Lifeworks College

Overview

Lifeworks College is an independent specialist college for students with special educational needs and/or disabilities, judged as ‘Good’ overall. The report highlights ‘Outstanding’ behaviour and attitudes, noting that students learn in “welcoming and nurturing environments” where staff foster “very positive relationships.” Since the previous inspection, leaders have successfully addressed prior weaknesses, ensuring students study a “well-designed curriculum” tailored to their individual starting points.

Strengths

• Students demonstrate “very positive attitudes to learning” and are “highly motivated” to develop independence and prepare for employment.
• Staff provide effective support, including personalised self-regulation strategies and therapies, helping students achieve their goals and make “good progress.”
• Leaders have introduced “very useful careers advice and guidance activities,” working collaboratively with employers and parents to help students make “well-informed decisions.”
• Trustees provide “insightful governance,” holding leaders to account through a “well-established curriculum and quality committee.”
• Most students now achieve their qualifications, a significant improvement from the previous inspection where “too few students did.”

Areas to improve

• Leaders must “put in place all therapies that are identified in students’ EHC plans,” specifically securing the speech and language therapy currently missing.
• Leaders need to “ensure that the improvements that leaders have made result in improved achievement and progression to positive destinations,” as it was “too early to judge” if these changes were secure.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” noting that students feel safe and know how to respond to concerns.