Saint Dominic's Sixth Form College Inspection Recommendations

: Jed Keenan; Inspection Report Recommendations; 31 October 2020; Hits: 1329

Saint Dominic's Sixth Form College

2025 Full Inspection Report

What does the provider do well and what does it need to do better?

Leaders, managers and teachers have developed a highly ambitious curriculum that demonstrates their high expectations and vision for all students to achieve their highest potential. Staff provide students with exceptional support and care to help them achieve these high aspirations and ambitions. They ensure students take advantage of outstanding opportunities to expand their knowledge far beyond the basics of their qualifications. They provide students with free useful textbooks, encourage students to participate in external academic competitions such as the Olympiad, provide high-quality mentoring for disadvantaged students and set them challenging work in lessons and beyond. Students are fully prepared for the university courses and apprenticeships they intend to progress to.

Curriculum leaders and teachers plan and sequence their courses very effectively. This means that students build their knowledge and skills over time with many opportunities to revisit and recap foundation knowledge as they progress on to more complex content. For example, in A-level physical education, the course begins with anatomy and physiology and then moves on to the respiratory, skeletal and muscle systems. Students learn new subject knowledge securely and effectively, which helps them perform exceptionally well in their examinations across all courses.

Highly skilled and expert teachers convey their passion for their subjects to students. They plan lessons carefully and effectively to maximise opportunities for students to recap on and apply prior learning. Teachers explain concepts very clearly and are highly effective in identifying and correcting any misconceptions. For example, in A-level mathematics, teachers identify common mistakes and teach students to reorganise an equation with fractions before differentiation. Students develop outstanding knowledge of key concepts and skills quickly, which prepares them for the more challenging application of their knowledge later in their course.

Teachers use assessment very effectively to identify students’ starting points and monitor their progress over time. They use a range of highly effective assessments, such as written tasks and questions and answers, to identify gaps in students’ knowledge. Where a student may be falling behind, staff intervene quickly and successfully to help them catch up. For example, teachers use well-planned workshops based on the students’ needs to support these students.

Teachers give students highly developmental and timely feedback on their written and practical work. For example, teachers of A-level physical education provide excellent feedback on students’ written work that helps them achieve high marks in their examinations. Teachers skilfully link their clear feedback to the knowledge that students need to achieve specific exam objectives. This helps students know exactly what they have done well and how their work can be further improved.

Curriculum leaders and teachers provide outstanding support to students with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff know students who need help and how best to support them. For example, students with visual impairment benefit from seating plans, and specialist electronic devices enable them to access the lesson content fully. Students with additional needs feel the care and kindness in line with the Christian ethos of staff, fully participate in all learning activities, achieve and make exceptional progress.

Teachers and tutors provide excellent information, support and guidance for students, informing them about their career choices and preparing them for their next steps. They give students useful and specific information about their options and choices, invite employers and universities to talk to the students, arrange meaningful and highly relevant work experience for students and provide them with opportunities to visit employers or attend webinars about their specific career options.

Leaders provide students with an extensive range of high-quality enrichment opportunities. A very high number of students participate in activities such as sports, mindfulness and mental health sessions, street dance and producing the college magazine. Students have fun during these sessions, make friends and develop new skills and interests beyond their subject areas.

Leaders and managers monitor the quality of their provision exceptionally well. Through the effective use of data, they clearly and accurately identify any areas that perform below their high expectations. Leaders are aware of strengths and areas for development across all curriculum areas and take highly effective actions to improve the quality of their provision when needed. They provide very useful training and professional development opportunities for staff in topics such as the use of technology in classrooms to further enhance students’ experience.

Highly experienced and expert governors provide leaders with excellent support and challenge. They use a variety of activities, including visiting lessons, discussions with staff and students and reports from senior leaders, to ensure that they are highly informed about the college and the students’ progress. Governors make sure that the college meets its legal and statutory duties fully.

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