Wakefield College | News | Ofsted Inspectors judge College ‘oustanding’ in many key areas

Ofsted Inspectors judge College ‘oustanding’ in many key areas

When Ofsted inspectors visited Wakefield College recently they were very quickly satisfied with what they found, and where it really matters – in the classroom – they said it was ‘a pleasure to watch students enjoying and achieving’.

Two students sat studying outside on a sunny day

Click here to view the entire Inspection Report

In the official Report published this week, Inspectors declared the College ‘good’ right across the board, and ‘outstanding’ in many key areas. Among the College’s strengths highlighted by Inspectors were the effectiveness and quality of its provision, its teaching, training and learning and its achievements which, at many levels, are above the national averages.

Inspectors found that success rates on long courses at the College are rising steadily and are high at some levels. “Learners enjoy their work, make good progress and develop their confidence and skills well. Staff are appropriately qualified and support for learners is good, with outstanding features. Those learners with particular needs are exceptionally well supported by a wide range of specialist skills and equipment.”

“The College has an outstanding range of provision to meet learners’ and employers’ needs. Through exceptionally effective partnerships the College plays a leading role in regional regeneration. Its approach to educational and social inclusion is outstanding and this has resulted in many innovative projects to attract under-represented groups,” said the Report.

Also highlighted among the strengths of the College were its outstanding provision for learners aged 14-16 and the clear progression routes for students, from entry level through to Higher Education level 4, where the overall success rate was higher than the national average.

It said resources to support learning were good; students had good access to a wide range of enrichment activities, and accommodation was maintained to a high standard. The Report also commended the clear vision and direction provided by College Governors and leaders.

Top of the League
The publication of the inspection report came as the College emerged top of the West Yorkshire Schools and Colleges’ league table of Achievement and Attainment for the third year in succession, indicating its excellent performance in supporting level 3 learners when compared with other further education colleges across the District.

The College came above Huddersfield Technical College, Bradford College, Leeds Thomas Danby, Park Lane College, Leeds College of Technology, and Dewsbury College and in a pilot for next year’s value-added league tables the College came above NEW College Pontefract, Huddersfield New College, Notre Dame College Leeds, Thomas Rotherham College, St Wilfred’s School, Minsthorpe Community College and Hemsworth School.

Principal Heather MacDonald said both reports being issued in the same week really shows how proud Wakefield can be of its College and the degree of confidence the community can have in our contribution.