Soar Valley College

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school.

Since the previous inspection, leaders, managers and governors have united and worked exceptionally hard to ensure that teaching and achievement are of the highest quality. Leaders have successfully created a culture where learning is celebrated by both staff and students. Teachers' knowledge and skills are developed at all levels.

Subsequently, this has an exceptionally positive impact on students' behaviour and attitudes to learning and their achievement. In 2014, students studying GCSE made exceptional progress, particularly in English and mathematics. Students achieved very well in almost all other subject areas.

Tea...ching is exemplary. Almost all curriculum areas have examples of outstanding teaching. Teachers' have very high expectations and they use imaginative activities in order to ensure students make substantial progress.

Students are proud to belong to the college. They demonstrate outstanding behaviour and attitudes to their learning. There is a great level of maturity and respect to towards all learning.

Students' tolerance for each other and their ability to listen are excellent. Students feel very safe at the college. They demonstrate an excellent understanding of what constitutes safe and unsafe situations.

Students are active in their work and embrace significant leadership responsibilities. They raise funds for different charities well. The curriculum is very well organised and meets the needs of all learners.

There is a very wide range of extra-curricular visits that enhances students' social and cultural development exceptionally well. The personal, social, health and education programme, along with assemblies and other initiatives, promotes students excellent spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

Information about this school

This is a larger than average-sized secondary college.

The large majority of students are from an Indian-heritage background. Most students speak English as an additional language. The proportion of girls in the college is average.

Over a third of the students is known to be eligible for the pupil premium (additional funding provided to the college for students known to be eligible for free school meals). This is above the national average. There are very few looked-after children.

The proportion of disabled students and those who have special educational needs is above the national average. There are six students in the main college educated off-site. Students attend different venues and organisations, including 'Educ8', 'Future Skills', 'Style studio', and 'Axlr8'.

The college is the lead school for mathematics within the Leicester City Education Improvement Partnership. The college is supporting other schools with geography, design and technology, and physical education, and, until very recently, with use of the pupil premium. The college has three of its staff appointed as Specialist Leaders of Education.

The college is a strategic partner of the Leicester Teaching School Alliance. The college meets the government current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for students' attainment and progress. The Principal was appointed on 26 August 2014 and was previously a Vice-Principal at the college.