University of Birmingham School senior leaders announced

The new senior leadership team at the University of Birmingham School will be unveiled at the final Sixth Form open evening tonight (Friday).

Prospective sixth formers who attend the event will be among the first to meet the team who will work with the Principal, Michael Roden, from the School’s opening in September this year.

The new senior team have been hand-picked by Mr Roden from over 80 applications to lead the pioneering School and embed links with the University into the School’s curriculum from day one.

They include Senior Vice-Principal and Director of Character Education Rebecca Tigue, who will join the team in September from Swanshurst School in Kings Heath where she is currently Deputy Headteacher. One unique feature to the School is that all Sixth Formers will follow a programme of character education devised especially for them by the University’s Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues and Mrs Tigue will head up the programme within the School.

In April this year, Frances Child will join Mr Roden and his team as Vice-Principal and Director of Teaching and Learning and Initial Teacher Education. She is currently Deputy Headteacher and Director of Initial Teacher Training at the King Edward’s Consortium.

As the first secondary University Training School in the country, the School will have a higher than normal teacher to student ratio. Following the model of teaching hospitals, trainee teachers will work closely alongside experienced, highly qualified and outstanding practitioners to learn their craft and increase the resources available to support students. Ms Child will work in close consultation with the University of Birmingham’s School of Education to embed this programme into the School.

And also joining the School in September will be Kate Campbell, Assistant Vice-Principal – Progress and Delivery and SENCO (Special Education Needs Co-ordinator). Ms Campbell is currently the SENCO at New College in Worcester which is an 11-19 residential specialist school for pupils with visual impairment.

Mr Roden said: “I am delighted with the appointments we have made, and look forward to working with this exceptional senior leadership team to deliver the distinctive vision of our pioneering School for the children of Birmingham.

“With these appointments and the continued development of the physical School building, the University if Birmingham School is really taking shape and coming to life before our eyes. I look forward to recruiting the rest of my team over the coming weeks – and of course, to welcoming our first pupils before very long.”

The School, which will open in September on the University’s Selly Oak campus, will admit 200 pupils into Year 12 in its first year. The Principal and the team behind the School are holding the final information evening at the University of Birmingham’s Bramall Music Building tonight for prospective Sixth Formers and their parents to find out more about the unique offer of the School as well as the admission process before applications close on January 30.

In September 2015 the University of Birmingham School will open to form an exciting new addition to education in Birmingham.
The main characteristics of the School are:

• A traditional academic curriculum, leading towards GCSEs and A-Levels.
• A focus on character education to support the development of happy, fulfilled young adults.
• A brand new, purpose-built school building.
• Strong links with the University of Birmingham (University of the Year 2013-14).
• Regular use of the University’s world-class facilities.
• Extended school day, allowing access to a wide range of enrichment activities.
• Well qualified and outstanding teachers, supported by talented trainees, in the UK’s first secondary University Training School.
• Strong pastoral care and support for pupils of all abilities.
• A house system which develops community and provides opportunities for friendly competition, teamwork and leadership.
• Initial entry into Years 7 and 12, with 1,150 students by 2020.
• Diverse, comprehensive 11-16 School, with pupils drawn from four ‘nodes’ across the city to address the needs of a rapidly growing population and a shortage of secondary school places.
• An academically-selective Sixth Form, to prepare students for University entry.

The University of Birmingham School is sponsored by the University of Birmingham and managed by an Academy Trust. The Trust and School will benefit from the expertise and professional services of the University.

For more information, including interview requests, please contact Kara Griffiths on 07812 671797.
CGI images of the finished School and photographs of Michael Roden are available on request.