Outstanding features at Soham Village College

Soham Village College is a good school with some outstanding features, according to Government inspectors. The team from OfSTED - the Office for Standards in Education - found good teaching, behaviour and leadership and management. Inspectors said stude

Soham Village College is a good school with some outstanding features, according to Government inspectors.

The team from OfSTED - the Office for Standards in Education - found good teaching, behaviour and leadership and management.

Inspectors said students reached good standards and made good progress in their academic work because they were taught well, had good attitudes to work and behaved well.

"Teaching and learning are good. Lessons are well planned, with teachers taking into account the needs of individuals. Teachers know their subjects well. They explain points clearly and challenge students to think deeply.

"Very good relationships among students and adults underpin good learning. Students with learning difficulties are encouraged to shine and make outstanding progress as a result. There is an atmosphere of mutual concern and respect," said the inspectors' report.

"The curriculum is good. It plays a very significant part in enhancing students' personal development," it added.

The personal development of students was described as good, and in some respects outstanding. "Behaviour is good, particularly in public areas where many strong friendship groups, together with students' respect for each other, help create a strong sense of community. The school is a positive and cohesive community and the strength of interpersonal relationships is a notable feature.

"Students' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development are outstanding. Social and moral development are strongly promoted throughout the school.

"Good relationships and the sense of community are further strengthened by prefects and older students mentoring and supporting younger students, including new entrants to the school," the report added.

Leadership and management of the school were described as good. Inspectors said the school's leaders had aspirations for it to become and outstanding school.

"The new principal has provided a clear vision for the future development of the school. Her evaluation of its strengths and weaknesses is accurate. With the support of senior colleagues, she is bringing about good improvement," said inspectors.

"The governors are supportive and know the school well. Recent changes have now strengthened the governors' role in critically evaluating the school's provision and their participation in its strategic development," they added.

The school was encouraged to increase the effectiveness of monitoring, improve attendance and make sure all students know their targets and that their progress towards them is carefully monitored.

Principal Dr Carin Taylor said: 'I am delighted that OfSTED have recognised the many strengths of Soham Village College. It is particularly pleasing to note that several areas of our work were judged as outstanding and, equally, to find that we are already addressing aspects which OfSTED identified, with us, as capable of improvement. Staff and students work hard, in partnership with parents and governors, to achieve high quality learning. Such a good report is well-deserved.'