academy Life At The ACE Academy we are committed to providing an outstanding education.

The Post 16 team is able to offer advice and guidance about:

You’ll find a warm, friendly atmosphere where you’ll make friends and can be yourself.

• Careers and employment opportunities • Further study, including university level courses

With a range of experiences in and out of the classroom from morning until early

• Student funding and financial support

evening, we will help you enjoy and succeed at this stage of your career. You can

• Travel cards and the Academy buses

expect to do lots of things you haven’t tried before. You will make friends for life as

• Support to overcome any learning difficulties, from dyslexia to physical difficulties

well as getting the right experiences you need for the future. As a Post 16 student,

• Having your say while at the Academy

your leadership will guide others through the Academy.

• The program of sporting and social activities.

Post 16 Study Post 16 Personal Tutor

When undertaking Post 16 qualifications you will find that learning is more challenging, and requires deeper thinking. This is a big leap for those students who have previously

You will have a personal tutor who will be the key person to share your successes and

completed GCSE study. Our Post 16 centre will support you to use your time efficiently.

support you throughout your time with us. We want you to make the most of your time here.

We will work with you to further develop the genuine skills of independent learning, both at home and using our fully equipped study areas. An AS or A-Level subject

You will meet with your personal tutor and the other members of your tutor group

receives 5 hours of tuition per week. To be successful we would expect students to

at scheduled times to discuss issues we hope will be relevant to life during and after

look to put in a similar amount of independent study and expect all students to use

you leave the centre. We also aim to build up important life skills such as study skills

their non-contact time effectively to do self-directed study.

and interview skills. In addition you will meet regularly with your tutor for discussions about your progress.

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A member of the Education Central Multi Academy Trust, University of Wolverhampton

Everyone Successful.

Every Day.

The ACE Academy, Alexandra Road, Tipton, West Midlands DY4 7NR. Telephone: 0121 521 1540 Facsimile: 0121 521 1541 www.acesch.co.uk