Washwood Heath Technology College
Encyclopedia
Washwood Heath Technology College is a secondary school
located in the Washwood Heath
ward of Birmingham
, England
. Originally known as Washwood Heath Comprehensive School, it opened in September 1967. It was extended in 1996 to make way for the Post-16 centre. It has the first year group in the country to have a portable laptop for each child in year 8, as part of a national pilot. Although this scheme is free parents have been asked to give a voluntary contribution as is the case at all schools that run this scheme.
The school uses the house system, there are five houses each containing students from all the school years. The school is one of the first to use the vertical tutoring system, this system places students in mixed age group forms, the intention of vertical tutoring is to create greater cohesion between the year groups and allow for peer mentoring.
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
located in the Washwood Heath
Washwood Heath
Washwood Heath is a ward in Birmingham, within the formal district of Hodge Hill, roughly two miles north-east of Birmingham city centre, England...
ward of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Originally known as Washwood Heath Comprehensive School, it opened in September 1967. It was extended in 1996 to make way for the Post-16 centre. It has the first year group in the country to have a portable laptop for each child in year 8, as part of a national pilot. Although this scheme is free parents have been asked to give a voluntary contribution as is the case at all schools that run this scheme.
The school uses the house system, there are five houses each containing students from all the school years. The school is one of the first to use the vertical tutoring system, this system places students in mixed age group forms, the intention of vertical tutoring is to create greater cohesion between the year groups and allow for peer mentoring.
Campaigns
- The school has been working closely with West Midlands PoliceWest Midlands PoliceWest Midlands Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England.Covering an area with nearly 2.6 million inhabitants, which includes the cities of Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton and also the Black Country; the force is made up...
and the Birmingham City CouncilBirmingham City CouncilThe Birmingham City Council is the body responsible for the governance of the City of Birmingham in England, which has been a metropolitan district since 1974. It is the most populated local authority in the United Kingdom with, following a reorganisation of boundaries in June 2004, 120 Birmingham...
in challenging inner city knife crime.
Controversy
- In 1996, maths teacher Israr Khan bought the school into national disrepute following his decision to interrupt a Christmas carol rehearsal performance, questioning the involvement of Muslim pupils professing to Christian theology in the festive songs.
- In 2002, the school became the first in Britain to have its entire governing body sacked under new government powers after an 18-month row over race and religion created internal disagreements amongst staff. The board were replaced by a council team and subsequently received praise from OfstedOfstedThe Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
. - In 2010, following a General Teaching Council disciplinary hearing, teacher Jasbir Dhillon was suspended for three months for being late for class on 21 occasions. Action was taken after pupils complained about his punctuality.
Alumni
- Terry CookeTerry CookeTerence John "Terry" Cooke is an English footballer, currently without a club. He began his career with Manchester United, but struggled to break into the first team and had loan spells with Sunderland, Birmingham City and Wrexham before moving to United's local rivals Manchester City in 1999...
, professional footballer - Stephen DuffyStephen DuffyStephen Anthony James Duffy is an English singer/songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He was a founding member and vocalist/bassist of Duran Duran. He went on to record as a solo performer under several different names, and is the singer and songwriter for The Lilac Time with his older brother...
, singer songwriter - David HarewoodDavid HarewoodDavid Harewood is a British actor.-Biography:David Harewood was born and grew up in the Small Heath area of Birmingham, England, where he attended St. Benedict's Junior School and Washwood Heath Comprehensive School. As a schoolboy, he excelled at all sports—from sprinting to basketball to rugby...
, television and Hollywood actor - Lee HendrieLee HendrieLee Andrew Hendrie is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Kidderminster Harriers in the Football Conference. The majority of his career was spent with Premier League club Aston Villa, where he spent fourteen years and became known as a somewhat controversial figure...
, professional footballer - Rashid RaufRashid RaufRashid Rauf was an alleged Al-Qaeda operative. He was a dual citizen of Britain and Pakistan who was arrested in Bhawalpur, Pakistan in connection with the 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot in August 2006, a day before some arrests were made in Britain...
, alleged Al-Qaeda operative - Ian TaylorIan Taylor (footballer)Ian Kenneth Taylor is an English former footballer, best known for his time at Aston Villa. A midfielder, he had a fifteen year career in the Football League and Premier League, making 478 league appearances....
, professional footballer - Adam YosefAdam YosefAdam Yosef is a British multimedia journalist and community activist.-Activism:Between 2003 and 2004, Yosef was employed by the Birmingham Mosque Trust as a Press & Public Relations representative...
, journalist and activist