Ofsted Round-up

Royal National College for the Blind, Hereford

Summary of grades awarded:

Effectiveness of provision             Good: Grade 2

Capacity to improve                         Good: Grade 2

Achievement and standards             Good: Grade 2

Quality of provision                         Outstanding: Grade 1

Leadership and management             Good: Grade 2

Equality of opportunity             Good: contributory grade 2

 

The Royal National College for the Blind (RNCB) is an independent specialist residential college that provides education and training for learners who are blind or visually impaired. The college has 152 residential and 44 day learners; 74 are aged 16 to 18 and 122 are aged 19 years and over. Each learner has an individual programme to cover, for example, independent learning skills, mobility, vocational or academic subjects, and careers and employment advice.

Ofsted found the effectiveness of provision at RNCB was good overall with some outstanding features. They agreed with parts of the self-assessment, but felt the college had been "too generous" with some of its evaluations. Learner’s achievement and the progress they make were considered strengths of the college. The report noted that learners developed good personal and work-related skills, which helped lead to increased independence, confidence and self-esteem. Attendance was thought to be one area for improvement in this section.

Teaching and learning were good. Inspectors noted that effective lessons were, "closely linked to individual learning plans," but other less well planned lessons used activities based on the group as a whole. The extensive range of courses and the personalised learning programmes were listed as strengths, while target-setting could be improved. The college’s social and educational inclusion, and support and guidance for learners were described as outstanding.

Leadership and management were given a good grade, as was the promotion of equality. Ofsted felt that certain aspects of the quality assurance arrangements could be improved, and the self-assessment process, while "highly inclusive", could be better at identifying areas for improvement. Partnership arrangements, communication and governance were all classed as good.

 

Franklin College, Grimsby

 

Summary of grades awarded:

Effectiveness of provision             Good: Grade 2

Capacity to improve                         Good: Grade 2

Achievement and standards            Good: Grade 2

Quality of provision                         Good: Grade 2

Leadership and management             Good: Grade 2

Equality of opportunity             Good: Contributory Grade 2

 

Established in 1990, Franklin College is a Sixth Form college close to Grimsby town centre that also offers adult and community provision from a number of other local venues. The college offers courses in 10 sector subject areas with the majority of enrolments following level 3 programmes. In 2006/07 there were 2,588 learners, of whom 48% were adults.

Ofsted judged Franklin’s overall effectiveness of provision and capacity to improve as good. They reported that inspectors had agreed with the majority of judgements made in the self-assessment. Achievement and standards were good with many learners making, "better progress than expected based on their entry qualifications." This was a key strength along with the high success rates noted for A level and adult learners. Below average AS level success rates was considered to be an area for improvement.

Teaching and learning received a good grade and inspectors reported that they saw, "well planned lessons [using] a variety of activities to engage and interest learners." Inspectors said that lesson observations, while being detailed and accurate, needed to be carried out more frequently. Otherwise, they were pleased with the quality of assessment, the wide range of provision, and they described both social and educational inclusion and the enrichment opportunities on offer as outstanding.

Ofsted generally commended leadership and management stating that the college showed good strategic planning. Successful 14-19 partnership work and good financial planning were two strengths highlighted. Quality assurance procedures, staff development and promotion of equality were all good. One minor criticism, that Franklin were already aware of, was that some accommodation needed refurbishment.

 

Circa Ltd, Lewisham

 

Summary of grades awarded:

Effectiveness of provision             Good: Grade 2

Capacity to improve                         Satisfactory: Grade 3

Achievement and standards             Good: Grade 2

Quality of provision                         Good: Grade 2

Leadership and management             Satisfactory: Grade 3

Equality of opportunity             Contributory grade: Satisfactory: Grade 3

Sector subject area:

Business, administration and law             Good: Grade 2

 

Circa Ltd (Circa) is a work-based training provider that offers apprenticeship programmes in business and administration to young people and adults in the south-east London area. Operating from a training centre in Lewisham, there are currently 22 individuals working and learning with the company.

Ofsted thought the overall effectiveness of provision at Circa was good. Achievement and standards were graded as good, though the success rates for apprentices were reported as being satisfactory. Learners were said to develop a good understanding of business and administration principles, and high levels of social and workplace skills.

The quality of provision was given a good grade and off-the-job training was highlighted as a key strength. Inspectors noted that tutors planned lessons well and used, "a wide variety of activities to promote discussion and learning, and [checked] at the end of each session that learning [had] been effective." Learner’s progress was found to be well managed using an electronic online portfolio recording tool. The report noted that some employers did not have sufficient involvement in the learning process and this was listed as an area for improvement.

Ofsted gave leadership and management a satisfactory grade. They felt that some areas, such as safeguarding arrangements and the promotion of courses to men, could be improved. The management of staff and resources was good and listed as a strength.

 

 

West Berkshire Training Consortium, Newbury

 

Summary of grades awarded:

Effectiveness of provision             Good: Grade 2

Capacity to improve                         Good: Grade 2

Achievement and standards             Good: Grade 2

Quality of provision                         Good: Grade 2

Leadership and management             Good: Grade 2

Equality of opportunity             Contributory grade: Good: Grade 2

Sector subject areas:

Animal care and veterinary science             Satisfactory: Grade 3

Hairdressing and beauty therapy             Satisfactory: Grade 3

Employability training                         Satisfactory: Grade 3

Business, administration and law             Good: Grade 2

 

West Berkshire Training Consortium (WBTC) has been a charitable work-based learning provider since 1983. Funded by Thames Valley LSC, the company provides apprenticeships, advanced apprenticeships, NVQs and E2E programmes to 293 learners. Some provision takes place through subcontracted links with other organisations and colleges.

Ofsted said the effectiveness of provision and capacity to improve at WBTC was good. Achievement and standards were good with success rates for apprenticeship and advanced apprenticeship showing improvement over the last few years. Achievement across the different subject areas was a mix of satisfactory, good and some outstanding success rates. The report said that attendance was generally good and most learners made satisfactory progress.

Teaching and learning were deemed good overall, though a few subject areas were felt to have satisfactory provision. Inspectors said academic and pastoral support for learners was "consistently good" and thought that assessment was effective. With regard to progress reviews they noted that some target-setting was insufficiently detailed. The range of provision was considered good overall.

Leadership and management at WBTC were good. Ofsted listed good links with employers, good promotion of equality, and having effective staff involvement in planning as some of the company’s key strengths. However, Ofsted suggested that the arrangements for monitoring some subcontractors, and learners’ progress, was insufficient and could be improved. Resources were found to be satisfactory and training for staff was good.