About ACA

Click on the link below to find your child's Head of Learning and Development.

To promote a positive culture of academic excellence for all pupils by:

To promote pupils’ well being by:

In recognition of our work over the past few years, Altrincham College has achieved a number of prestigious national awards. These include ‘Outstanding’ School status, the Investor in People Award, ISO 9002 Quality Standard, ArtsMark Gold, Sportsmark, the Award for Connexions Excellence (ACE Award) and High Performing Specialist School status.

As a Community School Altrincham College abides by the Admissions Policy of the Local Education Authority. Admission to the school is by application to Trafford Education Department through the Trafford Secondary School Co-ordinated Admissions Forms or, for non-Trafford residents, the Preference Form of your Local Authority. Full details can be obtained from the School Admissions, Education Department, Waterside House, The Waterside, Sale, M33 7ZF. Every year many more parents express a preference for a place at the College than there are actual places available.

The school works closely with its many feeder Primary and Junior Schools. Many year 5 and 6 pupils have the opportunity to visit the school for special events as part of our Specialist School link programme and in order to enhance their Key Stage 2 studies.

All Year 6 pupils and parents are invited to our Open Evening in October. If parents are unable to attend the Open Evening we will always arrange a visit and guided tour of the school to suit the parent’s convenience. An Induction Day is held at the end of June prior to children joining the school in September. Pupils will also be visited by a member of staff in their own Primary School

During the first two weeks in school your child will take a Standardised Test.

The scores your child achieves are used by us as a base line, together with Key Stage 2 SATs results, to set challenging individual academic targets. Pupils are then supported and monitored throughout the five years they study with us to ensure they achieve to their full potential.

The school offers a broad and balanced curriculum at Key Stage 3 enabling all pupils the opportunity to achieve to their full potential. English, Mathematics, Science, Geography, History, a Modern Foreign Language (French and Spanish rotate on a rolling programme), Technology, ICT, PE, Art, Music, Drama, RE, Personal, Social and health Education/Citizenship are studied by all children in each year of the Key Stage. In year 9 all pupils work towards a GCSE in Expressive Arts and the OCR Nationals qualification in ICT.

Pupils are initially placed in mixed ability form groups but setting in the core subjects is introduced early in year 7. As pupils move through the school setting becomes the norm enabling pupils to be set challenging and extending work, commensurate with their academic potential.

Teaching group sizes are usually no more than 27 in year 7, 24 in year 8 and 20 from year 9 onwards.

At Key Stage 4 pupils are expected to work towards a minimum of 9 GCSE passes including English, English Literature, Mathematics, Double Science, RE and ICT. Arts College Specialist status allows the school to offer an increased number of creative/arts based courses. This is in addition to, and not at the expense of, the wide range of academic and vocational options available at Key stage 4. Pupils have the opportunity to select courses directly suited to their interests and aspirations which, in turn, promotes high standards of achievement.

An increasing number of pupils are being entered early for examinations, opening up new opportunities in year 11.

Option blocks currently offered to Key Stage 4 pupils are:

Any 2 subjects from:

A Modern Foreign Language is compulsory for all band A pupils through to GCSE.

We are extremely pleased to report for 2008 our best ever set of examination results, following on from 7 years of sustained improvement.

In 2008 64% of students achieved five or more A*-C passes at GCSE. Of these, 95 students 67 actually gained 8 or more passes at A*-C. 47% of pupils achieved five A*-C, including Maths and English. This represents a 7% increase on our best ever results. An ever increasing number of students are achieving the top A*, A and B grades enabling smooth transfer on to sixth forms at Grammar Schools or Advanced academic and vocational courses at Further Education Colleges. 100% of all pupils achieved at least one GCSE pass.

The school is extremely proud of the Year 11 students who worked so hard during the past 5 years to achieve such excellent results, supported throughout by the dedication, commitment and professionalism of the entire school staff. We also recognise the hugely important role parents play in supporting their children and the school.

The Learning Support Department operates throughout the school and caters for the small number of pupils with Statements of Educational Need. It is the school policy to attempt, as far as possible, to provide a mainstream inclusive education for the small number of statemented pupils we have in school. However, in certain instances, statemented pupils are withdrawn in order to receive more specific targeted support.

The staff in the Learning Support Department also help children, who benefit from additional support, very successfully and effectively. All statemented children who left school in July 2008 successfully completed GCSE/GNVQ courses and are now taking part in further education or training.

