Calthorpe Teaching Academy

Calthorpe Academy is committed to providing a learning journey that develops the ‘skills for the life our pupils want’.

The vision of Calthorpe Academy is to provide exceptional education and life opportunities to all of our children and young people. We will ensure that our curriculum is diverse, personalised and enriched to meet the very individual needs of our learners. We will continue to develop and adapt as the needs and aspirations of our children and young people change. We seek to ensure that we accommodate our learners in a safe, highly enriched and vibrant learning environment where everybody’s voice is heard, and the learner is at the centre of everything we do.

Calthorpe Academy, a 2-19 special needs school in the centre of Birmingham. The Senior Leadership team and I are determined to provide the best possible education to our learners regardless of their needs, background, beliefs or age to enable them to develop the ‘skills they need for the life they want’.

We strongly believe that all our learners have the right to be safe, engaged and happy to enable them to learn effectively. Our strength is our diversity, creativity and unconditional care for our learners who are at the centre of everything we do.

Calthorpe Academy is proud to be part of Thrive Education Partnership. Our previous Headteacher, Richard Chapman is now the CEO and has designed a succession planning programme aimed at retaining and developing our outstanding team of leaders to grow Thrive leadership capacity.

Continuous external reviews are an essential part of our academy ethos, as well as a good quality assurance model used by our Board of Trustees to assess the effectiveness of the academy. The academy’s external monitoring visits take place regularly using our School Improvement Partner or other specialists such as Judicium for our Health and safety and safeguarding audit. Calthorpe is part of the Birmingham Special School Association which has allowed the Academy to work in partnership with 27 local SEN schools on CPD and peer-to-peer reviews.

Calthorpe Academy has received the prestigious IQM flagship award, for its continued work around inclusion. In addition, the Academy has achieved the UNICEF rights respecting school sliver award for its commitment to promoting children's rights. Calthorpe continues to improve its physical development provision with a Silver award for the MOVE programme and the afPE Quality Mark (distinction). The Quality in Careers Standard Award demonstrates our devotion and high aspiration for our learners.

We are very proud to be part of this fantastic school and to serve the Calthorpe community as a leader and aspire to only provide the best for our amazing learners.

To challenge and inspire learners to gain the highest standards in a vibrant, well-resourced and personalised learning environment.
To encourage learners to develop lively enquiring minds, enjoy learning and develop independence skills.

• To develop learners' communication skills and give them a voice to achieve their highest aspirations.
• To ensure that self-evaluation is an ingrained aspect of practice for all staff and learners.To encourage and prepare learners and staff to have healthy bodies and minds.
• To deliver a rich curriculum promoting social and moral values to support our learners to become exceptional citizens of our community.
• To work in a collaborative partnership with local, national and international organisations (such as business, industry and educational institutions), to share our resources and expertise and to learn from them.
• To ensure the SEND Legislation is truly in action: placing parents, families, children and young people at the heart of their decision-making.
• We believe that all members of the Academy have a responsibility to act in a moral and respectful manner towards themselves, others and their environment, showing care, consideration, co-operation and respect for all.
• We believe that all members of the Academy have the right to be safe, supported, valued and cared for at all times
• We believe that all members of the Academy should be encouraged to develop their skills, expand their knowledge, embrace challenge and reach their full potential.
• We believe in encouraging students and staff to take pride in their achievements and to celebrate their success.
• We support partnerships between students, parents and school to achieve high-quality discipline and learning.We value all our staff and students, recognising that they deserve the highest respect and quality of resources in promoting the achievement of aspirational targets.
• We believe in being fair, honest and compassionate in all our work as a school.