Following an inspection in September 2024, Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College is immensely proud to announce that Ofsted has once again awarded the College ‘Outstanding’ status for all six key judgement areas. The report highlights the college’s commitment to academic excellence, personal development, and its inclusive Catholic ethos.
College Principal, Justine Barlow said, "We are immensely proud to share this outcome. This success reflects the dedication of our staff, the hard work of our students, and the distinctive ethos of Notre Dame. Our commitment remains to help every student reach their full potential, guiding them to become 'the best that they can be' and preparing them for bright and successful futures."
In the updated Ofsted framework, Notre Dame were identified to make a ‘strong’ contribution to meeting skills needs. This is a high accolade; we are the first College in Yorkshire and Humberside and third sixth form college in the country to achieve this.
The college works closely with local employers and universities to ensure students gain valuable work-related experience. With Notre Dame’s effective engagement with stakeholders, “students develop the skills, habits and virtues that they need to thrive in life and work, becoming well-rounded individuals with a strong sense of citizenship”.
Recognised as a core contributor to the college achieving ‘strong’ for skills, the college's focus on character development is also highlighted, with students valuing and participating in the “innovative” Stella Maris Leadership Award, developed by college leaders. This programme develops leadership skills, perseverance, and responsibility, “effectively preparing students for success in both their futures and life in modern Britain”.
The college is praised for its expert teaching staff who “blend the development of relevant skills seamlessly through their planning and approach”. They use a range of innovative methods to engage students and ensure they achieve excellent outcomes. Teachers are noted for their ability to tailor support to meet the needs of all students, including those with SEND, helping them progress successfully.
The report praises Notre Dame for fostering a culture of high expectations and support, where students are encouraged to achieve their academic and personal potential. "Students thrive in a culture of high expectation and ambition," the report states, emphasising the college’s success in creating a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive community.
Notre Dame provides a safe and supportive environment, where everything is done for the good of the students, with strong safeguarding measures and a focus on developing students' resilience and independence. Through Philosophy, Theology and Ethics lessons, students are exposed to a wide range of current social, cultural, and political issues, and its benefits are reflected in students’ “highly positive and mature attitudes”.
Ofsted praise the high-quality resources and facilities creating an “enriching environment” for students to thrive and achieve. The significant investment into the college, such as the mock courtroom, science laboratories, and improving access to study spaces and IT facilities is recognised and commended.
Following this recent inspection, Notre Dame is the only sixth form provider in Leeds to be consistently graded ‘Outstanding’ since 2008. Thank you to everyone in the Notre Dame community who helped make this happen.
You can read the full Ofsted report here.
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