His Majesties Inspection Team visited English Martyrs in November 2022 as part of a full school inspection.
Following the 2-day inspection the Sixth Form was designated as 'Good'.
In previous inspections (2019 and 2017) the Sixth Form's academic and pastoral high standards have been recognised by the Office for Standards in Education as 'good'. This recent inspection galvanised the high ambition and rigour provided post 16 and builds upon the strong traditions established at EMS6.
Leah Henderson Head of Sixth Form said: ' We have an excellent offer of subjects at Key Stage 5. We offer 3 languages at A level as well as new subjects including Government and Politics and Sociology. Our high-quality teaching and small classes mean that all students benefit from personalised programmes and support. All students go on to secure employment or to pursue further study. Many study medicine, dentistry, law, English and languages at a wide range of universities, or secure highly competitive apprenticeships'.
Inspectors said that the range of subjects at Sixth Form was 'impressive' and they recognised the strong academic focus of the College.
'Students value the personal support they receive from being in a small Sixth Form'.
Small classes were noted as enabling strong teaching and personalised tuition. The inspection team said 'small classes mean that teachers check precisely what pupils understand'.
Inspectors praised the strong careers support in place that enables students to pursue their chosen career paths. They said: 'Students in the Sixth Form value the advice and guidance they receive about their future plans. They receive effective support from staff to ensure they make the right choices.'
After visiting lessons and talking to staff and students, inspectors recognised the high-quality curriculum and strong pastoral care. The report says that: 'Students value the personal support they receive from being in a small Sixth Form'.
Sara Crawshaw, Headteacher, said: 'Our Sixth Form is a fantastic place to study. The range of subjects, excellent teaching and strong pastoral care is exemplary. Student outcomes are consistently strong at A level, and we have a 100% pass rate in 24 subjects. Our newly refurbished Sixth Form Common Room and Library offer state of the art facilities and workspaces for students. EMS6 is a vibrant, ambitious place to learn'