St Andrew’s College gains second ‘outstanding’

St Andrew’s College, part of St Andrew’s Healthcare’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) has been judged ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted for the second time.

St Andrew’s College provides education for around 80 students in a range of subjects and qualifications as part of the care and recovery package they receive at St Andrew’s Healthcare. Recently relocated to the newly opened FitzRoy House, the college has been developed to meet the needs of students’ with complex mental health, learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorders. The previous inspection took place in 2013.

Comments from the latest Ofsted report include:

• Students make exceptionally strong progress from their starting points because the quality of teaching and learning is outstanding.
• The school’s leaders create an ambitious culture that demonstrates high expectations of staff and students. They demonstrate an uncompromising commitment and considerable success in improving life chances for vulnerable and disadvantaged students.
• Students state that the staff listen to them and understand their individual needs. Exemplary protection, support and ambition for vulnerable students are at the heart of the college’s vision and actions.
• The behaviour of students is outstanding. Leaders and teachers have high expectations of students’ conduct and behaviour. As a result, the college is calm and well disciplined.
• The college prepares students exceptionally well for the next stage of their education, training or employment. A large majority return to non-secure settings on leaving St Andrews. Others move on to a variety of sheltered or secure adult environments.

Richard Walker, Head Teacher at St Andrew’s College, said: “The team is thrilled to have achieved an outstanding rating once again. We feel privileged to support young people at St Andrew’s on their journey towards achieving their educational potential and to have our efforts recognised in this way is highly rewarding.

“I’d like to thank every single member of the education team for their effectiveness and the quality of their teaching and relationships with the young people.”

Paul Bentham, Service Director for St Andrew’s CAMHS pathway, said: “To achieve an ‘outstanding’ rating is a major achievement, but to achieve it twice is fantastic. The progress that our young people make with the help of St Andrew’s College is amazing and undoubtedly has a major impact both on their recovery and their future prospects.

“What’s even more exciting is that this inspection took place before our move to FitzRoy House, St Andrew’s state of the art CAMHS facility. We have a purpose built college designed to meet the needs of the young people and offer a broad and balanced curriculum. This will improve our outcomes further and we’re excited to see what the coming months bring.”