The Sixth Form College Colchester

Further education and skills inspection report

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Inspection of The Sixth Form College Colchester

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Education programmes for young people Outstanding Provision for learners with high needs Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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Information about this provider

The Sixth Form College Colchester is situated in the city of Colchester. It provides education programmes for young people at level 2 and predominantly level 3 in all subject sector areas. Around half of all students commute to the college from across Essex.

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Information about this provider

There are 3,133 students on education programmes for young people, predominantly on A-level courses. The largest subject areas are psychology, English, mathematics and statistics, sociology and biology. The college receives high-needs funding for eight students. The college does not use any subcontractors. 12 to 15 March 2024

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Students’ behaviour is exemplary. They are polite, courteous, well-mannered and respectful. Teachers skilfully develop most students’ understanding of British values. Students consider the views and beliefs of others and treat each other with dignity and respect. Students learn how to express their views clearly and maturely. They quickly grow in confidence and become increasingly resilient. Most students undertake charity work or enter skills-based competitions. For example, over 300 students entered the Science Olympiad, with a high proportion of them winning medals. Students quickly become empowered to take ownership of their futures and their place in society as active citizens.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Most students have high attendance and are punctual. Staff monitor attendance closely and follow up on non-attendance quickly. Where students have difficulty attending college due to personal reasons and/or medical conditions, leaders and teachers make adaptations, where possible, so that students do not miss any learning.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Students are treated with respect by staff and encouraged to do their best. Students work diligently and make good use of the independent study areas available at college. In these busy areas, students maintain good personal discipline over their communications. They are considerate of other students studying and keep noise levels low.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Students value greatly the high-quality teaching they receive from subject specialists. Teachers use their knowledge and skills to create calm and highly focused learning environments that support and enable students to learn very effectively.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Students benefit from a well-planned and effective careers programme. They are equipped very effectively to make successful decisions to identify appropriate career choices and pathways.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Students quickly learn how to work safely. They wear the correct personal protective equipment and work in a safe manner. Students told inspectors that they feel safe and that the college is a safe environment.

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Contribution to meeting skills needs

The college makes a reasonable contribution to meeting skills needs.

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Contribution to meeting skills needs

Senior leaders work and liaise very effectively with stakeholders in the identification of local and regional skills needs. Leaders have a well-developed understanding of key growth sectors, such as the need for greater digital literacy. This has resulted in a Digital Skills Academy. Students learn to use essential software identified by employers, such as that used for data analysis and communication. As a result, students are better prepared to meet current and future workforce needs. 12 to 15 March 2024

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Senior leaders and governors have a detailed understanding of how they contribute to skills needs in their locality. Governors bring a good range of vocational and professional experience to their roles. They understand the skills agenda and challenge staff to meet local and regional skills gaps, monitoring their progress effectively. Leaders have used local labour market information usefully to shape the curriculum. Course leaders have developed curriculum maps that identify the key employment skills that employers need. These include teamwork, leadership, resilience and good communication skills. Course leaders ensure that these skills are included in the core and additional studies curriculum.

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Leaders and managers collaborate closely with other local education providers to ensure that courses meet students’ skills development and progression aspirations. Leaders meet frequently with counterparts at the local college and university. This enables leaders to plan courses that avoid competition and duplication. This includes the local provision of T-levels and foundation degree programmes. Students benefit from frequent contact with university staff and gain a deeper understanding of degree programmes and what career pathways are available to them. Visits to universities in the area provide students with additional benefits, such as using the library for academic research and experiencing subject taster sessions.

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Leaders do not yet work consistently with employers or other stakeholders to inform and develop the content of courses. Too few course leaders develop curriculum content collaboratively with stakeholders from industry or university.

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better?

Since the previous inspection, leaders and managers have been successful in further raising the quality of education. They have diligently focused on all aspects of provision to rectify any weaknesses identified through their effective quality assurance processes.

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better?

Leaders are very ambitious for students, including students with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those with high needs. Leaders and teachers have high aspirations for what students will achieve and where they will move on to when they leave college. Leaders and managers have developed a specialist A-level academic programme to meet the needs of Colchester and the surrounding area.

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better?

