Trentham Academy

Trentham Academy (formerly Trentham High School) is a coeducational secondary school located in the village of Trentham in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England.

1. History

The original school was built in 1952, with several extensions over the years. In 2010 the school was updated through the BSF fund, remodelling the science laborotries, DT block and Main courtyard. The Labour funded BSF projects where riddled with errors, leaving long-term issues at the site. On 3 July 2015, Trentham High made national coverage on ITV's This Morning, about the school's new policy on that school skirts would be banned for females, and only trousers are to be worn. In 2021 the school received a 'Good with outstanding' OFSTED, showing the betterment of the school under the former Headteacher. In 2025 the stoke schools PFI contract ended, and was followed by several news articles on how PFI failed schools in the area.

1. Subjects

The school offers a range of subjects. Most are compulsory in years 7 and 8 and become optional in years 9, 10 and 11, when students will sit exams. Subjects include:

Science (physics, chemistry, biology and sex education) Mathematics Statistics English literature English language Resistant materials Religious education Physical education Performing arts Modern foreign languages (French, German and Spanish) History Health and social care Geography Design and technology Drama Dance Creative performance Computing/ICT Business studies (enterprise) Catering Art Media studies Photography

1. House system

Trentham Academy operates a house system involving all years. On admission to the school, each student is assigned to one of the three houses:

Pioneer (Red) Voyager (Green) Apollo (Yellow) Within these houses, the students have morning form sessions together consisting of students from years 7 to 9. House competitions include:

Football Basketball Netball Sports day Talent shows (a variety of singing, dancing, comics, etc.) Point collecting (for excellence in subjects and attendance) Each house is led by an achievement manager, who is in charge of organising all house activities. They are assisted by two house captains, selected from the year 11 students. The house captains are responsible for organising and preparing the teams for the competitions and often officiate at the events themselves. All students and staff are members of a house. Students at Trentham Academy are all placed into house tutor groups. A student in year 7 will therefore be placed in a tutor group composed of fellow year 7 students and a number of year 8 and 9 students forming a vertical tutor group. This enables older students to support and ‘buddy’ year 7 students in all aspects of school life.

1. Feeder schools

Ash Green Primary School Priory Church Academy

1. Leavers destinations

Trentham does have a sixth form but most students progress their studies onto local sixth forms and college. The main destinations include: City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College, Newcastle-under-Lyme College sixth form and local grammar school St Josephs Sixth Form. On average students leave with 14 GCSEs.

1. Alumni

Karl Henry (1998) John Brayford (2003) Sam Kelsall (2009) Tom Taylor (2011) James Taylor (2017)

1. References