College learns its lesson as Ofsted inspection shows vast improvement
SUSSEX Coast College (SCC) has received a glowing new report from Ofsted inspectors following a damning first inspection at the end of 2011.
The multi-million pound facility has been moved up from a grade four, the lowest grade, to a grade three after last month’s encouraging review.
It followed a disappointing first Ofsted inspection in December 2011 which led to the resignation of principal Janak Patel after less than a year in the job.
New principal Clive Cooke and his management team has now transformed the college’s performance since he arrived last March.
In the latest inspection, the college received a grade two ‘good’ rating for its quality of teaching and for the effectiveness of its management.
In subject teaching it received a grade two for science, mathematics and statistics, building and construction, hairdressing and beauty therapy, sport and leisure and foundation English.
It received a grade three ‘requires improvement’ rating for foundation mathematics.
Inspectors gave the college an overall rating of three.
Eleven inspectors spent four days at the college between January 21 and 25.
Its key findings were good leadership and management, good capacity to improve further the quality of teaching provision, good teaching, learning and assessment,satisfaction from learners, excellent college facilities and improved exam success.
The report states: “Leadership and management at all levels and across the whole college have improved in a remarkable way in the 14 months since the previous inspection. A new senior leadership team has led this change.”
Mr Cooke said: “We are absolutely thrilled.
“A year ago it was my aim for the college to be outstanding and we’re thrilled to have achieved so much so quickly.
“We have moved up two grades from a four to a two in five our of six curriculum areas. It is very rare for Ofsted to use the word ‘remarkable’ in any of its reports.
“Despite the overall grade being a three with many areas being graded as two, we are nevertheless delighted with the results.
“The whole teaching and support staff has worked tirelessly and I’m confident we will be an outstanding-rated college in the near future.”
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Thursday 23 May 2013
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