Type Academy DfE URN 137315 Tables Ages 11–16 Number of students 895 | Headteacher Mrs J.A. Pitman Ofsted Reports Phone +44 23 8086 2146 Motto Learning to Succeed Gender Mixed-sex education | |
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Location Totton
Southampton
Hampshire
SO40 3ZW Address Testwood Ln, Totton, Southampton SO40 3ZW, UK Similar Hounsdo School, Noadswo School, Totton College, Apple Technolo College, The Romsey School | ||
Testwood School (formerly Testwood Sports College) is a secondary school with academy status located in the town of Totton and Eling. The school was built in the late 1930s, but was delayed opening due to World War II. The school takes pupils between 11 and 16, but holds adult skills classes as well after school hours. Testwood bases its organisation on Tutor groups. Each has its own tutor and is part of a house system. The houses are Bedivere, Lancelot, Galahad and Excalibur.
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Testwood School
Testwood School originally opened in 1946 as a secondary school, and became a comprehensive school in 1969. The school is formed of the original building alongside other extensions added throughout the years. Major extensions were added in recent years including the Sports Hall, an extension to the science block and Library in 1997 and a further extension containing more science laboratories and ICT rooms opened in 2001.
Sports College status
In 2004, the school was given the special status of Sports college. With this new status, the astroturf was built, and a whole change of school image took place. The logo was changed, as was the uniform. With the specialist status, many in the local community use the facilities here and has become well known in the community. Since the status, improvements have been made to the sports facilities including refurbishment of the changing facilities, and an extension to the sports hall. Since becoming a sports college, the school has been the hub of the New Forest School Sports Partnership, which encourages and supports sports in the local community through the feeder schools, and through the Dreams and Teams project working with the school, Serokolo High School. The NFSSP has its main base at Testwood, and another base at the other local sports college, Noadswood School. The schools status as a sports college was obtained as to increase the grant money that the school received.
Academy status
In late 2011, the school applied for Academy status which was granted in Autumn 2011.
Reverting Back to the Old Name
It was announced that Testwood Sports College was reverting it's name to the previous and original name, Testwood School. This is due to when they obtained the Sports College status, it was to receive government funding but the government had ended the programme a few years ago. Although the school decided to keep the name of Testwood Sports College as it is known for it's sporting facilities. It was then discussed and was agreed that Testwood wasn't only good for sporting, but its overall curriculum and decided to revert the name. The transition is currently taking place to changing items around the school to contain the new name. Nothing will be changed extremely and students won't be required to buy a new uniform if they still own uniform containing the name "Testwood Sports College" but it will be on the new uniform for those starting in the school year 2017/18.
Ofsted
In February 2014 Testwood received a judgement of "Inadequate" from Ofsted and was placed in special measures. In June 2014 the Governing Body of the school was sent a pre-warning letter by Lord Nash of the Department of Education advising them that standards are seen as "unacceptably low" by the Secretary of State. Since the Ofsted report Mr I Appleton was replaced in May 2014 by Mrs J.A Pitman, since she has arrived there have been changes to the uniform, to back what it used to be and more positive changes around the school. In July 2015, Testwood School received a good rating from Ofsted, and the school is no longer in special measures.
School facilities
The School has a synthetic turf pitch; a recently refurbished Sports Hall; an 18-acre (73,000 m2) field including 2 adult and 2 junior football pitches and a rugby pitch; tennis courts; outdoor Basket Ball hoops; a Gymnasium; fitness studio and 2 drama/dance studios. The school also has 35 general purpose teaching rooms; 9 science laboratories; a music suite; 6 purpose built Technology rooms; 3 Art rooms; 6 ICT suites and a Learning Resource Centre. The LRC spans 450 square meters and was one of the best school libraries in the country when opened. It contains 60 computers alongside the collection of books.
School structure
Pupils usually come to Testwood from the three main feeder schools, Abbotswood Junior School, Calmore Junior School and Oakfield Primary School. In Year 6, they are told about Testwood from visits to the school by the Deputy Headteacher and a team of prefects. They are then encouraged to attend the open evening soon after. The students will also have an Induction day in July for them to experience life on timetable. They will then proceed through the years. They are in Key Stage 3 until Year 9. In Year 9, the pupils will choose their GCSE options, and will start their courses late in Year 9. School finishes in Year 11 with final exams and then the prom which is invite only depending on attendance, behaviour and attitude. Applications for School Prefect occur during Year 10, and duties continue until the final exams in Year 11. Six Students per year group serve on the school council along with the Head Boy and Girl and Deputy Head Boy and Girl.
Testwood and the community
Testwood is well known in the local community. Many young children at the various feeder schools usually receive visits from students at Testwood in their PE lessons, and some use the sports facilities in special sports taster days. The school is twinned with a South African school, Serokolo High School.