Careers education and guidance (Connexions) is closely integrated into the PSHE programme from year 8 onwards. We believe we offer a superb careers programme with links through to Further and Higher Education. In 2006 Altrincham College became one of the first schools in the North West to achieve the Award for Connexions Excellence (ACE Award).

Our ‘state of the art’ fitness suite is a superb resource widely used by pupils to promote the values of health and exercise.

The meals provided through the School Meals Service are extremely popular and fully adhere to the stringent guidelines recently introduced by the Government for healthy eating.

Vending machines are available to pupils in school offering still water, flavoured waters, fruit juices, milk products and healthy snacks.

In addition to school lunch, the School Meals Service also operates a Breakfast Bar and mid morning snack bar.

Homework is viewed as integral to successful learning and all pupils are required to fulfil all their homework obligations in order to consolidate and extend learning. All pupils receive a homework planner to record homework tasks. This acts as a regular source of dialogue between school and parents.

Each Tuesday and Thursday evening between 3.20 p.m. and 4 .45 p.m., pupils are invited to attend study support sessions and homework club. Members of staff run these sessions to offer support, to help with homework and all aspects of class work.

For Years 10 and 11, members of staff run extra GCSE/BTEC support classes after school.

Late school buses run on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4.45 pm to provide safe journeys home for all pupils staying on for homework club or for extra-curricular activities.

Pupils will only fulfil their academic potential if they feel secure, happy and cared for within the school environment. The welfare of the children in school, therefore, is the accepted responsibility of all members of staff.

As a relatively small secondary school (roll of 800) staff are able to take a genuine personal interest in your son/daughter and offer personalised guidance, encouragement and support.

The Deputy Head oversees the Pastoral Care System in school, working closely with Heads of Learning in each year group and Form Teachers. We take extremely seriously our responsibilities in terms of Child Protection by following all Trafford and Manchester guidelines. The Deputy Head is our appointed Child Protection Officer.

Children are placed within a form group and the Form Teacher has the initial responsibility for the social welfare of that group. This includes the monitoring of attendance, punctuality, behaviour and academic progress.

The Head of Learning has overall responsibility for the pastoral care of a year group, while Pupil Progress Coordinators closely monitor academic progress. Where issues arise we will always intervene quickly and work with parents to address any concerns.

Good attendance and punctuality are natural pre-cursors to success in school and both are monitored very carefully. Our overall attendance of 91% for 2007/08 compares favourably with national statistics. Again, where occasionally issues arise, we intervene quickly and liaise with parents.

Total number of pupils of compulsory school age on roll for at least one session 780.

The school endeavours to establish good relationships through tension free but firm discipline. The highest standards of behaviour are realised through the implementation of the school’s Code of Conduct Policy and our Behaviour Charter. This relies upon mutual respect between all those involved in the school community, upon trust and the development of a sense of personal responsibility that all individuals share for the safety and well being of all. Pride in belonging to Altrincham College is a key factor in the school’s success. All pupils and parents are asked to support and adhere to our Code of Conduct Policy by signing the Home-School Agreement.

Good discipline follows naturally from the example and attitudes of staff with staff and staff with pupils and parents. Mutual respect is measurable in the courtesies of adults and pupils meeting in the building, as well as good order in the classroom.

Visitors to the school regularly comment on the very good atmosphere that pervades and the friendly, courteous nature of the pupils.

The School Council, made up of elected pupils from all years, ensure students have an active voice in driving the school to greater success and developing our learning environment.

Our praise and rewards system encourages children to always attend punctually, behave responsibly, bring the correct equipment and work to the best of their ability.

We should respect other people’s belongings, their feelings, views and beliefs

We respect the teacher’s right to teach and all students’ right to learn. Respect shows that we care for ourselves and for others.

We need to maintain good attendance and always be punctual. Working to the best of our ability at all times, will ensure we all make good progress.

Be organised, with the right equipment at the right time. We should care for the equipment made available to us. Being equipped means we do not waste time for all other students.

Smart uniform, worn appropriately, helps to promote a good attitude to learning and prepares us for the world of work.

We should show that we care for each other, care for our school environment and care for our own health and future. Caring helps everyone to feel safe in school.

(The Student Council, Altrincham College of Arts)