A note about intellectual property
We are proud to be public servants at Tallis. We run our website on open source principles and value exchange and collaboration. We are happy to share what we have,  If you are interested in using or adapting what you find, please contact us. In any case, if you use or share things you find here, please attribute it and, please, don’t just take our stuff and pass it off as your own!

This is ...

... a very brief snapshot of Tallis

​Who we are

• A very large 11-18 community comprehensive school, founded in 1971 
• Named for the father of English Church music who lived in Greenwich
• We have over 2100 young people from a wide range of backgrounds. 32% PP, 80 languages 
• About 58% boys in y7-11 because there are more girls’ than boys’ schools in the LA 
• Artsmark Platinum and 4 PTI curriculum awards 
• Provision for Deaf students and those with autism and language impairment ‘SCALI’ (45 EHCP) 
• High mainstream SEND: 73 EHCPs as well (5%), 400+ SEN support (28%), more than twice national averages 

​Accommodation

• Building opened in 2011 costing £56m, through the BSF PFI initiative, managed by G4S 
  
• It has Olympic legacy sports facilities in the gymnasium and dojo and a shared use sports centre.
  
• The site was built for up to 2000 students

​School day & week

• Staff briefing is on Wednesday at 0820
  
• We have a 2 week, 25 hour-a-week timetable, split lunchtime (1st; 7,8,9: 2nd; 6F,10,11)

​Vision

• Our vision is of education to understand the world and change it for the better 
  
• Our School Plan focuses on curriculum, creative teaching, achievement, inclusion
  
• As a comprehensive school we want to be a model for a better world

​Character

• We expect our young people to be kind, respectful, fair, honest and optimistic 
  
• We expect cheerful good manners at all time in a relaxed but hard-working atmosphere

​Values

• We are a liberal and inclusive community with high positive peer pressure amongst staff and students.
• We value the Tallis Habits inquisitive, collaborative, persistent, disciplined and imaginative.

Leadership

• Leadership Group is Head, 2 Deputy Heads, Chief Operating Officer, 6 Assistant Heads
  
• Governor Mark accredited governing board, assiduously seeking diversity
  
• Governors are diligent and fulfil their duties through detailed work programmes and visits
  

​Organisation

• Young people are in year groups under a Head of Year (y7-11 270, 6f=760)
  
• Curriculum Areas have a Curriculum Leader
  
• Students are taught in a mixture of sets and mixed ability groups, depending on subject

Post 16

• We are about 760 in the sixth form, which offers a mixture of A level and Level 3 BTEC courses
• Students come to our sixth form from a wide range of schools including grammar and fee-paying,
  
• Very high levels of university entry, including Oxbridge, Russell Group
  
• 35+ students each year to Art and performing arts college, many to highly competitive places
  

​Curriculum

• Threshold Concepts underpin all subject teaching
• We are committed to a broad, balanced knowledge curriculum with a wide range of arts options. 
• Our KS3 is year 7-9; KS4 is years 10 and 11.

​Teaching & Learning

• We expect teachers to be highly qualified with a lively interest in their subject
• We expect teachers to enable our young people to be independent learners and creative thinkers
• Our signature pedagogies develop Habits of Mind, powerful knowledge and stretch all learners
• We expect teachers to be organised and thorough and have our Craft of the Tallis Classroom 
• We lead the R&D and ITT aspects of the Royal Greenwich School Alliance

​CPD

• 2 training days in September, 6 x 6 hours disaggregated time for targeted training
  
• Whole school long-term focus on quality curriculum development and delivery
  
• Tallis Praxis handbook for staff describes curriculum theory and expectations

​Behaviour

• We expect good behaviour in a pleasant atmosphere: we try not to shout
  
• Clear referral systems within and outside departments and a non-teaching pastoral support team
  
• Intensive support for older students who fail to make enough effort

​Uniform

• Distinctive and relaxed, building and reflecting our community: trainers and jewellery are allowed
• Post 16 students have no uniform

Governance

• Governor Mark accredited governing board, assiduously seeking diversity
• Governors are diligent and fulfil their duties through detailed work programmes and visits

​Parents

• Parents’ evening attendance average 80% 2016-17
• Wide range of targeted parent support services, active PTFA

​Enrichment

• Annual extracurricular activities timetable includes Duke of Edinburgh and Arts Award
• We have 3 annual community days for all year groups on cross-curricular themes (e.g. Protest)

​Website

• Justly admired widely: it is the first stop for school information www.thomastallisschool.com.
• All departments have dedicated sites with links to a broad range of online support

Assemblies

Weekly by year group in the main hall

​Student responsibilities

• Innovative Jury Service model to check progress with our vision
  
• Ambassadors for Anti-Racism, Climate, LGBTQ+, SNED and Mental Health rights
  
• We work closely with students who are encouraged to set up campaign groups

​Building relationships

• Links with local groups and organisations, including religious, through Community Framework
• 6 Parent Forums a year