Ofsted

The most recent Ofsted Inspection of 14th - 18th October 2002 involved an extensive review of all aspects of the Sixth Form. The report is awesome! Here are a few selected quotes:

"The sixth form is very successful and gives good value for money. The school has a caring ethos which contributes to its reputation and it consequently attracts students from nearby schools into its sixth form. It provides a very wide range of academic and vocational courses and many opportunities for students' personal development. Management of the sixth form is excellent. The overall quality of teaching is good, with a significant amount of very good teaching; students learn and achieve well."

If you would like to read the full inspection report and specific information regarding departments and subjects, please follow this link to the full official Ofsted web site report.

Sixth Form Strengths

Leadership and management of the sixth form
The quality of teaching; teachers have very good specialist knowledge, and generally high expectations
The quality of guidance and support by sixth form tutors
The very wide range of courses
Relationships between staff and students, and between the students
The quality of information given to the students entering the sixth form, and across Year 12 and 13.

Students' views of the Sixth Form - they confidentially said they like:
The information they receive about courses
The range or choice of courses
The way they are enabled to settle into the sixth form
The quality of teaching
The monitoring of their work, informing them of their rates of progress
They are treated as adults
The sixth form accomodation and resources.
"The inspection team endorses the positive comments made by the students. The high percentage entry and retention rate, reflects the fact that the students enjoy being at the sixth form. Almost all of students (98%) would recommend other students to join the sixth form at this school. All students settled in well, and were made to quickly feel part of the school community. This is a very successful, caring and very well organised sixth form."

Further Quotes From The Report

"Overall students make good progress and achieve well."

"Overall, the good, and often very good teaching, together with the positive attitudes of the students, contributes to the standards achieved by the students."

"They (the students) work extremely hard and show a genuine desire to work and to do well."

"Many speak very highly of the support they have received from staff...(their) successful subjects are a direct result of monitoring and intervention of staff."

"Many pupils flourish socially in the sixth form where great emphasis is put on development of their personal skills, confidence and self-esteem."

"Their attendance is high, and their self-discipline is very good. These values contribute directly to their positive attitudes to study and prepare them well for adult life."

"Sixth form tutors have a very good specialist knowledge, and they present students with a high level of challenge."

"Leadership and management of the sixth form are excellent...(they) have been particularly successful in raising the status of education. Students very much respect how the sixth form is led an managed, and regard it as a principal strength of the sixth form."

"Many students in the sixth form...gain maturity and confidence to continue their education."

"Accommodation for the sixth form is very good. The sixth form management team has worked very hard to provide the students with a comfortable, work-friendly environment...Students value the provision of this area and look after it well."