Writtle College Limited

Writtle College Limited Report following a monitoring visit to a ‘requires improvement’ provider

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Name of lead inspector: Michael Worgs, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Specialist further education college

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Address: Lordship Road Writtle Chelmsford CM1 3RR Monitoring visit: Writtle College Limited, 26 and 27 June 2024

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Context and focus of visit

Writtle College Limited (WCL), formerly Writtle University College, was inspected in October 2023. At that time, inspectors judged the overall effectiveness of the provision to require improvement.

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Context and focus of visit

The focus of this monitoring visit was to evaluate the progress that leaders and managers have made in resolving the main areas for improvement identified at the previous inspection.

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Context and focus of visit

WCL is a further education provider based in Chelmsford, Essex. WCL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Anglia Ruskin University, following the merger of Anglia Ruskin University and Writtle University College. They offer further education courses in specialist land-based subjects and sports. The college campus is based on a large estate, with extensive landscaped grounds. There are a wide range of facilities which include a working farm, an equine centre, science laboratories, a floristry centre, a specialist animal unit, dog grooming parlours and sports provision.

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Context and focus of visit

At the time of the inspection, there were 563 students aged 16 to 18, 185 adult students, 226 apprentices and 11 students with high needs. Most students and apprentices study level 2 or level 3 land-based courses.

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Context and focus of visit

The provider does not work with any subcontractors.

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Reasonable progress

Since the previous inspection, leaders and managers have taken effective action to establish a strong culture of accountability and support for staff. Staff value this support and challenge, which is communicated well by leaders. Managers review adults’ and apprentices’ attendance and retention to track progress. They work closely with staff to plan suitable interventions for those adults and apprentices who fall behind in their studies. Most adults and apprentices now complete their qualifications successfully.

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Reasonable progress

During induction, staff ensure that new adults and apprentices receive clear initial advice and guidance about the availability of high grades. Staff frequently monitor adults’ and apprentices’ progress against their aspirational targets in review discussions about their progress. Adults and apprentices are now ambitious to achieve well on their courses. Achievement rates for apprentices have doubled since Monitoring visit: Writtle College Limited, 26 and 27 June 2024 the previous inspection. At the time of the visit, around half the apprentices achieve distinction grades.

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Reasonable progress

Following the previous inspection, leaders have developed a new assessment process to review adults’ and apprentices’ prior vocational knowledge and skills. Teachers of adult dog grooming courses and land-based service technician apprentices use these assessments to accurately identify adult students’ and apprentices’ starting points before they start their course. Most teachers use this information well to plan training that meets the needs of adults and apprentices.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have taken suitable action to implement new systems to assess adults’ and apprentices’ English and mathematical starting points. They are piloting the use with veterinary nursing apprentices to develop their English and mathematics skills. Teachers on the veterinary nursing apprenticeship use this information well to plan effective mathematics lessons. Leaders plan to implement these new systems for all adults and apprentices in the next academic year.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that staff engage in relevant training opportunities to develop their teaching skills. For example, they have supported around half of the staff who need teaching qualifications to attend teacher training courses. Leaders now closely track staff attendance to planned professional development training. Staff who are not able to attend training access alternative training with the curriculum team leader or recently appointed advanced practitioner. Staff now frequently access and benefit from suitable training that is linked to their development actions outlined in their observations.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have taken swift action to train staff on how to support students with SEND. Staff now understand how to use the information contained in students’ education, health and care (EHC) plans to plan students’ learning effectively. They accurately review students’ progress against their EHC plan targets and make effective contributions to the annual review process to inform appropriate amendments. Most staff can identify students’ individual needs and implement relevant support strategies. Monitoring visit: Writtle College Limited, 26 and 27 June 2024

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Reasonable progress

Following the previous inspection and subsequent merger, leaders have established a new governance board. Governors have strong experience in further education which they use to support leaders and staff to improve the curriculum. They understand the strengths and areas for improvement within the curriculum well.

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Reasonable progress

Governors meet frequently with leaders and curriculum staff to discuss their self- assessment of the curriculum. Leaders and staff provide governors with up-to-date key performance information such as retention, achievement and progress of students and apprentices. Governors use this information well to support and challenge leaders to improve and accurately evaluate the quality of the curriculum. Monitoring visit: Writtle College Limited, 26 and 27 June 2024 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

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Reasonable progress

children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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