Exeter College celebrates 'Oustanding' from Ofsted
Exeter College students and staff are celebrating after being rated as outstanding by education inspectors.
The college, which was also rated outstanding by Ofsted less than two years ago, has become the first college in Devon and Cornwall to reach the standard under a new ratings framework.
It makes it the only education provider to gain this highest accolade in two different inspections in less than two years.
The team of 14 Ofsted inspectors, who visited the college in early January, have published their report this week which awards the highest outstanding grade for overall effectiveness, as well as for outcomes for learners, quality of teaching, learning and assessment and effectiveness of leadership and management.
Principal Richard Atkins said: "I am delighted that the hard work and dedication of the staff and students has again been rewarded by this national recognition.
"Following our success with the pilot in 2012, I was confident that the Ofsted inspectors would see again evidence of our outstanding teaching and learning and exceptional practice across our curriculum areas.
"The new inspection places a high emphasis, rightly, on hearing the views of students and college users and seeing at first-hand training and academic sessions. This makes for a very rigorous and thorough view of the college and while we are not perfect, I am very proud that this report makes such positive reading."
The inspectors scrutinised nine curriculum areas visiting more than 100 classroom and training sessions during the week, talking to learners, apprentices and staff about their college experience as well as testing the support given to students by tutors, skills officers, subject lecturers and the range of support services at the college.
The report highlights the impact of the relentless focus of the college on raising standards of teaching and learning.
It says: "As a result of highly motivated and experienced staff, the quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding... and has led to the improved and very high outcomes for learners."
It adds: "Lecturers provide learners with challenging work that prepares them extremely well for further education, training and employment."
In each of the curriculum areas reviewed, inspectors highlighted good practice particularly in how the classroom sessions and active partnerships with local organisations ensured "lessons stretch learners of all abilities" in art and design, and "learners' progression to science degree courses is exceptional and many learners obtain places on the best university courses" in science.
The college's ambitious property and resources investment, business partnerships and specialist academies were celebrated, with the report noting "specialist vocational courses, using exceptional facilities provide learners with outstanding opportunities to work alongside, and learn from, industry leaders and specialists."
Mr Atkins added: "The success of the college is a direct result of the continued development of strong and committed partnerships between the college and local and regional businesses, schools and community organisations.
"I am pleased that the strength and range of these partnerships are recognised as a real feature of the college with the inspectors praising our "excellent links with schools, employers and other agencies", that our values and priorities are viewed as fostering
"excellence, innovation and a commitment to educating and training the local community" and that the college's provision makes an "excellent contribution to the educational, social and economic development needs of the region".
The range and contribution of the college's governors was also recognised in the report.
Philip Bostock, previously Chief Executive of Exeter City Council and now the college's Chair of Governors, said: "This Ofsted report is a great result for the students and staff, for the city and the wider community the college serves."
