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The curriculum is closely matched to the college’s aim to prepare pupils to be ready for work in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) and other careers. A very low number of pupils leave the college without continuing their education or taking up apprenticeships.

Ofsted, 2019

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Pupils pay attention in class and behave respectfully towards their teachers and each other. The college has a calm and hard-working atmosphere.

Ofsted, 2019

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The college has developed and improved over its first three years. Leaders and other staff have worked together to ensure that it provides a good quality of education.

Ofsted, 2019

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The quality of teaching in the sixth form is good. As in the rest of the college, teachers are knowledgeable about their subjects and are respected by students.

Ofsted 2019

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Pupils are motivated by the curriculum and how learning is organised. The college is effective in helping them to understand what attitudes they need to be successful in their learning.

Ofsted, 2019

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Teachers use employer partnerships well to promote learning through work experience and industrial visits. These provide an engineering relevance and context to pupils’ studies.

Ofsted, 2019

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Pupils are known very well by teachers and staff. This helps the college to provide individual support, should pupils need this. This is further strengthened by the strong relationships that leaders are developing with pupils’ families. A group of pupils have been trained to provide peer support. This is proving helpful in giving pupils a less formal route for them to raise concerns and issues.

Ofsted 2019

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Teaching is well planned. This ensures that time in class is productive and that pupils learn well. The positive relationships between teachers and pupils help pupils to engage in their learning. These relationships also encourage pupils’ motivation to make progress. Teachers are generally very successful in encouraging pupils to adopt positive attitudes to learning and to take pride in their work.

Ofsted 2019

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Leaders of the college ensure that the requirements of the 16 to 19 study programmes are met. They have greatly extended their partnerships with local and national employers to provide meaningful work experience for students. Leaders use industrial visits very effectively to enliven the curriculum and prepare students for life at work. These build on students’ existing knowledge and enhance their research and reporting skills.

Ofsted 2019

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The college does not restrict its view of pupils’ outcomes to their success in formal qualifications in particular subjects. Leaders also place great importance on ensuring that pupils are well prepared to start a STEM-related or other career when they eventually leave the college. The proportion of pupils taking up apprenticeships and higher apprenticeships after leaving the college is significantly higher than that seen nationally.

Ofsted 2019