“Outstanding” Ofsted Report (22/02/08)
Students and staff are celebrating the release of an inspection report by Ofsted which rates the College of West Anglia as “outstanding”. Ofsted, the Government’s inspection body for schools and colleges, judged the College to be outstanding in all 5 significant areas inspected. This result ranks us amongst the best colleges in the country and means we are the first general further education college in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire to achieve such high grades.
The inspection report awarded the highest grades possible to the College for overall leadership and management, effectiveness and quality of provision and achievement & standards. It also gave a resounding stamp of approval to the merger between The College of West Anglia and the former Isle College. Since the merger, success rates have improved dramatically at the Isle Campus, a fact which is noted in the inspection report.
At the launch event, performing arts students from Isle Campus performed the number “One” from the musical “A Chorus Line” for an audience of staff, students and media representatives using the letters of the word “outstanding”. The Principal, David Pomfret, then cut a giant cake, made by college staff and students, to mark the occasion.
Mr Pomfret said “This is a fantastic endorsement of what we are doing at the College. The inspectors were particularly impressed with the great improvement in standards at the Isle Campus since merger, bringing it into line with the best in the country. The report is a testament to the growing confidence in the College amongst parents and employers across Fenland and Cambridgeshire and will help to encourage more young people to continue with their education beyond the age of 16.”
John Nay, Area Director for Cambridgeshire of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), the government agency responsible for planning and funding education and skills for young people, said “To have an outstanding general FE college in Cambridgeshire is great news for the County. The report shows how the college contributes to raising the aspiration and achievement levels of all ages. It is also very complimentary about the college’s partnerships with schools to deliver 14-16 training and about its excellent training for employers. The LSC has been extremely impressed with the investment in facilities at the Isle Campus since merger and the high expectations which have led to significant improvements in the pass rate. Success rates are in the top 10% in England and the staff and students deserve our congratulations.”
