Esher College

Audience Published Provider reference Bridgwater College

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Contents

Basic information about the college 3 Background of the organisation 4 Scope of the inspection 4

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Basic information about the college

Address of college: Bath Road Bridgwater Somerset TA6 4PZ

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Basic information about the college

Name of lead inspector: Russell Jordan HMI Dates of inspection: 16 November 2006

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Background of the organisation

1. Bridgwater College was established in 1973 and is the main education and training provider for young people in the area leaving secondary school at age 16. There are four ‘Centres of Vocational Excellence’ (CoVEs) in automotive engineering, early years, residential care, and tourism and hospitality. The College won the Association of Colleges’ National Beacon Awards for Employer Engagement, based upon its work in 2004/05.

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Background of the organisation

2. In 2004/05 there were a total of 15,801 learners on roll. Of these 3,955 were aged 16 to 18 and over half of learners from this age group were studying qualifications at level 3. Around half of these study GCE AS or A level subjects. Half of adult learner enrolments were for qualifications at Level 1. The college has re-structured its adult provision in line with the priorities of the Learning Skills Council. It has expanded recruitment at Level 2 whilst managing a reduction in learner numbers at Level 3. The college provides qualifications in all 15 subject sector areas (SSAs).

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Background of the organisation

3. Bridgwater College merged with Cannington College (the county’s land-based college) on 1 September 2004. Land-based qualifications now account for approximately 10% of learners aged 16 to 18 and a slightly larger proportion of adult learners; enrolments increased in 2005/06. The college has approximately 400 work-based learners on apprenticeship programmes in land-based occupations, engineering and construction.

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Background of the organisation

4. Bridgwater College was last inspected in February 2002. At that inspection the majority of its provision was judged to be outstanding.

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Scope of assessment

5. In deciding the scope of this inspection, inspectors took account of: the college’s previous inspection report (www.ofsted.gov.uk); the college’s most recent self-assessment report and development plans; comments from the local Learning and Skills Council (LSC): reports from the inspectorate annual assessment visits; and data on enrolments and learners’ achievements over the period since the last inspection. This inspection focused on the following aspects:

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Scope of assessment

 overall effectiveness of the college and its capacity to improve further  achievements and standards  quality of provision  leadership and management

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Leadership and management Outstanding : grade 1

Note: Where contributory grades have been awarded, they are shown in the relevant sections of the report. Contributory grades represent the judgement of the team that the quality of the aspect of provision indicated by the grade differs from the grade overall.

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Effectiveness of provision Outstanding: grade 1

6. The college provides outstanding education and training and fulfils its mission to inspire learners to achieve success. Leadership and management are outstanding and are focused on ensuring that all learners fulfil their potential. The college is committed to the continuous improvement of teaching and learning and there are very effective mechanisms in place to ensure this happens. Learners are set challenging targets and receive exceptional support from their teachers and tutors in order to help them achieve these targets. The curriculum provides an excellent mix of vocational and academic qualifications. Guidance and support for learners are outstanding. Self- assessment is rigorous and reliable; it plays an essential role in driving continuous improvement. The college’s growth has been well supported with excellent new buildings and facilities. The college is very effective at engaging employers across a range of occupational areas, successfully identifying and

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Capacity to improve Outstanding: grade 1

7. The college demonstrates outstanding capacity to improve. Outstanding leadership and management have maintained and further improved excellent standards of performance. This has been achieved alongside significant growth in 16-18 learners, the merger with an inadequate college, and the expansion of accommodation and other resources at both the Cannington and Bridgwater sites. In the areas where weaknesses were previously identified, managers have taken extremely effective action to bring about improvement, such as in raising the level of work-based framework achievement and in raising success rates in land-based courses. Self-assessment is rigorous and reliable. The college monitors its own performance relentlessly.

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Achievements and standards Outstanding: grade 1

8. Overall success rates on long courses for all learners are outstanding compared to similar colleges and have improved steadily since the last inspection. Learners aged 16 to 18 perform extremely well at National Diploma, GCE AS and A Level. Their achievement of high grades at National Diploma, AS and A Level is exceptional and well above national averages for similar colleges. Learners’ progress from their starting points on entry to the college is outstanding. National value-added data demonstrate performance is excellent, placing the college in the top 10% of further education and sixth form colleges. This performance is underpinned by extremely effective target setting and individual review. Key skills success rates are well above national averages and have improved considerably, particularly for learners aged 16 to 18. Achievements and standards for work-based learning are good and there has been a very significant improvement in framework completion. There are

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Achievements and standards Outstanding: grade 1

many examples of individual students achieving awards, including apprentice of the year. Attendance is very high and is rigorously monitored. The college rightly takes great pride in celebrating learners’ achievements.

