OFSTED ‘GOOD’ NEWS FOR CITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON COLLEGE

City of Wolverhampton College has maintained its ‘Good’ Ofsted rating following a recent inspection. 

The grading – the second highest possible grading that Ofsted can award – comes after a rigorous four-day full assessment by a team of nine inspectors in November. 

In the report, published today, inspectors rated seven areas as ‘Good’ – effectiveness of leadership and management, study programmes for 16-19-year-olds, adult learning programmes, provision for students with high needs, quality of teaching, learning and assessments, personal development and welfare, and outcomes for students.  

The report highlights a number of key strengths, including students’ high achievement rates, students’ and apprentices’ development of the academic, practical and technical knowledge they need for further study or work, their progression to further training or employment, and their positive attitude to learning and the pride they take in their work.   

Praise was also received for the college’s culture of high expectations, the highly effective support it provides which enables a very high number of students to achieve their career aspirations and personal goals, and its excellent relationships with local and regional employers resulting in courses that meet local and regional needs very successfully. 

Kirk Hookham, vice principal for curriculum and quality at the college, said: “Maintaining our ‘Good’ Ofsted rating is fantastic news and is official recognition of how our tutors and support staff work tirelessly to ensure the skills our students develop are of a high standard and what employers require.”     

In the same week as the Ofsted inspection, the college won its fourth national Association of College’s Beacon Award – this time for careers education and guidance.  The award follows the college being rated top in the West Midlands for student satisfaction in July and employer satisfaction in October.  

Kirk added: “The Ofsted rating, along with our Beacon Award for careers education and guidance and being ranked top in the West Midlands for both student and employer satisfaction, cements our position as one of the leading providers of further education in the country and demonstrates that we care about what we do and the difference it makes to each individual student, whatever their level.” 

To read the full Ofsted report click here