William Morris Sixth Form

Overview

Students enjoy attending this sixth form, valuing its “friendly and inclusive atmosphere” and the “mutual respect between staff and students.” The school provides a high-quality education with a well-structured curriculum and strong teaching practices, resulting in an overall effectiveness of Good. Leaders are ambitious for all students, including those with special educational needs, ensuring they have access to the same opportunities as their peers.

Strengths

• The curriculum offers a “wide range of courses” with clear expectations for key facts and skills, taught in a logical order.
• Teachers possess “strong” subject knowledge and use effective routines to “recap and strengthen students’ prior learning.”
• Students with special educational needs and/or disabilities are “well supported” to access the full curriculum.
• Leaders provide tailored careers advice, including one-to-one discussions and work experience, meeting statutory requirements.
• Staff are “quick to spot any poor behaviour, including bullying,” ensuring students feel safe and supported.

Areas to improve

• Leaders should implement plans to increase the range of extra-curricular activities so all students can “broaden their interests and develop new skills and talents beyond the subjects they study.”
• Leaders must ensure processes for following up student absence are “fully embedded” to improve overall attendance, as current systems are only in the “early stages of showing impact.”

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with suitably experienced staff following clear referral processes and working closely with outside organisations to support vulnerable students.