Telford College rated as 'good' by national inspectors
A college has received a ‘good’ rating from watchdog Ofsted – making UK further education history in the process.
The Ofsted rating for Telford College is the first time a merger of previously under-performing further education and sixth form colleges have ever been given one of the regulator’s top two grades in its first official inspection.
The news comes just weeks after the college’s financial health was officially upgraded to ‘outstanding’, and completes five years of improvement, innovation and expansion.
In its inspection report, Ofsted has praised the college for adapting the curriculum to meet changing skills needs, and for helping students to boost confidence and self-belief in a safe and stimulating learning environment.
Principal and chief executive Graham Guest described the news as ‘a magnificent achievement’.
“It is the latest milestone on what has been an incredible journey for the college over the past five years, and is richly-deserved reward for all the hard work of staff, and students,” he said.
Telford College was formed in 2017 from the merger of New College Telford, and Telford College of Arts and Technology – both deemed by Ofsted as either ‘inadequate’ or ‘requiring improvement’.
An 11-strong team of Ofsted inspectors spent a week at the campus in February to assess the current quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management.
The report said: “Leaders and managers have worked well since the merger to ensure that the curriculum offered by the college, including for learners who have high needs, closely reflects the skills needs of the local, regional and national economies.
“Teachers carefully design learners’ programmes to meet their individual needs, and they benefit from one-to-one support in specialist individual rooms. As a result, learners are prepared well for their next steps.”
The inspectors said it was clear that students and apprentices were proud to be part of Telford College and ‘highly motivated to achieve’, displaying ‘positive attitudes to their learning’.
They also recognised the way students develop their confidence and self-belief through ‘effective encouragement and support from college staff’.
The college was rates good in seven out of eight categories inspected, with only apprenticeships judged as 'requires improvement.
The Ofsted report praised the college’s ‘effective arrangements’ with the Telford-based Learning Community Trust, which it said was helping to smooth the transition from school to college for young people.
It said: "Staff create inclusive environments that meet the needs of learners. This is achieved by experienced teachers and support staff who take time to understand individual learners’ needs.
“Their course helps them to develop their confidence and self-belief through effective encouragement and support from college staff. As a result, learners develop their character, resilience and confidence.
“Learners on access to higher education courses discuss how they have gained enough confidence to share their own opinion and justify it in a group situation – which they would previously not felt confident enough to do.”
Ofsted said the college also worked well with stakeholders and employers to understand changing skills needs – and used this information well to tailor the curriculum and respond swiftly.
Mr Guest, who took over as principal to oversee the merger, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that Ofsted has recognised the dramatic transformation since the merger, and the exciting plans we have for continued innovation and improvement.
“It’s an endorsement of the quality education we deliver. Our A level provision is now rated in the top 10 per cent in the country, and 94 per cent of our students receive an offer from their first-choice progression destination.
“And with our financial health now also officially recognised as being outstanding, we are in a fantastic position to continue expanding and evolving. These are incredibly exciting times for Telford College."
Lucy Allan MP said she was delighted at the college's success.
She said: "This is a tremendous achievement for all at Telford College and I am pleased that Ofsted has recognised the progress made by the students and staff to improve its rating to “good”. I have written to the college to congratulate them on this important achievement.
"Telford College is a vital centre of learning in our community, providing the skills training that fills roles in our local economy including the health and social care workforce.
"Skills developed at Telford College are crucial for Telford’s future as a centre for skilled jobs, growth and business enterprise.
"I look forward to seeing the new Maths and Digital Skills Hub in the station quarter take shape as a result of the Government’s Towns Fund initiative and the support of local partners and stakeholders. Telford College is a key partner in Telford’s Town Fund plans and its contribution is crucial to the development at the heart of the town.”
