14-19 Curriculum - Collegiate A
The NW Birmingham A Collegiate was established in 2004 to assist partners in working together to ensure that learners have access to a broader and more relevant range of learning opportunities, building on the Success For All strategy.
The Collegiate is located in the Handsworth, Lozells and Edgbaston areas of the city, and consists of three 11-18 schools, two 11-16 schools, one special school, three colleges and a work based learning provider. The partnership also includes Birmingham and Solihull Learning and Skills Council and Connexions.
Learners across the Collegiate are able to access a wider range of Key Stage 4 courses than are normally available in the local schools. These may include:
- Motor Vehicle Maintenance
- Hairdressing
- Engineering
- Sport Studies
- Performing Arts
- Child Care
- Art and Design.Music Technology
- Construction.Catering
- Fashion Design
Many of the courses are delivered off school sites on a chosen Collegiate day, and active learning programmes lead to qualifications such as NVQs and BTECs. Courses offered in any particular year may differ, dependent upon student demand, viability and the number of places which providers can offer.
Wider opportunities on school sites include a collaborative Horticulture course with Asdan accreditation piloted at a special school, and a large range of BTEC courses delivered on site at an 11-18 school in the Collegiate.
As an essential preparation for the wider choice of options, schools have been offered the opportunity to take part in Collegiate information, advice and guidance sessions in the form of theatre performances on making the right choices in Year 9, and course tasters. Approximately 300 learners have taken part in a work taster day, in collaboration with Aimhigher.
Professional development opportunities for teachers and lecturers, in conjunction with LSN and Titan Partnership, include ICT, WRL, Science, Health and Social Care, and Engaging Employers. These are to maximise opportunities for staff delivering courses to learners to work together and share ideas, resources and experience, so that we can assist learners in achieving their full potential. This will be our aim for the future of the Collegiate.