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Quality of provision Outstanding: grade 1

9. Teaching and learning are outstanding. Teachers and managers are committed to continuous improvement for the benefit of their learners. They work very diligently and successfully to share good practice in teaching and learning and to bring about improvement in any aspects of teaching where this is needed. There is a real and active commitment to preparing students for employment, further and higher education and training. The marking of learners’ work is of a high standard across the range of courses. Learners receive very detailed and constructive feedback on their work so they can easily see how well they are performing and what they need to do to improve.

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Quality of provision Outstanding: grade 1

10. Bridgwater is a highly inclusive college. There is a very broad range of courses which offer good opportunities to students from a very wide range of abilities. There is an excellent mix of vocational and academic qualifications reflecting the college’s commitment to the community as a whole and many learners study a combination of these. There are good progression routes at all levels, including the opportunity to study higher education courses at the college. The college is very effective at engaging employers and in identifying and meeting their training needs. This is reflected in high levels of repeat business and very high satisfaction rates.

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Quality of provision Outstanding: grade 1

11. Guidance and support for learners are outstanding. The college takes very great care to ensure that learners are on the right course and settle in well. An extensive range of pre-entry activities successfully supports the transition from school to college. There is very effective use of students as ‘ambassadors’ to promote the college to the wider community; ‘angels’ who act as mentors and advisers to new students and ‘advocates’ who support students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Extensive consultation with parents takes place throughout the year; perception questionnaires evidence their very positive views about the quality of advice, guidance and support provided for students. Learner voices have a high priority at the college through focus and user groups, and a variety of other course and college forums. Learners endorse the high quality of pastoral support they receive; tutorials now encompass the ‘Every Child Matters’ agenda which is

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Quality of provision Outstanding: grade 1

further promoted through different ‘theme’ weeks. A large number of learners receive additional learning support; success rates for this group are in line with those for the college as a whole. A comprehensive tracking programme is used to record students’ progress. This provides a wide range of pastoral and academic information and is a key factor in supporting the high standards of learners’ achievements at the college.

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Leadership and management Outstanding: grade 1

12. Leadership and management continue to be outstanding. Teachers and managers share a determination for continuous improvement and a focus on ensuring that all learners reach their full potential. Self assessment is reliable and rigorous. The monitoring of college performance is relentless and highly effective in identifying areas for improvement. The resulting actions are equally effective, as is clear from the very successful focus on raising framework achievement in work-based learning and in bringing about improvements in courses which have not met challenging targets. The college’s responsiveness to the needs of employers is outstanding. The close relationship with employers enables the college to provide very extensive work-placement opportunities for learners, and use employers extensively in curriculum enrichment.

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Leadership and management Outstanding: grade 1

13. Financial management and the effective development and use of resources to support learning are equally important strengths in the college. The college has very successfully managed the merger with Cannington College. Success rates in land-based courses are now well above the national average. Provision has been extended and there has been considerable investment in accommodation and learning resources. The college provides very good value for money.

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Table 1

Success rates on mainstream level 1 qualifications, by qualification type, expected end year and age, 2004 to 2006, compared to the national rates for colleges of a similar type.

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Table 2

Success rates on mainstream level 2 qualifications, by qualification type, expected end year and age, 2004 to 2006, compared to the national rates for colleges of a similar type. 16-18 19+

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Table 2

Notional Level Exp End Year Starts – Transfers College Rate National Rate Diff Starts – Transfers College Rate National Rate Diff 2 Long 03/04 1015 66.1 56.3 9.8 1200 55.3 53.6 1.7 04/05 1313 69.9 60.9 9 1483 71.7 59.5 12.2 05/06 1714 69.3 1851 76.5 GCSEs 03/04 204 52.5 61.3 -8.8 83 74.7 58.8 15.9 04/05 197 55.8 64.1 -8.3 115 56.5 62.3 -5.8 05/06 215 59.1 84 58.3 03/04 51 68.6 63 5.6 28 75 56.6 18.4

