Bilborough Sixth Form College

Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Bilborough Sixth Form College Bilborough Sixth Form College College Way, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG8 4DQ Inspection of residential provision Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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residential accommodation

Bilborough College is a sixth-form college in Nottingham. It offers 16 to 19 study programmes. These are usually A-level courses. There is also a small but growing vocational programme. The college attracts students from the city of Nottingham and from large areas of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, as well as students from abroad to study A-level courses. The college arranges host family accommodation for students who wish to reside locally, including young people under 18 years old. There is no on-site student accommodation.

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good

How well young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The college provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: this is the first inspection of the residential provision organised by the college.

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good

Date of last inspection: N/A Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Bilborough Sixth Form College

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people are happy and content. They enjoy staying in host family accommodation and studying at the college.  The college staff provide young people with good-quality care and support through their entire college experience.  Young people make very good academic progress. The overwhelming majority go to the university of their choice.  College staff respect and promote young people’s individuality.  Host families are experienced, skilled and knowledgeable. They are committed to the welfare and well-being of young people.  College leaders and staff understand how vulnerable young people can be, especially when coming to the UK for the first time. They provide young people with the information, guidance and support that they need to keep safe.  Young people do not engage in risky behaviours such as alcohol or drug misuse. They do not go missing. This is because they are focused on their studies.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Risks to young people are minimised because leaders ensure that all staff are carefully vetted prior to employment.  The college has a good and clear leadership structure. This means that staff and managers know their roles well and know who they are accountable to.  Governance arrangements at the college are strong and effective. This ensures that leaders are accountable.  Leaders and managers have developed good and effective partnerships with other agencies. This helps leaders and managers access any services that young people may need to promote their welfare.  Leaders and managers avoid formal complaints because they respond quickly to any concerns or issues that young people may have.

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Key findings from this inspection

 College leaders should consider the need for host families to have regular checks on electrical equipment and obtaining gas safety certificates. This would provide further reassurance of the safety of host family accommodation.  College leaders should ensure that host family carers undertake accredited safeguarding training and that this training is regularly updated. Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Bilborough Sixth Form College

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Recommendations

 Consideration should be given by the college to host family accommodation being free of obvious health and safety hazards (for example, dangerous electrical fittings or equipment, fire risks) by ensuring that host families have regular electrical installation checks and gas safety certificates.  The college should ensure that host families receive safeguarding training and that this training is regularly updated.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: good

This is the first inspection of the college’s residential provision. No failures of the national minimum standards have been identified.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: good

Leaders and managers are committed to supporting the local community. They endeavour to support more disadvantaged students and their families. For example, they have provided a food bank and clothing bank. This raises students’ awareness of important social issues.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: good

Young people are happy staying with their hosts. They enjoy life at the college. One young person said, ‘My host family father is like a second father.’ Young people say that they feel safe and listened to. When young people move to the host family, they quickly integrate into the host family’s routines. Another young person said, ‘If I am in trouble, there is somebody at the college who is glad to help me.’ Because of the good-quality support provided by host families, international students are content, enjoying their studies and making new friends.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: good

Young people benefit from good individual care. The college is particularly supportive of students who are studying in the UK for the first time. College staff ensure that young people and host families receive a wide range of information before the placement begins. Young people receive a good induction into college life and are well supported to adapt to living in the UK. The college has a designated team of staff to help international students. This team helps young people and host families to resolve any difficulties. They provide good-quality advice, support and guidance.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: good

The academic progress of young people living with host families compares well to that of students in the wider college population. Young people are focused on their studies, usually A-level subjects. Young people coming from abroad have a designated tutor. This tutor helps them to overcome language barriers and quickly get to grips with the work expectations of their course. Young people are usually accepted into the university of their choice. Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Bilborough Sixth Form College Host families are experienced and act as any good parent would. If young people have concerns or worries, they can confide in their host family. One host carer stated, ‘I want to offer warmth and security.’ Host families confirm that the behaviour of young people is good, and that young people are respectful of them and their homes. Hosts know where to turn for help, support and advice if required.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: good

The individuality of young people is respected, promoted and celebrated. Young people can access support and advice in relation to their sexuality. The college’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) support group is available to all students. Other support groups include a feminism group and a veganism group. Some young people have found that these groups help them to positively affirm their identity, make friends and adapt to college life.

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How well young people are helped and protected: good

College leaders and staff have a good understanding of the risks and vulnerabilities of international students, particularly those visiting the UK for the first time. Young people receive a comprehensive range of information, designed to help them stay safe, before arriving in the UK. Additionally, young people receive briefings from staff about safeguarding as part of their induction. This area can be strengthened further by ensuring that host families receive formal and accredited safeguarding training.

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How well young people are helped and protected: good

Leaders and managers adhere fully to safer recruitment policies. All adults in the host family complete enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks. This demonstrates the seriousness placed by this college on keeping young people safe. Young people do not engage in risky behaviour such as drug or alcohol misuse, and do not go missing.

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How well young people are helped and protected: good

Because they understand that young people are at risk of radicalisation, leaders and managers have well-developed relationships with the local police and ‘Prevent’ officers. Staff across the college have completed training about the risk of radicalisation. This ensures that they understand t he statutory guidance and are able to identify young people who may be vulnerable to radicalisation.

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How well young people are helped and protected: good

Leaders have ensured that designated safeguarding staff occupy senior positions within the college. Managers in these positions receive additional safeguarding training and review all safeguarding issues. The safeguarding leads have developed effective relationships with other local safeguarding agencies.

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How well young people are helped and protected: good

Managers carry out routine checks of host family accommodation before young people stay. This assures them that the accommodation meets the college’s requirements. These checks would be strengthened if regular gas and electrical safety checks were carried out at host family homes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A clear leadership and management structure means that staff and managers are accountable for their practice. Leaders and managers have an in-depth understanding of Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Bilborough Sixth Form College the host family provision. They understand the provision’s strengths and areas of potential improvement. They have recently completed an audit of practice against the inspection framework. This helps them plan improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers work in partnership with a range of agencies that provide advice, support and direct services to young people. The local police visit the college regularly and have provided advice to young people on keeping safe. Local health services provide information and support, including sex and relationships guidance. The child and adolescent mental health services also provide good advice about mental and emotional well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Governors have very good insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the college. The chair of governors provides a good balance of support and challenge. Governors receive safeguarding training so that they have a strong understanding of the college’s safeguarding procedures.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers respond quickly to any concerns raised by young people staying with host families. This quick response has prevented concerns escalating into formal complaints. Young people feel listened to and feel satisfied by the response they receive from leaders and managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Hosts confirm that there is always someone from the college available to them if they need help. An on-call system is staffed by a small but very experienced team of staff who have long-established relationships with hosts. Host families appreciate the support they receive and say, ‘it couldn’t be any better’. Another host stated that ‘Support given to us and our students as and when needed has been excellent in all aspects.’

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of young people. They watched how professional staff work with young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the college knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Children Act 1989 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the national minimum standards. Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Bilborough Sixth Form College

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details

Social care unique reference number: 1253974 Principal/CEO: Mr Chris Bradford

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Inspectors

Phillip Morris, social care inspector Joanne Vyas, social care inspector Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Bilborough Sixth Form College achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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