Setting

Ms J Valin Headteacher Southfields Community College 333 Merton Road London SW18 5JU

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – 14-19 reforms

Thank you for your hospitality and cooperation, and that of your staff and students during my visit on 20 January 2009 as part of our survey on 14-19 developments in the local area. Please pass on special thanks to the students who gave up their time to meet with me.

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – 14-19 reforms

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.

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – 14-19 reforms

The 14-19 provision at Southfields is outstanding. The majority of students are from economically disadvantaged areas, many are from minority ethnic backgrounds and the majority have learning difficulties and/or disabilities yet Southfields’ students make excellent progress. The main strengths of 14-19 provision are

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – 14-19 reforms

 Very innovative approaches to meeting the diverse needs of students. For example, the course catering for new entrants to Britain speaking little or no English is very inventive and pass and progression rates are high.  Excellent provision for vulnerable students. For example, the programme for students in danger of being excluded provides each student with a personalised learning programme and is very successful.  A very good and expanding range of vocational provision, in both Key Stage 4 and the sixth form, caters for different levels of ability and offers well planned progression routes. For example, the successful introduction of a multi-crafts course in Key Stage 4, for students wanting to find employment in the construction industry, prompted the school to develop a post-16 course offering craft level training, work experience and progression to further education.  An enterprising approach to attracting funding ensures that students on

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – 14-19 reforms

vocational courses have realistic working environments. For example, funding has been found to develop a construction workshop and an industry standard kitchen. Alexandra House 33 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE T 08456 404040 F 0207 421 6855 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk  Very good collaborative working with other schools, colleges and the local university. Good practice in applied learning is shared with other providers across the authority and the school is leading the development of a system for tracking Diploma and other vocational students across the borough.  A relentless drive to improve the quality of provision. Courses are under constant review and any failing to meet the needs of students are replaced.

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Ofsted survey inspection programme – 14-19 reforms

If there are any points or aspects of the visit you wish to discuss, please get in touch. As we will be evaluating the survey, you may be contacted in the future to find out your views. I hope you will contribute to this evaluation. Thank you once again.

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