Lode Heath School
Science and Sport Specialisms
High Performing Specialist School Status
Lode Lane, Solihull, West Midlands, B91 2HW
Tel: 0121 7041421
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Lode Heath
Departments
Science
The Science department at Lode Heath School is an exciting place to be! With squeaky pops, fizzing chemicals and strange smells coming from every lab!
Pupils enjoy lots of practical work, investigating how things work and finding answers for themselves. Some investigations are done outside using the pond and field.
We offer a wide range of courses to suit pupils of all abilities and have great success with the results.
Science is relevant to our everyday life and our teaching reflects this with trips to local business and up to date resources.
We will soon be opening a brand new extension to the department with 3 state of the art Science labs.
History
The History Department offers a varied programme of study for each year group. Students participate in many role play activities from Roman through to Tudor and mondern day scenarios. They are encouraged to make historically accurate artefacts including weapons, clothing and armour. Many also engage in ICT opportunities to enhance their learning from producing powerpoints to aid revision to creating podcasts to carry out investigations. Most year groups go on a historical visit and proposed trips this year include Warwick Castle, Beth Shalom Holocaust Centre, Nottingham Gaol and the London Dungeon. Visitors to the department have included a "civil war soldier" and Ron Jordon, a veteran of World War 2.
The History Department enjoys a good reputation within the school and achieves consistently high results at GCSE level.
Geography
"Geography is all about the living breathing essence of the world we live in. It explains the past, illuminates the present and prepares us for the future. WHAT COULD BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT?" Michael Palin November 2007
The department aims to provide a stimulating and rewarding geographical experience for all, and help students become thoughtful geographers and independent thinkers. We see our key objectives as:
1.To help students develop geographical knowledge and understanding.
2.To introduce students to geographical enquiry and develop problem-solving and investigative skills.
3.To help students develop a sense of identity through learning about the UK and other countries and the relationships between them: to help students develop their own informed opinions and attitudes.
Leisure and Tourism
"Tourism is our second biggest industry in terms of the people it employs." Ed Rendell
"The travel and tourism industry is the lifeblood of many states around the country." Mark Foley
The leisure and tourism industries are some of the largest in the UK, employing over a million people. Many of you may be considering a career in the Leisure or Tourism industries, whether directly as Cabin Crew or indirectly working within a leisure and tourism based organisation. The GCSE will help prepare students for the roles they may take up on leaving school or college by helping them gain an insight into the leisure and tourism industries.
Business Studies
Business Studies at Lode Heath School will help you develop your business and financial knowledge, learning skills and ability to make ideas happen. Our aim is to develop innovative, interactive, challenging approaches to teaching and learning which will enrich your learning experiences and encourage you to work independently.
Pupils are encouraged to make contact with local businesses and organisationsthroughout their studies to assist in the completion of their Portfolio work and to increase their awareness of the world of work.
ICT
ICT is a core subject in Years 7 through to 11, with the OCR Nationals ICT course also being a popular choice for additional study in Years 9, 10 and 11. Students have the opportunity to study ICT, we utilise it as a tool to promote learning and independence in all other subject areas. Every pupil from year 7 - 11 is monitored with an assessment e-portfolio which ensures high standards of assessment, effective tracking and monitoring of pupils progression.
We cover a wide range of topics which allow students to be creative and develop the skills needed to work in a modern office environment.
RE
The RE department aims to encourage the pupils to adopt an enquiring, critical and reflective approach to religious beliefs and ideas. Pupils are taught to explore religions and other belief systems and reflect upon fundamental questions; engaging with them intellectually, through discussions and debates, and enabling pupils to develop spiritually and morally.
Whilst studying this subject pupils will gain understanding and tolerance towards different cultures locally, nationally and in the wider world and will contribute in preparing them to become model citizens. Pupils will be encouraged to reflect upon their own values, opinions and attitudes by engaging in meaningful discussions and reflections whilst they try and attempt to address the ultimate questions of life.
Art
Art at Lode Heath School and Sports College covers a broad diverse selection of disciplines at both Key stage 3 and Key stage 4. Pupils study a variety of subject matter, ranging from Ancient civilizations, Modern Art to contemporary design. Pupils experiment and develop skills in a range of media and materials including ceramics, paint, 3-D, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, digital photography and ICT. We develop pupils knowledge and understanding of critical and contextual studies through the investigation and analysis of Art History and Contemporary Art practices.