Nearly all students pass their qualifications, often with A* grades. Students develop confidence in their abilities and are well prepared for their next stage in learning or work including being well prepared for higher education. The few students who resit GCSE mathematics and/or English pass their qualifications.

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better?

Teachers’ tailor high-quality learning programmes for students with high needs. Leaders have highly effective partnership arrangements, and these ensure that students have a very positive start at the college. Leaders have ensured that programmes are linked highly effectively to students’ education, health and care plan outcomes so that they meet their needs and interests closely. Teachers guide 12 to 15 March 2024

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students to select appropriate enrichment activities to achieve their learning objectives fully. For example, students wishing to work with animals are helped to complete work experience at a horticultural college as part of their programme. This provides them with useful insight into the career and study options available to them.

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Leaders and teachers organise learning logically and sensibly so that students initially acquire a secure understanding of fundamental topics, before building on this to study increasingly complex and demanding concepts. Teachers think very carefully about the order in which students learn and acquire new knowledge and skills. As a result, students promptly acquire a secure understanding of essential information and knowledge and apply what they have learned with increasing confidence. For example, in A-level sociology, students initially learn about education, theoretical perspectives and research methods and then apply this to a range of sociological perspectives. In A-level statistics, students initially build their understanding of numerical values and probability, before moving on to distribution and hypothesis testing.

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Teachers check students’ understanding and what they can do very thoroughly before moving on to the next topic. They use assessments skilfully to help students recap previous learning and enable them to commit it securely to their long-term memory. Teachers frequently use mock examinations and other assessments to help students prepare for their final assessments. Consequently, students become increasingly confident in their ability to structure and articulate their answers, feeling well prepared for their final assessments.

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Teachers continually use subject-specific, academic and technical terms and support students to adopt their use promptly and correctly. As a result, students use appropriate subject terminology with confidence to explain and justify their thoughts and ideas about the subject that they are studying clearly and correctly. For example, in A-level fine art, students use technical vocabulary to analyse accurately the formal elements of paintings. Students then use this language to explain their work or within essays for their coursework.

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Teachers provide students with clear, helpful feedback that identifies what students do well and what they need to do to improve their future work. Students act appropriately on the feedback they receive. The standard of their work improves over time and is good. Students have a firm appreciation of what they are good at and where they need to improve. They develop the study skills they require to thrive in their courses and next steps.

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Teachers create inclusive learning environments. Students feel comfortable asking questions or discussing their findings and contributing to group discussions. They benefit from calm and welcoming environments, that help them learn and thrive. Teachers adjust their teaching methods for students with additional learning needs, for example by providing tailored learning resources in advance of sessions. As a result, students can make good and better progress in their learning. 12 to 15 March 2024

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Leaders’ focus on improving teachers’ skills is highly effective. Leaders identify good teaching practices and share them successfully. Teachers are confident to try different approaches, making sure their teaching is relevant and interesting.

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Governors have a good understanding of the college and the work of the leadership team. They are aware of the strengths and areas for development of the college. Governors’ good insight enables them to provide leaders with appropriate challenge that secures improvement.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. 12 to 15 March 2024

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Provider details

Address North Hill Colchester Essex CO1 1SN

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Provider details

Principal, CEO or equivalent Ian MacNaughton

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Provider details

Provider type General sixth-form college

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Provider details

Date of previous inspection 5 February 2013

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Provider details

Main subcontractors N/A 12 to 15 March 2024

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the assistant principal, as nominee. Inspectors took account of the provider’s most recent self-assessment report and development plans, and the previous inspection report. The inspection was carried out using the further education and skills inspection handbook and took into account all relevant provision at the provider. Inspectors collected a wide range of evidence to inform judgements, including visiting learning sessions, scrutinising learners’ work, seeking the views of learners, staff and other stakeholders, and examining the provider’s documentation and records.

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Inspection team

Shane Langthorne, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Roland White His Majesty’s Inspector Teresa Kiely Ofsted Inspector Peter Giles Ofsted Inspector Jaswant Mann Ofsted Inspector Ann Minton Ofsted Inspector Georgina Ager His Majesty’s Inspector Chris Bealey Ofsted Inspector 12 to 15 March 2024

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regulates and inspects to 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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