Newham Sixth Form College

Newham Sixth Form College Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Anita Pyrkotsch-Jones, HMI

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Address: Prince Regent Lane Plaistow London E13 8SG

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Publication date: 1 June 2017 Inspection number: 10037271 Monitoring visit: Newham Sixth Form College

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Context and focus of visit

This is the second monitoring visit to Newham Sixth Form College to consider the college’s progress in implementing the ‘Prevent’ duty and ensuring that the curriculum promotes fundamental British Values.

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Context and focus of visit

The first monitoring visit in May 2016 found that leaders and managers had made insufficient progress in planning to address the areas for improvement identified at the inspection in October 2015; ensuring that students are sufficiently involved in the implementation of the college’s statutory duties under the ‘Prevent’ legislation; planning a coherent approach to ensuring that students have a broad enough education about life in the United Kingdom and British values; improving the focus on topics such as women’s rights, forced marriage and female genital mutilation to help students make informed choices and stay safe; and ensuring that a single faith group does not dominate the multifaith room.

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Significant progress

Since the previous monitoring visit, leaders, managers and governors have successfully addressed students’ lack of involvement in the implementation of the ‘Prevent’ duty. Staff and students worked closely to devise a campaign to raise awareness and understanding of the ‘Prevent’ duty and the threats of radicalisation and extremism. The use of a wide range of interesting and innovative activities has resulted in current students having a good understanding of the college’s statutory duties in relation to the ‘Prevent’ duty.

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Significant progress

The student council is closely involved in the selection of training resources to promote the ‘Prevent’ duty and consults frequently with college managers about the content and structure of the college’s tutorial programme. Restructuring of the tutorial programme by the new head of pastoral support has resulted in topics relating to the ‘Prevent’ duty and keeping students safe from the threats of radicalisation and extremism being reinforced regularly during tutorials and through the curriculum.

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Significant progress

Leaders and managers have introduced a structured interview process to evaluate the impact of the ‘Prevent’ campaign on students’ understanding of the threats of radicalisation and extremism. Discussions with students and the analysis of results from structured interviews show that their understanding of the ‘Prevent’ duty is now good. Monitoring visit: Newham Sixth Form College The action plan produced by leaders and managers following the previous monitoring visit is clear and provides detailed information about completion dates, roles and responsibilities of staff and students and the impact of actions.

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Significant progress

Leaders and managers continue to incorporate themes and topics such as e-safety, awareness of the threats of extremism and radicalisation, and values in British society into the curriculum and the tutorial programme. Teachers are much more adept at linking the values of British society in lessons. For example, health and social care and childcare teachers skilfully link democracy, rule of law, tolerance and respect and individual liberty to legislation around childcare and social care, the importance of listening to parents and patients, and supporting individual care needs. The structure of the tutorial programme means that topics are now covered in greater depth and reinforced regularly to ensure that students have a good understanding of living in a modern society.

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Significant progress

Leaders and managers continue to work closely with external consultants and agencies to develop teachers’ and students’ understanding of British values. Staff have benefited from a range of training to help them embed British values in teaching and learning. Students receive training and participate in a wide range of activities that develop their understanding of British values well. For example, students participated in a college competition to produce a poster to promote British values. The winning design is now prominently displayed around the college. Students can accurately name and describe the four fundamental British values and provide examples of what they mean to them in college and the wider community.

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Significant progress

The college has invested significantly in training and support to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students do not feel discriminated against. External agencies and network groups have worked with staff to ensure equality among staff and students. Teachers now challenge rigorously students who use homophobic, bi-phobic and transphobic language. The college LGBT champions group is currently working towards the Stonewall bronze award for school and college champions.

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Significant progress

The actions that leaders and managers have taken to improve the focus on topics such as women’s rights, forced marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM) have Monitoring visit: Newham Sixth Form College had a positive impact and increased students’ understanding of how to make informed choices and to stay safe.

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Significant progress

Students benefit from regular opportunities to explore and discuss topics such as honour-based violence, forced marriage, equality and protected characteristics. Exploration of themes and case studies during tutorials such as Holocaust memorial, LGBT month and the radicalisation of a fictional character ‘Zak’ ensure that students have a good understanding of a range of relevant topics relating to equality and diversity, safeguarding, British values and the ‘Prevent’ duty. Topics and themes are regularly reinforced in tutorials, lessons and through the curriculum.

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Significant progress

The FGM campaign to develop awareness and understanding of FGM was well received in the college and the local community. Students produced posters, banners and T-shirts highlighting the dangers to the health of women who have undergone FGM, and demonstrated in the college and local community to raise awareness of FGM. The local newspaper published an article about the demonstration to raise further the awareness of FGM. Following the success of the FGM campaign, 60 students have now trained as FGM ambassadors. Safeguarding referrals regarding potential FGM have increased as a result of students’ and staff’s greater understanding of the risks of FGM and how to act on concerns.

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Reasonable progress

The multifaith room has been temporarily relocated and is due to be permanently resited when refurbishment of the old learning resource centre is complete. The multifaith room will then be located in the central hub of the college, in the student services area. Plans are in place to improve the room further and leaders and managers continue to consult with governors, student councillors and the multifaith committee on the layout of the room.

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Reasonable progress

The room is zoned into distinct areas, but no longer segregates men and women. A single faith group no longer dominates the room. However, students do not always use the room as a place of prayer or quiet reflection. Students were observed completing homework, chatting in small groups and using their telephones.

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Reasonable progress

The room is now more inviting for groups of other faiths and those of no faith. The room is more comfortable and relaxing with furniture such as sofas and beanbags. Prayer mats and other religious artefacts are removed from the room when not in use. Monitoring visit: Newham Sixth Form College The room is now closely monitored by staff and is located in a central area of the college. Rules for use of the room are clearly displayed.

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Reasonable progress

Students report that the room is open to all students regardless of their faith and for those of no faith. The majority of students spoken to do not use the room but are aware of the facility should they wish to use it. Monitoring visit: Newham Sixth Form College achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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