Southmoor Academy
Mathematics and Computing College
and Bede Sixth Form
Dr P Ingram BA (Hons) PGCE
Headteacher
Ryhope Road
Sunderland
SR2 7TF
‘A Good and improving school with Outstanding aspects’
- Ofsted, December 2008
Tel 0191 553 7600
Fax 0191 553 7603
southmoor@schools.sunderland.gov.uk
www.southmoorschool.co.uk
11th May, 2012
Dear Parent,
As you may know we are considering changing our form group arrangements. We currently have eight form
groups in each year. This means that forms are usually between twenty-five and thirty pupils who are all the
same age.
We are proposing to move to a ‘vertical tutor group’ system. This would mean that we would divide the school
into four ‘houses’ with perhaps fourteen tutor groups in each. The tutor groups themselves would initially
consist of around sixteen pupils per adult tutor.
A number of successful schools are using this system because it carries with it a significant number of
advantages. I have already spoken to pupils about this in assemblies and I have no doubt that some are
concerned. This is hardly surprising, change always raises concern however I feel that this is more than
outweighed by the potential advantages. Please find over the page a brief ‘Frequently Asked Questions’
document which I hope will address many concerns you may have.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Phil Ingram
Headteacher
‘Outstanding for the enjoyment of Learners’ - Ofsted, December 2008
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Southmoor Academy is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales
Registered number 08021855 - Registered office as above
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: VERTICAL TUTOR GROUPS
Does this mean that my child who is in Year 7 will be immediately placed into a form group of older
children?
Absolutely not. We will have four houses and then a fifth group of tutor groups which will consist purely of new
Year 7 pupils. This will allow them to settle into the school and get to make friendship groups among their
peers. At a later date (and when we are really sure the time is right) we will place these pupils within house
tutor groups. When we do this they will have a choice of which friends they go with and we are not planning to
this before Easter of Year 7 at the very earliest – if we judge it right we may not even do it until the start of
Year 8.
Does this mean my child will be taught along with much younger or older pupils?
No. The academic organisation of the school with its lessons, options, etc will remain the same. Your child
will be in a mixed age form group for approximately 20 minutes of each day.
Does this mean my child will be separated from their friends?
Basically no, we will endeavour to ensure that your child has a choice of which friends they stay with in their
form group. Again, I would stress that form groups are only 20 minutes a day – the rest of the time they will be
in lessons with their peers or spending breaks, etc with whoever they choose. We will maintain the existing
year group and key stage social areas so that pupils can be in the company of other pupils their own age.
What are the advantages of vertical tutor groups?
Many outstanding schools have moved to vertical tutor groups. The principle advantages are:
(a) The support that younger pupils can derive from older pupils who are able to pass on their valuable
experience. In traditional year groups age groups rarely seem to mix, consequently younger pupils
are unable to learn from older ones and benefit from their experience of, for example, option choices
or exams. Under this system the form tutor can call on older pupils to directly advise and mentor
younger ones. This is highly advantageous, not only to young pupils but to older ones as well who
learn responsibility.
(b) The work load on the form tutor is decreased. So, for example, at a busy exam time a form tutor with
twenty-five Year 11 pupils simply doesn’t have the time to support them all. Under this system with
limited numbers of each year group the form tutor can concentrate on the small number of pupils who
need support the most at any given time of year. There is also the advantage of having around
sixteen pupils in a form instead of twenty-five or thirty.
(c) It is a much more effective system for operating worthwhile rewards which motivate pupils. We plan to
introduce a very exciting online rewards system which will allow pupils to accumulate ‘miles’ towards
worthwhile rewards and will recognise achievement in every area such as the academic, sporting or
social. A house system enables us to have forms of a similar profile and will engender a team spirit
through competition between houses and forms.
What are the potential disadvantages of a vertical tutor group?
The obvious one that most people would think of is bullying. I believe that this depends greatly on the nature
of the school in the first place and the attitude of the young people. Whilst like all schools we have some older
pupils who may be immature enough to want to bully younger pupils, we have many more older pupils who are
mature and decent young people who will protect and support younger pupils. I therefore believe that vertical
tutor groups are much more likely to reduce bullying than increase it. Nevertheless we take this seriously and
we would be keeping a very close eye on the wellbeing of all our pupils.