Meeting with leaders, managers, staff and learners, the inspection team were very positive in their report. They found that at the start of the outbreak, college leaders “responded rapidly to the disruption to learning that the COVID-19 restrictions caused and provided additional training to staff to enable them to become confident when teaching online”. They also found that “leaders carefully reviewed what learning strategies were effective” and that “teachers developed innovative ways of teaching via a video link”.
The college has been particularly proud that since September their students have been back on site, enjoying face to face to learning in a Covid Safe environment, and it was excellent news to have Ofsted affirm the success of this approach and to praise the efforts the staff went to, to ensure that “any skills gaps were identified and catch up lessons provided.”
Ofsted were complimentary about the way the college has embraced modern technology during this period, both with digital teaching resources to keep lessons stimulating and engaging, including augmented reality for sport and virtual skeletons for biology; and with virtual campus tours and open events to help with careers information, advice and guidance and the transition from school to college.
Finally, they praised the lengths in which the college continues to go to, to ensure their learners are kept safe and well during this time. Citing that during lockdown, “Staff contacted learners regularly to check they were safe and to discuss their mental health and well-being”, and that since returning to College “learners say they feel safe while in college and when working online.”
Michelle Brabner, Principal/CEO at the College who thanked the staff for all their hard work since the start of the pandemic, said “We are delighted to have received such a positive report from Ofsted. These are unprecedented times, but I am very proud of all our staff for the way in which they have stepped up to the challenge and ensured that our learners continue to get the very best teaching, learning and support possible so that they can achieve their dreams and ambitions”.
Full Report
