Dixons Sixth Form, Bradford

Overview

Dixons Free Sixth Form is a 16 to 19 academy that received an ‘Outstanding’ overall effectiveness rating. The report describes a college where students “thrive and succeed” in a “positive and welcoming environment,” achieving high grades and progressing to prestigious universities. Leaders demonstrate an “ambitious strategy” that effectively supports students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to overcome barriers to learning.

Strengths

• Students “develop the qualities and skills that they need to thrive” and exhibit “extremely polite and respectful” behaviour.
• The curriculum is “carefully crafted” to combine qualifications for successful university applications, with teachers “adjust[ing] the curriculum in response to the progress that students make.”
• Staff receive “highly effective, individualised professional development,” including instructional coaching, which enhances teaching quality.
• Students with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) “make progress in line with their peers and achieve very well” due to thorough support.
• Careers advice is “highly valuable,” with students inspired by guest speakers and university visits to plan their next steps.

Areas to improve

• Attendance is lower for the “very small number of students studying GCSEs, and particularly in GCSE mathematics,” though suitable catch-up arrangements are in place.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with students feeling “very safe” and benefiting from a “zero-tolerance policy to bullying and harassment.”