Learning Visit to Longfield Academy – a VI form rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted

The Strategic Education Partnership held a second learning visit on Friday 9th November 2018 at Longfield Academy, Kent, as part of its aim to co-produce solutions to the complex challenges that impact on the quality of children’s education.

The visit, which set out to share good practice in an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted-rated VI form provision, was led by Longfield Academy’s Alex O’Donnell, Principal and Kitty Marlborough, Head of Post-16 Provision.

It was attended by Bexley senior leaders who have responsibility for post-16 provision, from four secondary schools.

The visit consisted of an initial briefing, a tour of the school, focusing on the sixth form areas and a round table discussion of the key elements of managing the sixth form. Areas discussed included: planning the curriculum offer to create choices suitable for all students; use of data to monitor student progress and address areas of concern; the Extended Project Qualification and how it was managed to support students and interventions used for students in year 13. The delegates reflected on how they could apply these elements to their own schools.

With the help of supporting schools, the Strategic Education Partnership plans to offer further learning visits to schools and academies in the future to share knowledge and areas of best practice to the wider education community in Bexley.