St. John's College (Brighton)

Overview

St. John’s College is an independent specialist further education college for young people with complex learning disabilities, including autism. The inspection found that leaders create a “shared culture of collaboration and high aspiration,” resulting in an “inclusive and welcoming environment” where learners make good progress and develop independence.

Strengths

• Learners benefit from “highly accessible and personalised learning programmes” tailored to their individual needs and interests.
• Staff use “assistive technology skilfully” and work closely with multi-disciplinary teams to support learners with significant barriers to learning.
• Personal development is supported exceptionally well through high-quality work experience and community activities that build “confidence and resilience.”
• Teachers explain topics clearly and use effective techniques, such as demonstration, helping learners “swiftly master the correct technique.”
• Learners feel safe, with bullying being rare and concerns taken seriously by staff.

Areas to improve

• Ensure that learners understand their strengths and what they need to do to improve further.
• Support more learners to move on to workplace activity when they leave the college.
• Continue to develop tracking systems so that leaders and staff have easy and timely access to learners’ progress across all aspects of the curriculum.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.