Best-ever Ofsted report for Shrewsbury College
Shrewsbury College has received its best ever inspection report after making significant improvements.
Inspectors visited the college last month and inspected health and social care and early years, engineering, motor vehicle, hairdressing, beauty and therapies, performing arts and media and business, and all were graded 'good'.
Steve Wain, principal of Shrewsbury College, said: "I believe I can speak for everyone who works at Shrewsbury College when I say we are delighted to have achieved the best Ofsted inspection results ever.
"The thorough report highlights significant strengths across all areas of the college.
"We are particularly pleased that the inspectors have recognised that not only have we made steady improvements since the last inspection, but our capacity for future improvement is regarded as strong. We are very proud that they recognised that we focus clearly on the needs of our students and the community we serve."
In the summary of key findings the report said: "Teaching and learning have improved significantly and are now good as a result of the strong management of staff performance, combined with a well-planned approach to using lesson observations to help teachers reflect on and develop their skills."
Senior leaders and managers were also praised for their clear focus on developing students' employability skills in lessons.
Inspectors noted that teachers pay good attention to the development of students' English and maths skills in lessons and that students benefit from the good and 'innovative' development and use of information and learning technology. The college was also praised for its "strong partnerships with schools, employers and the local community".
The quality of teaching, learning and assessment reported that teachers had high expectations of students and apprentices, irrespective of their previous educational achievement or personal barriers to learning and that they are "challenged" to achieve high grades.
The Ofsted report stated that leadership and management at the college are good.
"The principal, senior managers and governors have a clear and well-reasoned strategic plan, focusing clearly on the needs of students and the local community. Their drive and enthusiasm has led to steady improvements since the last inspection with a strong capacity for future developments" it said.
Mr Wain added: "The college was assessed at being grade three in regards to outcomes for learners, but the report does recognise that this is based on historic three-year data rather than what is happening now.
"It also praises areas including the high proportion of young people achieving their qualifications at level three and says that initiatives introduced by the college to develop students' employability skills, both in lessons and through work placements, have been largely successful to exposing students to the world of work in a number of different ways."
