New College Telford told to improve by Ofsted

Steps must be taken to improve the quality of teaching and learning at New College in Wellington, according to a new report.

Too few students taking resits in GCSE mathematics are improving their grades and too few apprentices achieve their qualification in the planned time, inspectors said.

The college, which caters for more than 1,100 students mainly studying for A-levels, has been judged to "require improvement" by inspectors.

Read the full report here

It was graded as "requires improvement" in five of the six areas of assessment.

But it was rated "good" for personal development, behaviour and welfare and inspectors praised the "exemplary" behaviour of students.

Leaders at the college today said the report, which was published yesterday following an inspection in December, had noted that improvements had been made at the college but that there was still work to do.

It comes ahead of a proposed merger between New College and nearby Telford College of Arts and Technology, which will take effect from September.

Business experts from financial consultancy Deloitte will formally examine the merger plans over the coming weeks before they are submitted to the Skills Funding Agency. The proposals will then be opened up to consultation among staff, stakeholders and students.

The report said: "Governors, leaders and managers have not improved the quality of teaching, learning and assessment quickly or consistently enough.

"Too few learners make the progress of which they are capable, especially those studying academic subjects. Too few learners who retake a GCSE in either mathematics or English achieve a grade C or better. Too few apprentices achieve their qualification within the planned time."

On personal development, behaviour and welfare, the report said: "Most learners achieve their qualifications and progress into further learning, higher education or employment.

"Learners' behaviour and attitudes to study and work are exemplary."

Martin Smith, New College's interim principal, said: "I am very pleased that the report acknowledges the improvements made since the last inspection and the commitment of all staff to continue such improvement. We still have work to do, but understand clearly the direction of travel."

The report says that in order to improve, the college needs to ensure governors make full use of the information they get from management reports, and ensure managers quickly implement good practice in teaching so learners in all subjects are "challenged and supported to make the progress of which they are capable".

Teaching of GCSE mathematics must improve so that more learners are able to achieve a grade C or better in their examinations.