Arden Academy is a ten form entry mixed comprehensive secondary school with academy status It was re-designated as an 11-18 school in September 2008. Arden is situated in the village of Knowle, three miles from Solihulltown centre in the West Midlands, United Kingdom. In 2006 there was a 'Post 16 Centre' installed, with the first trial year group finishing in Summer 2008. The pilot sixth-form was successful, and gave Arden School its official 11-18 status the following year. The sixth-form admits approximately 120 students each year. As of October 2010, Arden School became an academy under government plans and was renamed 'Arden'. Due to its academical status it became independent from the local council. '''
History
Arden started its life in the 1950s as a two form entry 11-15 Warwickshire School. Since then the school has expanded considerably and developed accommodation, particularly specialist areas. Within the teaching blocks there are a number of classrooms containing suites of computers, there is a wireless network across the academy and in some subject areas like science and history, there are banks of i-pads. In the last fifteen years specialist teaching spaces have been constructed for many areas:
Music and Drama with two Drama Studios, a Dance studio, two specialist classrooms for Music as well as practice rooms that students can use during break, lunch and lessons.
Science – where there are nine specialist labs as well as support facilities.
A purpose built Gymnasium together with changing facilities, an all-weather astroturf pitch and a Multi-Use Games Area.
A new teaching block was officially opened in October 2015 with more classrooms and a Year 11 specialised area.
Uniform
The Arden Academy colours are green and yellow/gold. The uniform includes a dark green blazer and a green and gold striped neck tie. The crest features a crown and two oak trees together with the school motto Ad Altiora, or "to the higher". Sixth Form students have a different dress code i.e. smart, business clothes with male students wearing a green/gold tie featuring stripes and the school logo. From upper school, students can wear subtle makeup.
Forms and Houses
There are ten forms in each year, each given a letter taken from the school's name: ARDEN SCHOL Arden operates a house system with five houses:
House
Named after
Colour
Darwin
Charles Darwin
Blue
Curie
Marie Curie
Yellow
Parks
Rosa Parks
Purple
Nightingale
Florence Nightingale
Red
Attenborough
David Attenborough
Green
Awards
In 2013 Arden School won the 'Class of the Year' award from 'The School Awards', run by The Birmingham Mail in association with the Pallasades. This was for work on anti-bullying policies, in particular an Anti-Homophobia campaign. Teacher Mr Warwood attended the ceremony held at the Birmingham Think Tank with students Gerard Groves, James Gavigan, and Katie Kraddock who had been heavily involved in the campaigns.
