Contextual Statement for 2022/23 UCAS Applications

Tudor Grange Academy Redditch (TGAR) – formerly Kingsley College – is an 11-19 school of around 450 students and a Sixth Form of typically 70 students. TGAR is one of four high schools with a Sixth Form in Redditch and this, coupled with reorganisation of the feeder-school pyramids in line with local academisation (and the re-designation of some middle schools into secondary schools) has meant that overall student numbers have declined in recent years as the national birth “dip” from 2002 reached high school age. Student numbers are set to increase to their 2013 – 2014 level of 800 over the next few years.

Most students take three courses in Year 12 but higher attaining students are encouraged to study four courses and continue with three in Year 13. Students receive the necessary CEIAG input as part of the Sixth Form recruitment process.

In 2021 78% of Year 13 students progressed to Higher Education from Sixth Form (69% in 2021). Since 2012, our acceptance rate into Higher Education has been significantly above the national average, with 100% of applicants being accepted into their Higher Educational places in 2021 via the UCAS Main Cycle (92% in 2020). Last year, 100 % of students attained their first-choice places.

Students are drawn from a range of socio-economic backgrounds and gain entry through a non-selective entry policy; hence our Sixth Form is wholly comprehensive. Many students study a combination of academic and vocational courses, and they are encouraged to take part in a wide variety of enrichment and work experience opportunities as part of their study. Students are allowed to progress into Year 13 with three pass grades from Year 12 mock exams.

Our predicted grades are tracked over time and students sit a mock exam at the end of Year 12 (this was done as a baseline assessment in Year 13 this year) and another mock exam in November.