About Us
Calthorpe was founded in 1896 and continues to serve as an all age (2-19) co-educational Special School located near to the centre of Birmingham. Calthorpe transferred to its present site in 1975 and provides excellent facilities for children with Special Educational Needs.
Our pupils are admitted from all wards within the City, with numerous other pupils funded by other Local Education Authorities. The school caters for children with a wide range of educational difficulties, ranging from moderate, severe and complex needs.
In addition, some may have specific physical, sensory, behavioural or autistic conditions, all of which may require additional adult support or specialised facilities.
In our endeavour to meet these wide ranging educational and social needs, we have developed an appropriate curriculum, which encompasses and extends the National Curriculum. Our whole school curriculum model, provides a natural progression from an Early Learning Development Foundation, towards full participation within the National Curriculum framework, with programmes designed for and implemented at an appropriate level.
Calthorpe has been awarded Sports College status and is in receipt of the Charter Mark and Investors in People Awards.
The Central Collegiate Academy
The Central Collegiate Academy (CCA) has now existed for over three years. The group of schools involved is Bordesley Green Girls, Calthorpe, Golden Hillock, Moseley, Saltley and Small Heath.
Since the CCA was first set up, the situation with respect to collaboration has changed considerably. We are members of three collaborative groups: Central LIG Group (Leadership Incentive Grant), Central 14-19 Collegiate (funded by the Learning Skills Council) and Central Excellence in Cities Network. This year the other LIG schools are being invited to join CCA, and if they wish to do so, this will bring the groups into line and reduce the number of meetings.
The CCA was awarded a set-up funding of £80,000 pa for three years but this period is over and the group is now self-funding. Schools’ contributions will provide the necessary funding to meet the group’s obligations and to stage training days and joint meetings. However, there will be very little flexibility and thus limited opportunities for teams to seek collegiate funding for initiatives.
Statement of Intent
We have committed to creating a Collegiate Academy with a ‘culture of aspiration in which all are valued, all can achieve and diversity is celebrated.
We shall
- extend opportunities for each member school and the individuals within it.
- share good practice to promote collective excellence.
- support each other as we constructively address development areas, collaboratively finding solutions to problems.
- innovate to develop increasingly powerful learning experiences, which promote a genuine love and joy of learning.
Continuing Collaboration
- Common Inset (another this year on 10th February) when pooling resources will enable us to deliver high quality, targeted training.
- Shared CPD (Continuing Professional Development) throughout the year.
- Shared Extra-Curricular Activities.
- Joint meetings of subject Leaders, Departments, Co-ordinators, Mentors etc. for sharing of good practice.
- Specialist Schools share expertise and export “special” events to others.
- Advanced Skills Teachers (ASTs) – Each school’s ASTs will do outreach work within other collegiate schools, helping to raise standards of teaching and learning across the collegiate.
Community Links
Calthorpe has numerous business and community links. Over recent years Eversheds has assisted the school with support for the PMLD (Profound Multiple Learning Disability) area, making contributions towards new equipment for the department. Employees have provided time to assist our literacy work and to produce artwork in our newly equipped nursery.
Eversheds have also provided support for our ICT developments and this support has enabled us to equip the new Millennium Computer Suite.
The school is very grateful for the continuing support by Eversheds.
Calthorpe has forged links with local colleges and other businesses and training organisations to provide opportunities for pupils, parents and staff at Calthorpe.
We have developed quality work experience placements as well as running mini enterprise and work weeks. These links provide opportunities for our pupils to participate in more permanent work placements.
Calthorpe links with local colleges have enabled us to provide a broad range of courses for parents, in areas such as:
Information Technology (CLAIT)
Makaton Communication
Soft Furnishing and Dress Making
NVQ Childcare
Basic English for Parents
Urdu
Basic Word processing
We also provide opportunities for parents to use our swimming pool, as well as groups using our Snoezelen facilities.
School Session Times
School Session Times are as follows:
- 09.00 - 10.00
- Lesson One
- 10.00 - 10.45
- Lesson Two
- 10.45 - 11.00
- Break
- 11.00 - 12.00
- Lesson Three
- 12.00 - 13.00
- Lunch
- 13.00 - 13.45
- Lesson Four
- 13.45 - 14.30
- Lesson Five
- 14.30 - 15.20
- Lesson Six
School term dates are provided by Birmingham City Council.