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Table 2

04/05 55 81.8 66.8 15 107 79.4 70.4 9 GNVQs and precursors

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Table 2

05/06 61 78.7 70 87.1 NVQs 03/04 32 34.4 51.9 -17.5 215 30.2 53.5 -23.2 04/05 27 66.7 57 9.6 221 60.2 59.6 0.6 05/06 28 75 204 62.3 Other 03/04 728 71.2 54.1 17.1 874 58.9 52.7 6.2 04/05 1034 72.1 60.1 11.9 1040 75.1 58.8 16.3 05/06 1410 70.3 1493 79.0 16-18 19+ Notional Level Exp End Year Starts – Transfers College Rate National Rate Diff Starts – Transfers College Rate National Rate Diff

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Table 2

1 Long 03/04 1997 75 60.3 14.7 3467 80.2 59.1 21.1 04/05 2527 74 64.2 9.8 3637 86.4 61.6 24.8 05/06 3106 73.0 2688 85.9 03/04 51 76.5 65.1 11.4 GNVQs and precursors 04/05 - -

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Table 2

05/06 - - - - NVQs 03/04 127 52 61 -9.1 64 71.9 62.3 9.5 04/05 66 95.5 67.2 28.3 05/06 62 88.7 21.5 Other 03/04 1819 76.6 60 16.6 3396 80.4 59 21.4 04/05 2452 73.5 63.6 9.9 3619 86.6 61.4 25.2 05/06 3044 72.7 2681 85.9

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Table 3

Success rates on mainstream level 3 qualifications, by qualification type, expected end year and age, 2004 to 2006, compared to the national rates for colleges of a similar type. 16-18 19+ Notional Level Exp End Year Starts – Transfers College Rate National Rate Diff Starts – Transfers College Rate National Rate Diff

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Table 3

3 Long 03/04 3070 71.6 64.1 7.5 1544 59.8 53.5 6.3 04/05 3040 72.1 67.5 4.6 1352 60.7 57.3 3.4 05/06 3346 76.3 881 63.2 03/04 542 91.5 83.8 7.7 49 75.5 65.5 10 A/A2 Levels 04/05 670 91.3 85.6 5.7 55 74.5 69.1 5.5 05/06 690 91.4 47 78.7 AS Levels 03/04 1710 68.2 62.9 5.3 93 51.6 49.6 2.0 04/05 1555 71.8 65.5 6.4 71 52.1 52.2 -0.1 05/06 1948 73.3 100 53.0 03/04 280 62.1 52.4 9.8 40 50 43.5 6.5 GNVQs and precursors 04/05 156 41.0 60.2 -19.2

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Table 3

05/06 - - - - NVQs 03/04 28 75 53.7 21.3 200 50 47 3 04/05 10 30 62.4 -32.4 178 51.7 53.9 -2.2 05/06 25 68.0 127 59.8 Other 03/04 510 66.7 56.3 10.3 1162 61.8 55.7 6.1 04/05 649 60.9 60 0.9 1040 62.4 58.3 4.1 05/06 683 69.8 607 64.4

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Table 4

Success rates on work-based learning programmes managed by the college 2004 to 2006. Programme End Year Success Rate No, of learners * College NVQ rate ** National NVQ rate ** College framework rate ** National framework rate ** overall 34 53 48 44 31 03/04 timely 40 38 30 30 19 overall 30 53 48 30 34 04/05 timely 24 33 31 17 21 overall 49 57 53 53 44 Advanced Apprenticeships

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Table 4

05/06+ timely 57 47 33 32 26 overall 10 50 47 10 32 03/04 timely 9 0 24 0 16 overall 67 65 50 29 38 04/05 timely 86 24 29 12 21 overall 142 68 58 64 53 Apprenticeships

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Table 4

05/06+ timely 83 23 38 19 32 (data from Cannington College for 2003/04 and 2004/05 have been excluded) * Learners who leave later than originally planned are counted in the year they actually leave. This group of learners are then added to the learners who planned to complete in a given year and did so or left earlier than planned ** College and national qualification success rates are calculated using LSC published data derived from the ‘Individual Learning Record’ + LSC un-validated data based on period 13 LSC return October 2006

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Table 4

information quoted is reproduced verbatim without adaptation, and the source and date of publication are stated. Inspection reports are available on the Ofsted website (www.ofsted.gov.uk).

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