Kimberley 16 - 19 Stem College

Overview

Kimberley 16-19 Stem College is a small academy specialising in STEM subjects where students “enjoy studying” and feel safe within an “inclusive community”. The report describes a provider with “highly motivated” learners who achieve high grades and progress well to university or apprenticeships, supported by “skilfully designed programmes” and effective staff.

Strengths

• Students demonstrate “consistently good behaviour” and treat others with “high levels of dignity and respect”.
• Teachers use “highly effective” assessment and feedback to help students develop depth of knowledge and correct misconceptions.
• Students with special educational needs achieve “broadly in line with their peers” due to tailored support and “support passports”.
• Careers guidance is “excellent”, with students receiving comprehensive support for university applications, scholarships, and work placements.
• Leaders and governors have “detailed knowledge” of the curriculum and challenge leaders effectively to drive improvement.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must involve employers in the design of vocational curricula so content is “relevant to the jobs and opportunities available locally”.
• Leaders should improve the quality of education in a few subjects where teaching is “not yet consistently good”.
• Leaders must ensure attendance to lessons and tutorial sessions is “consistently high” and that students understand local risks of radicalisation.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff suitably trained to protect students, though students lack sufficient understanding of local radicalisation risks.