Orpheus Centre

Further education and skills inspection report

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Inspection dates: 20 to 21 March 2024 18 to 19 April 2024

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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Information about this provider

The Orpheus Centre is an independent specialist college based in Surrey. The college uses the arts to provide training and support for young adults aged 18 to 25 years old. All learners have special educational needs and/or disabilities, including Down Syndrome, autism and social and communication needs. Learners come from a wide range of local authorities in the United Kingdom.

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Information about this provider

The college provides training and support to develop learners’ confidence and independence and preparation for adulthood. They aim to enable learners to advocate for themselves effectively in adulthood to support their ambitious aspirations.

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Information about this provider

At the time of the inspection visit, there were 63 learners studying at entry level 3 to level 2. All learners have education, health and care plans in place. 20 March to 19 April 2024

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

From the start of their time at the college, learners thrive due to the exceptionally well-planned and implemented transition activities that prepare them well to move from school to college. Learners settle into the very supportive setting quickly and benefit significantly from staff who promote age-appropriate behaviours and independence. Learners develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours they need to be successful in their training swiftly.

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

Learners are highly motivated and ambitious to achieve their aspirations, qualifications and outcomes. They are inspired by the high expectations and ambitions that leaders, trustees and staff promote. Learners personify the values of The Orpheus Centre. They greatly enjoy their learning and become increasingly bold, inclusive and resilient. All learners are polite, encouraging and helpful to each other and staff during their lessons, on work experience and in their free time. They aspire to make the world an inclusive and joyful place.

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

Learners value the support they receive to become empowered, advocate for themselves and challenge negative behaviours and discrimination. They are supported to lead sessions for their peers in subjects they choose, which help them to appreciate equality and celebrate diversity. For example, learners plan and lead lunchtime clubs for other learners in challenging and interesting subjects such as different religious beliefs.

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

Learners rightly relish the exceptional, individualised opportunities to extend their interests and talents. For example, learners benefit from one-to-one lessons in performing arts, dance workshops with Sadler’s Wells Theatre and visits to film studios, such as Pinewood Studios.

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

Learners feel safe at the college. They benefit significantly from the exceptional training they receive to help them stay safe in the community and in their personal lives. They develop secure knowledge of healthy relationships, online safety and the risks to their safety in the community.

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better?

Leaders have a highly ambitious rationale for the provision they offer. They have created a highly innovative project-based curriculum which provides learners with up-to-date training in arts, creativity and enterprise, along with personal, health and social development. Consequently, learners develop key knowledge, skills and behaviours that prepare them well for their next steps and greater independence in adulthood.

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better?

Leaders have developed highly effective relationships with employers within the arts and associated industries. As such, the programmes that leaders offer meet employers’ business needs closely. Staff and learners host useful events to help employers understand the benefits of working with disabled employees. Employers 20 March to 19 April 2024

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value the skills, motivation and positive attitudes that learners bring to their organisations. For example, learners complete projects to further develop businesses’ equality and diversity plans. As a result, learners are confident and successful in applying for and moving on to exciting and relevant next steps, such as radio presenting and commissioned artistry.

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Experienced staff teach with passion and skill. They apply their expert subject knowledge exceptionally well. They tailor programmes and activities to closely match individual learners’ needs so that they make outstanding progress. Staff carefully incorporate core skills such as English and mathematics and employability skills successfully into specialised training and activities so that learners master these essential skills. Staff use an effective range of teaching, learning and assessment methods successfully. Consequently, learners develop the necessary skills for independence and, where relevant, prepare to work in their chosen industries and roles.

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Learners develop, practise and master creative, technical and academic skills successfully to prepare them for their future working lives. For example, learners complete a staged performance of their project work enabling them to practise performance, stage management and digital skills in a simulated work environment.

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Staff provide learners with a wide range of meaningful work opportunities in collaboration with employers and community stakeholders. Leaders make sure that learners have realistic attitudes to future work in the arts. They expose them to roles in associated industries such as catering and administration so that learners gain a wide range of transferrable employability skills.

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Staff motivate learners to achieve to the best of their ability and promote high ambitions. Learners benefit from useful careers education, information, advice and guidance throughout their time at the college which helps them to prepare well for the future. For example, learners learn how to apply for roles, share their work and develop marketing tools and skills for becoming self-employed. All learners achieve high-quality, sustainable next steps, such as qualifications in further education and employment within the creative arts.

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Leaders and trustees continually evaluate the quality of the provision through a range of suitable activities. Exceptionally experienced and specialist trustees provide suitable challenge to leaders to strive for continuous improvement. Leaders take swift and effective action to develop and improve the provision using the information from quality assurance activities and measure the impact of the provision very well.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. 20 March to 19 April 2024

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Provider details

Address North Park Lane Godstone Surrey RH9 8ND

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Provider details

Principal, CEO or equivalent Rachel Black

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Provider details

Provider type Independent specialist college

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Provider details

Date of previous inspection 23 to 25 January 2018

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Provider details

Main subcontractors Not applicable 20 March to 19 April 2024

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the 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

Emma Leavey, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Sara Woodward His Majesty’s Inspector Benjamin Walsh Ofsted Inspector 20 March to 19 April 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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