College rated 'outstanding' by inspectors

10:09pm Thursday 27th March 2008

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WARWICKSHIRE College, which incorporates Pershore College, has received a glowing report from Government inspectors.

The college has been given a series of outstanding' verdicts by Ofsted.

Principal Ioan Morgan said: "This is the second outstanding inspection in four years and it's a huge compliment to our hardworking staff, excellent students and the support we receive from our community.

"It's very rewarding because the issue for us really is can we be sustainably good?

"We have proved our systems are robust and that students and learners at the college get an exceptionally good deal.

"This inspection was really led by our students. From the moment they greeted the inspectors, the inspectors were left with a clear view this was very much a college where learners were at the heart of activities and decision making.

"Combine that with the high professionalism that was detected among all of the staff and their commitment to learners, together with the outstanding leadership provided by the governors and senior managers and you can see why it led to an outstanding rating."

The college was given the top grade in four of the five areas inspected: effectiveness of provision, capacity to improve, quality of provision, and leadership and management. Achievement and standards gained a good' verdict.

Warwickshire College has six campuses, including Pershore College, with which it merged in August last year.

The inspectors said: "The recent merger has been managed successfully and surveys reveal learners' increased satisfaction at the Pershore campus."

The report said work with employers was outstanding and the college's Centres of Vocational Excellence "promote excellent provision and practice".

The report also notes "the current excellent range of provision has been planned carefully to address local and national skills shortages".

The report notes that "learners take great pride in their work and their progress and standards are good", and that "the number of learners who achieve national representative honours in competitive sports and recognition in national competitions is a feature of the college, and widely celebrated."