Another Fantastic Ofsted Result for Kingston College

Kingston College is delighted to announce it has been rated “Good” and awarded a Grade 2 by Ofsted inspectors in June 2016. This follows a previous Grade 2 awarded in 2013.

One of only a few London colleges with rising academic standards, the College has reinvigorated its focus on improving the student experience, preparing students for their next step towards employability and delivering consistently good and outstanding teaching, learning and assessment.

The report stated that: “Learners achieve high standards in their lessons”, that “teachers and all other staff provide highly beneficial and well-focused support for learners “and “teachers and assessors are well qualified. They use their subject expertise very effectively to provide well-planned lessons and practical activities, motivating learners, who work hard towards high grades and professional standards.”

The College was inspected by Ofsted under a new tougher framework introduced in September 2015, with two days’ notice, and is part of a routine inspection of education funded by the government normally every three to six years. A team of eight inspectors over 4 days assessed the quality of teaching, learning, assessment, leadership and management. Inspectors spent a large majority of their time with students asking them about their experiences at the College.

The College was rated ‘Good’ across eight out of nine areas. The inspectors were impressed with the high proportion of Level 3 students progressing to Higher Education. They also praised the College on how well it prepares its students for progression to their next step stating that: “Learners gain good skills to prepare them for employment and are successful in getting jobs.”

This new grading means Kingston College is bucking the national trend where only around a third of colleges have achieved  ‘Good’ or a higher rating in 2016 and in London around half of colleges  inspected this year have been awarded ‘Good’ or better.

Kingston College Principal, Peter Mayhew-Smith, said: “At Kingston College, we’re proud of the progress we’re making, delivering great learning to thousands of students and hundreds of employers every year. Our staff work so hard and our students put in so much effort so it’s wonderful to have an inspection result that recognises this. We’re delighted with this report and won’t stop until our College is rated outstanding.”

Mike Tweedale, Kingston College Vice Principal said: “This is absolutely the best inspection result Kingston College has ever had and it was fabulous to hear the inspectors talk so positively about our students, the teaching and support environment that our staff are providing for them and the opportunities that our students are taking every day to develop their employability skills and increase their achievements. We will continue to improve on our strengths so that students continue to have the very best experience here at Kingston College.”

Kingston College Chair of Governors, Dr Janis Brumwell said: “This is a great achievement for Kingston College. It confirms that Kingston College provides a positive learning environment for our students who are supported by our hard working and committed staff. A fantastic result.”

Second year student Molly Dickinson, BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport Exercise Science commented: “As a student rep I loved being involved in the inspection and telling the lead inspector what a great college this has been for me”.

Zac Goldsmith, MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston, said: “I want to send big congratulations to Kingston College for a hugely successful inspection. The college provides a fantastic platform for students and I know it will continue to do so.”

James Berry, MP for Kingston and Surbiton, commented: “This latest seal of approval from OFSTED recognises that Kingston College is going from strength to strength academically as well as through its sector-leading collaboration with Carshalton College. We are fortunate to live in a Borough where all post-GCSE education offers are rated Good or Outstanding. I am grateful to the excellent staff at Kingston College for their hard work in securing this important recognition.”

Full Report available here: http://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/