How to Write an Effective SEF - SfE

How to Write an Effective SEF
1b: Please summarise briefly your distinctive aims and describe any special
features of your school, for example:
• Whether you intend to become a specialist school, or school with special
status, and if it is one already, the main changes that have occurred because
of this
• Whether you are a school with a religious character
• Any special units, additional community services or extended provision
• Significant partnerships with other providers or agencies (such as shared
arrangements)
Points to note:
• Reference to initial teacher training carried by the school whether SCITT and
GTP training
• Evaluate where possible how the distinctive aims and special features
impact upon students noted.
• College links eg make explicit how employers’ needs are met through
developing work-related skills.
• Evaluate the provision of organisations such as the Anytown LEA Music
School being resident in your school. Where possible, evaluate the
outcomes in terms of impact upon the students.
• Evaluate what effect the specialist status has had on standards and
achievement made in the school.
• Are there any links from which the school derives benefit rather than as a
supporter for other schools?
Example 1
Amarillo became a specialist Sports College in 2001. Our sports development plan
reflects our school aim to encourage students to participate in activities which
present new challenges and help them to develop confidence and self-reliance. This
has enhanced our community partnerships which are very important to us,
particularly those with local primary schools and with sports clubs. For the last two
years Amarillo has provided a base for a School Sports Coordinator partnership
involving four partner secondary schools and each local cluster of primary schools.
Amarillo has a joint use Sports Centre on site. Facilities at the Centre have been
much improved in the last three years through a substantial Lottery Fund grant made
following our successful bid for Sports College status. We have also benefited from
additional funding from the LTA to support tennis development.
Partnership working with secondary schools is an especially strong feature of our
school development. The secondary heads meet regularly and participate in the local
Learning Forum, with local partners from colleges and training organisations.
Comment: Clear evaluative statements
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