Ofsted Report
We were inspected in March 2023 and achieved an overall grade of GOOD with provision for learners with high needs graded as OUTSTANDING.
Download the full report - Ofsted Report March 2023
Highlights from the Report
College Culture
- Staff create a positive culture at the college, which results in a high level of mutual respect between staff and students
- Students display positive attitudes to their learning and are attentive in lessons
- Students are highly motivated to do their best
- Staff promote high expectations of what students, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, can achieve
- Students benefit from exciting enrichment opportunities that develop their interests
- Sports staff support students’ sporting aspirations even when these are not part of the college sports programme, such as surf coaching, weightlifting and cross country running
- Students, who come from a range of backgrounds, feel safe in college
- Staff successfully celebrate diversity, allowing every student to be who they want to be
Curriculum and Teaching
- Leaders and managers have developed an inclusive curriculum with an effective balance of academic and vocational pathways to align the college’s provision with local economic and skills priorities
- Leaders and managers liaise well with employers and stakeholders to understand the skills needs that are relevant to their students
- Leaders and managers use subject experts to develop content for vocational courses such as live briefs, business proposals and workplace visits
- Teachers are well qualified and are experts in their field
- Teachers skilfully develop students’ creative skills, knowledge and behaviours to help them produce work that is of an excellent standard
Learning Support
- Students who have high needs make excellent progress in developing the knowledge, skills and behaviours that they need to achieve their qualifications and progress to highly positive destinations
- Staff help students to increase significantly their confidence and self-esteem, and as a result, students who have high needs develop resilience and improve their communication, independent study skills and teamworking skills
Progression
- Most students progress to positive destinations, including further learning, and many move on to prestigious universities
- Most students progress to university, gain an apprenticeship or move into employment