Pupils who study Art at Lode Heath have a broad skill base on which many have built further success on. The department promotes individuality and creativity from its pupils, allowing themselves to develop as an artist. The department has an open door policy at lunch and after school to allow further development of individual.
Mathematics
The department is made up of experienced, successful and committed mathematics teachers who pride themselves on providing an excellent mathematics education attempting to ensure that all pupils go on to realise their full potential.
Pupils are set according to previous attainment and are expected to work hard and do their best at all times.
All pupils sit a mathematics GCSE exam. The departments results are consistently above national and local averages. The vast majority of pupils attain or exceed their target grade.
Many teaching styles are used to accommodate all types of learners, ensuring that all pupils enjoy and feel confident in their mathematics lessons.
ICT is being dfeveloped with increasing use of interactive whiteboards.
Modern Foreign Languages
The Lode Heath Modern Foreign Languages Department is very successful as our GCSE results in both languages over many years demonstrate. We teach either French or German to all pupils in KS3 and pupils choose a language in KS4 if they wish. We are a team of 5 specialist linguists who deliver an exciting and motivating curriculum to all abilities of students, using a wide range of resources and language learning strategies. Extensive use is made of smartboard technology, DVDs's , ICT and we have a native speaker in the Department each year. Trips have taken place to Bupaprt in Germany, the christmas market and next year some year 9 pupils will visit Senegal in Africa to practise their French.
Au revoir! Auf Wiedersehen!
PE
The PE department at Lode Heath School provides pupils with the opportunity to experience a wide and varied curriculum including such activities as football, rugby, basketball, hockey, trampolining, gymnastics, netball, dance, cheerleading, heath related fitness, cross country, athletics, rounders, tennis and cricket. We also offer an extensive extra curricular timetable with clubs running every lunch time and after school.
We offer a range PE courses and ensure all pupils leave Lode Heath with some form of PE qualification, whether that be GCSE PE, BTEC first Certificate or BTEC first Diploma. We are fortunate to have excellent sporting facilities, including, a fitness suite, sports hall, gymnastics hall, Astroturf, 5 netball courts and a large field area that we are very proud of.
English
The English Department at Lode Heath is proud of its success both in terms of the exceptional examination results at KS4 and in the positive attitudes of students towards English.
We have developed schemes of work which have proved highly successful. The English curriculum offers cultural enrichment through the study of poetry, drama and fiction. In addition the programmes of study are based on providing students with transferable linguistic skills.
We pride ourselves on our acceptance of every child as an individual and offer extra support beyond the day to day lessons. Our culture is one of "we can all achieve" - and we do!
Design Technology
In design and technology pupils combine practical and technological skills with creative thinking to design and make products that meet human needs. They learn to use current technologies and consider the impact of future technological developments, as well as the affect on natural resources and the environment. Pupils are encouraged to innovate and develop concepts using a range of resistant materials. Keystage 3 initially focuses on the application of practical skills complemented by the delivery of theoretical activities, while Keystage 4 builds on these elements to enable pupils to pursue a more independent approach to their final coursework piece.
Food Technology
Food Technology at Lode Heath is enjoyed and embraced by all pupils at KS3 and by many at KS4. Here at Lode Heath we believe that the importance of teaching pupils the basics of cooking and living healthy lives is paramount.
Throughout KS3 pupils learn about healthy meal options, safe preparation and storage of food and the importance of following a balanced diet. Along side of the theory aspects of the subject pupils enjoy a wide variety of practical opportunities from making muffins in year 7, healthy snack foods in year 8 and world foods in year 9.
At KS4 pupils complete a GCSE in catering, looking at all aspects of the industry. They cover a broad theory base including food hygiene, catering terminology, and service of food.
Food technology is a busy and buzzing department with pupils who are angaged and enthused by the subject.
The Learning Resources Centre (LRC)
The LRC is situated at the heart of the school and provides a welcoming environment where pupils are encouraged to work independently as well as to read for pleasure. Pupils have access to the LRC from 8 am until 4 pm enabling them to use the computers for homework and to borrow from the extensive range of up to date of books.
Reading at all levels is actively encouraged; we are a Red House reading school and a Reading Champions school. Pupils are encouraged to become involved in many events: the Solihull Childrens Book Award; the Red House Book Award; shadow the Carnegie Award; Readathon and the national Kids Lit Quiz.Throughout the year, the LRC runs a variety of quizzes, competitions and challenges
to encourage and reward pupils.
