‘Outstanding’ quality of education at Itchen College

Itchen College is celebrating the outcome of its latest Ofsted inspection. The report, which has just been published, rates the quality of education on offer as ‘Outstanding’.

The college was inspected between 30^th November and 3^rd December. The grade for overall effectiveness was ‘good’, supported by ‘outstanding’ grades for the key areas of quality of education, education programmes for young people and provision for learners with high needs.

Inspectors commented upon the ‘highly aspirational vision for students and staff’ which results in an environment where ‘students flourish and succeed in their chosen studies’, and where ‘students speak with pride about attending the college’.

The report comments favourably upon student behaviour and the development of skills needed to be successful in life, recognising that leaders and managers ‘have worked diligently and effectively to improve the quality of education’, achieving an outstanding judgement in this area. Teachers are ‘highly skilled in their subjects’ and ‘know their students well’, while working with ‘enthusiasm and imagination’ to capture the attention of students. Governors are ‘proud of the college and how well it serves the local community’.

Principal Alex Scott said “We are delighted with this inspection report which fully recognises the exceptional quality of education on offer at Itchen, and the outstanding contribution of students, staff, employers and governors in achieving this. It clearly shows the strengths of Itchen and the work undertaken over the last few years to achieve this outcome. Our current students and their parents should be proud of the report while prospective students and their parents should be reassured by the judgement that deems the quality of education on offer is outstanding”.

“We hope that everyone will look at the report and take the time to consider the extensive range of positive comments about us alongside the very small number of areas we need to improve. The report captures what Itchen is all about and is a credit to the hard work of staff and students, and provides a very strong basis on which to build further success”.