Durham Sixth Form Centre

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school The headteacher and the highly skilled leadership team have established a culture in which students flourish and grow. Consequently, there is a healthy appetite for learning and achievement in an environment that demands high expectations for academic, vocational and personal excellence.

Leaders have developed rigorous systems to monitor the progress students make towards aspirational targets. As a result, every student makes substantial and sustained progress. Overall, outcomes in academic and vocational subjects were significantly above the national average in 2016.

The school's performance information shows students are on trac...k to perform even more highly at the end of 2017. The highly experienced governors are unstinting in their challenge of school leaders. As a result, the quality of teaching, learning and assessment and the outcomes for students have improved rapidly.

The quality of personal development and welfare is exceptional. All staff are committed to providing whatever it is the students need to succeed. Consequently, students' outcomes have improved strongly over the last three years.

Students consistently behave well so that learning is never interrupted. Students are very well mannered. The ethos and culture in the school ensure that difference is celebrated and there is no discriminatory behaviour.

The study programme is extremely well planned to meet the needs and aspirations of all students, and is aligned effectively to local employment opportunities. As a result, students develop skills, attributes and knowledge that provide very strong routes to higher education, apprenticeships and employment. The quality of teaching, learning and assessment has improved as a result of myriad opportunities for professional development and the support and challenge of leaders.

However, there is inconsistency in the way teachers challenge the group identified by the school as 'most able' in lessons. As a result of work to develop literacy skills, students' writing and speaking skills are improving. However, students' answers in lessons demonstrate that their speaking skills are not developing as rapidly as their writing.

Information about this school

The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website. In September 2013, the school became a centre for sixth-form education only. Prior to that time, the school had been an 11 to 18 secondary school.

The proportion of disadvantaged students is lower than the national average for secondary schools. The proportion of students who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is lower than the national average for secondary schools. Almost all students are White British.