Setting

Alexandra House 33 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE T 08456 404040 F 020 7421 6855 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Ms V Cleere Foxes Academy The Esplanade Minehead TA24 5QP

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Ofsted subject survey: good practice in promoting equality

Thank you for your hospitality and co-operation, and that of your staff during my visit on 09 October 2008 to look at success factors in promoting equality and improving the outcomes for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

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Ofsted subject survey: good practice in promoting equality

The visit provided valuable information which will contribute to our national evaluation and reporting. Published reports are likely to list the names of the contributing institutions, but individual institutions will not be identified in the main text without their consent.

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Ofsted subject survey: good practice in promoting equality

The evidence used to inform the judgements made included:

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Ofsted subject survey: good practice in promoting equality

Meetings with staff, meetings with learners, observation of teaching and learning, scrutiny of documentation

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Ofsted subject survey: good practice in promoting equality

The quality of provision in enabling learners with learning difficulties to progress to employment and to greater independence is outstanding.

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Features of good practice and success factors observed

 The college provides an outstanding context for learning for learners with learning difficulties who are aged between 16 and 25. The training hotel is a commercial venture which is staffed by the learners, and which provides them with up to three years of preparation for employment and greater independence. While at the college learners move to progressively greater levels of autonomy in their places of residence, which are houses in the community. These provide excellent opportunities for learning to live as part of a wider community.  Staff have very high expectations of learners, and emphasise in particular the importance for these learners of developing independence in all aspects of their lives.  Learners are outstandingly successful in progressing to open / supported employment after leaving the college, and in the last year the college has taken very effective action to assist many learners to secure employment

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Features of good practice and success factors observed

shortly after leaving the college.  Learners are outstandingly successful in progressing to living accommodation that reflects how far they have travelled in developing their skills of independence, so that they can live in a housing situation that enables them to live with the minimum support necessary for their well-being and safety  Senior managers have carried out detailed and thorough monitoring of a wide range of indicators which have contributed to successful outcomes for all learners. They are constantly striving to improve the effectiveness of learners’ destinations by increasingly thorough preparation and anticipation of needs  Learners are increasingly becoming involved in the life of the college, including the equality and diversity forum, and contribute to the accessibility of leaflets and booklets produced for learners

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Areas for development

 The participation by learners of minority ethnic heritage is very low, and has not improved. The college has taken some steps to attract more learners, but this has not yet been successful.

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Areas for development

I hope these observations are useful as you continue to develop promoting equalities in Foxes Academy.

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Areas for development

As I explained previously, a copy of this letter will be sent to your local LSC and will be published on Ofsted’s website. It will also be available to the team for your next institutional inspection.

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