Ofsted
The most recent Government inspection of the Academy produced the following comments:
"An Outstanding School"
"Garforth Community College is a very vibrant and highly successful school led by an inspiring headteacher. The Every Child Matters agenda is at the heart of everything that the school does and the achievement of students at all levels of ability is very good; the standards attained in external examinations are very high."
Achievements and standards
"Standards have been very high at Key Stage 4 for the past three years and achievement has been impressive. There are strong indications that standards will be higher in 2007 and achievement will be even better. At Key Stage 3, achievement has been similar, especially in mathematics, and standards have remained very high in all three core subjects for the last three years.
Students' progress between Key Stage 2 and 4 is excellent. Standards at Key Stage 4 have been consistently high for three years. In 2006, the proportion of students achieving five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C, including mathematics and English was 29% above the national average.
No group of students underperforms. At Key Stage 3, there is no difference in the standards of girls and boys. At Key Stage 4 girls attain higher standards than the boys but the gap is narrower than average."
Personal development and well-being
"The personal and social development of students across the college is outstanding. The overwhelming majority of students enjoy their education and this is reflected in the very high levels of attendance. Students' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is very strong overall although the college has recognized the need to develop students' spiritual awareness further. Students develop very strong academic and personal skills which prepare them well for employment or further study.
Behaviour is outstanding in lessons and around the college, enabling students to learn without disruption. Students feel safe and well cared for. The rare incidents of bullying or harassment are dealt with swiftly and appropriately. Students have good working relationships with teachers and relate very positively to each other. Students know how to lead safe and healthy lives. They participate well in a wide range of sporting activities and many choose healthy food in the dining room."
Quality of Provision
Teaching and learning
"The quality of teaching and learning is good overall and there is some excellent practice. Teachers have very good subject knowledge and the vast majority of students enjoy lessons. Teachers have high expectations and establish good working relationships in lessons, enabling students to progress very well. Students are highly motivated and work extremely hard. In the best lessons, teachers set a variety of challenging tasks and students participate and learn well. Students are encouraged to apply their knowledge, use their own initiative and reflect on their progress in relation to the lesson objectives."
Curriculum and other activities
"The College has made excellent progress in tailoring its provision to meet individual students' needs. A recent innovation has been to offer Key Stage 4 curriculum options to Year 9 students whilst maintaining a strong focus on the core subjects of mathematics, English and science in preparation for Key Stage 3 external tests."
Care, guidance and support
"The college places great emphasis on providing a safe and supportive environment where students can flourish as individuals. The integrated care, guidance and support are outstanding and are carefully adapted to meet individual students' needs. Staff work very hard to ensure that students are happy and can achieve their potential. The college makes very good use of external support agencies. Careers guidance is excellent and enables students to make informed decisions as they progress through college."
Leadership and Management
"Leadership and management are outstanding. The headteacher provides a strong vision and clear sense of purpose. This is shared by the senior leadership team and governors and is effectively communicated throughout the college."
