Our published policies are available here, and other policies are available on request from school reception.
We were inspected by Ofsted in March 2024 and judged to be Outstanding in all areas. The report is published on the Ofsted website here, and is also available here: ULMaS Ofsted March 2024
Some extracts from the report are included below:
“Students are highly motivated and exceptionally keen to achieve well in their studies. They consistently demonstrate positive attitudes to their learning and attendance is very high. Students enthuse about the nurturing culture fostered by staff. They say they can be themselves and grow as an individual.”
“Students access a wide range of activities to support their development. They develop their social skills by completing activities on a Friday afternoon. These include inter-house competitions, sports, dance and music clubs. Students take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, where they learn how to plan hikes. They design meal plans for their peers who have a range of dietary requirements. Female students attend the Women in STEM lunchtime club. They plan Women in STEM Saturdays to attract more female students into the STEM subjects.”
“Students grow significantly in confidence because of being at the school. They access an exceptional personal development curriculum that swiftly develops their communication skills. Students attend workshops at the school and external events such as the Shakespeare North Playhouse. They learn how to find their voice and how to produce writing that is compelling to read. As a result, students confidently pitch projects to panels of judges and take part in academic debates.”
“Staff talk enthusiastically about a culture of compassion in the school. They feel highly valued and supported by leaders, managers and trustees.”
“Teachers expertly plan the curriculum in a logical order. In computer science, students gain the fundamental knowledge of concepts such as data types, Boolean algebra and computer operating systems. They apply this new learning by researching legal and ethical issues such as data protection and copyright. This means that students deepen their understanding and apply previous knowledge exceptionally well to new learning.”
The school was visited by Ofsted on 8 and 9 February 2023 for a New Provider Monitoring visit led by Helen Whelan (HMI). The report, which can be downloaded here, confirmed that “Leaders have high expectations for what students can achieve. They are not simply satisfied with preparing students for external examinations. They want students to think and behave as mathematicians and scientists“. It also recognised that “Students achieve excellent A-level grades and are exceptionally well prepared for success at university. All 25 students who completed their A levels last year progressed to STEM-related degrees, most at highly prestigious universities“. Our students’ attitudes and behaviour were also praised: “Students have extremely positive attitudes to learning. They display high levels of respect for their teachers and peers. In peer activities, they are not afraid to challenge each other about their work in the spirit of seeking the best solutions to mathematical problems.”
New Provider Monitoring Visits do not involve formal grading on the 1 to 4 scale like other Ofsted inspections. This monitoring visit was undertaken as part of those arrangements and as outlined in the ‘Further education and skills inspection handbook’, in the sections entitled ‘Monitoring visits’ and ‘Monitoring visits to providers that are newly directly publicly funded’. Under this framework, Ofsted normally uses one of the following progress judgements on monitoring visits:
We are pleased to note that our progress in “designing and delivering a relevant education programme” was considered to be significant, and our progress in “ensuring that learners benefit from high quality education programmes for young people that prepare them well for their intended job role, career aim and/or personal goals” was also considered to be significant. Our progress in “ensuring that effective safeguarding arrangements are in place” was considered to be reasonable and we benefited from feedback in relation to the education we provide around “radicalisation and extremism and the importance of fundamental British values” which we have already taken action in response to.
Our equality objectives relating to students are focused on:
Our equality objectives relating to staff are focused on:
Information about additional ESFA Funding (including the 16-19 Tuition Fund) is available here
Information about Provider Access is available here.
The trust employs no one with a salary over £100 000.
