It’s official – Wyke Sixth Form College has been graded Outstanding by Ofsted.
Following a four-day rigorous visit in October, the inspection team found Wyke to be outstanding in all areas of its assessment.
Nestled on the western edge of Hull, Wyke Sixth Form College draws students from over 40 schools, with approximately half coming from Hull and the rest from regions including the East Riding of Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire. The college boasts a diverse array of academic, technical, and vocational programs, catering to 2,450 students during the inspection, including 22 with high needs.
Principal Paul Britton expressed his pride, “I’m extremely proud of our students, teachers, and support staff for all their hard work and enthusiasm that ensured the College achieved the grade we deserved. Our aim is to become the best sixth form provider in the country and the Ofsted report validates, alongside other indicators, that Wyke is near to achieving this recognition.”
The report, assessing Wyke against six criteria, delivered outstanding ratings in every category:
The report found that the curriculum to be ambitious and challenging, equipping students “with the skills, knowledge and behaviours needed for their next step into higher education”, preparing them for leadership roles in a wide range of professional careers.
In response to the enhanced Ofsted inspection framework, which places less emphasis on exam results and more on teaching quality and curriculum, Wyke highlighted its culture of learning and personal development.
Alongside excellent academic progression and outcomes, inspectors drew attention to the college’s outstanding enrichment programme. “Students benefit from an extensive range of high-quality and rich experiences that develop their interests, talents and skills”, found the report, in “a culture in which students’ personal development is valued as highly as their academic achievements.”
The inspection team praised the outstanding behaviour exhibited by our students. They observed that “Students are exceptionally well behaved. They attend well and arrive at classes on time and ready to learn. They are purposeful, curious and diligent, and show respect towards each other and towards their teachers.”
President of Wyke’s Student Executive, Kiza David said, “Being recognised as outstanding confirms what the student community already thought. Our teachers and support staff go above and beyond to make sure we achieve the best possible. We all know that grades are important, but Wyke is so much more than that. I’ve made so many new friends through being part of the sport enrichment and the Pre-medical Programme is supporting me to achieve my aim of studying medicine at university.”
The report section headed, “What does the provider do well and what does it need to do better?”, was exclusively positive, with no recommendations for improvement. It states that the college is “extremely aspirational for their students”, praising teachers “range of useful strategies to help students learn and remember new knowledge.”
Chair of the Corporation, John Wilson said, “This is one of the proudest moments of my time at Wyke. The senior leadership team has made significant progress, and this report recognises the quality of leadership, education, enrichment, and support offered by the College. I'd like to thank all the students, teachers, and support staff for their hard work and dedication. This outcome is thoroughly deserved."
The full Ofsted report can be read here.
