Teacher of Science

COPPICE PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL

INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOOL

Coppice Performing Arts School is an 11-18 age range mixed community comprehensive school.  Coppice has experienced a major rebuild/refurbishment under the Building Schools for the Future programme, with building work having totalled £17million. Our final phase of building was opened in January 2013 and included exciting new Art, Technology and ICT teaching areas. Previous phases included new teaching areas for all subjects, a brand new Sports Hall, state of the art theatre, drama, dance and music recording studios. The huge investment has resulted in not only a fantastic newly re-modelled school, but also in the transformation of learning. 

Our 4 learning zones 'Discovery', 'Performance', 'Creative' and 'Communication' provide 'House bases' for our tutor groups and bring together related curriculum areas and resources. 

We are exceptionally proud of every Coppice student, all of whom consistently strive to achieve their Personal Best and are rightly rewarded for their commitment. In 2016 8 different curriculum subjects achieved 100% A-C grades at GCSE and BTEC Level 2.  English and Mathematics pass rates were above national average. Most importantly, the Class of 2016 all successfully gained places at Sixth Forms, colleges, apprenticeships or training programmes.  

Year 13 students have achieved an impressive 100% A Level pass rate in 2016 and for the last 4 years Coppice 6th Form has been consistently above the national average pass rate. For the third consecutive year all Year 13 students with university offers gained places at their chosen universities on results day. 

Currently over 950 students are on roll, and there are over 100 members of staff (including teaching and support staff). Coppice is over-subscribed - in recent years there have been far more first preference choices for Year 7 than there are places, which has resulted in an increased admission number since 2015 of 180. The atmosphere in school is tangibly friendly and relaxed but has an underlying orderly and disciplined structure; the students are therefore well behaved, cheerful and hardworking. 

Coppice works closely with partner primary schools with which there are strong, extensive collaborative ties. Formal collaborative links also exist at 16-19, where the school works in partnership with other local providers to offer a broad range of opportunities. 

Coppice was designated as a Performing Arts school in September 2003. This has extended the range of opportunities for all students, and enhanced partnerships with local schools and community groups. The school's wide range of performance activities in dance, drama and music has impacted positively on both the local community and across the city as Coppice's reputation for high quality small, medium and large scale performance events has spread. At a local level, the school generally, and its performing arts specifically, is very much seen as a beacon of light. The support the school receives from the community it serves is considerable. 

Each year the school undertakes a musical production. The 2012 production was 'Our House' which was successfully staged at the Grand Theatre Wolverhampton. In 2013 we hosted the first school show in our iconic 'Somnium' Theatre; our chosen show to mark this occasion was 'Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'. In 2014 an increased cast of young people performed 'Oliver!', 2015 saw the school’s production of 'Little Shop of Horrors', 2016 our student cast performed ‘Whistle Down the Wind’ and March 2016 will see students perform ‘High School Musical’. 

At Key Stage 3 students follow courses in English, Maths, Science, Music, Drama, Dance, PE, Art, Modern Foreign Languages, Geography, History, RE, ICT, and Technology.  

At Key Stage 4 students follow a core programme of English Language/Literature, Maths, Science, PE, ICT, RE and Citizenship via Humanities and up to 4 option choices including GCSEs, BTECs and Cambridge Nationals. 

Many Post-16 students continue their studies into Sixth Form, leading to Higher Education and Higher Apprenticeships. A wide range of courses are available, leading to certification at A Level and BTEC Level 3. We work in collaboration with other local high schools. Progression rates are very strong and NEET figures are minimal due to proactive ongoing IAG within school and with other agencies. 

The school maintains a Vertical Tutoring system to create a sense of a 'family' atmosphere, and improve the support; care and guidance students receive about their learning. The school is divided into 4 'Houses'. Each House has 9 forms and each form consists of students from Years 7-11 who meet daily at Academic Tutorials. This allows students to make strong links with other year groups, promotes peer mentoring and sharing of experience. Vertical Tutoring at Coppice has proved to be extremely successful.