Top marks for college’s work
COLLECTIVE HAILED IN OFSTED REPORT
A TEESSIDE college and skills group has been rated “good” with “outstanding” features in its first full inspection since the merger of two colleges.
The Education Training Collective (Etc) is a further education group made up of three colleges and one independent training provider, including Stockton Riverside College and Bede Sixth Form College.
The group also looks after Redcar and Cleveland College, Billingham’s The Skills Academy and NETA training.
Etc was rated outstanding in behaviour and attitude, personal development, leadership and management and education programmes for young people and rated “good” in all other areas.
Inspectors also commended the group’s “extensive” enrichment programme which includes a “mental health month”, physical activities, specialist providers and topics such as loneliness and sexual health.
Group principal and chief executive Phil Cook said: “As a group our aim, above all else, is to provide high quality local colleges for local people.
“Gaining ‘outstanding’ for leadership and management is a fantastic accolade for the group but also and importantly for those stakeholders we work with.
“You do not achieve outstanding without excellent partnerships which have a direct impact on our students’ learning.”
The group was highly rated for its inclusive learning environment including its mental health support and access to basic needs such as food parcels and transport.
NETA training was praised for its multi-faith room and new communal area.
Inspectors said one improvement the group needs to make is ensuring all students with high needs are enrolled on to the right programme.
The report said “a small number” of students do not make the progress they
are capable of because they were not on an “appropriate” programme.
Mr Cook added: “It is reasonable for parents, stakeholders and our communities to assume our provision for young people is now outstanding, as that is what Ofsted has said.
“For other aspects of our provision such as our apprenticeships and our work with adults and high needs students, Ofsted has commended us and again our communities can be assured such services are judged as being really really good.”
Redcar and Cleveland College, which previously received an inadequate rating, has made major improvements since merging with the group.
Inspectors said many young people living in the borough now consider it their first choice for further education.
Mr Cook recently announced he was leaving the group after overseeing its transformation since 2013.
Grant Glendinning, currently executive principal at NCG North, will join Etc as chief executive and group principal after the summer.
Mr Cook said: “To deliver the service our communities deserve takes hard work and determination from our staff, leaders, governing body and our amazing students, not least as we faced the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic.
“That’s why it is fantastic to now see our incredible teams across the group and our partners receive external recognition. Inspectors also recognised the support learners of all ages and abilitie, receive and the enrichment programme which “helps them to develop their wider employability skills, confidence, and resilience.”
Chairman of the Etc governing board, Mark White OBE DL, said: “As a board we welcome this Ofsted result which is testament to the commitment of all our teams and the work they do to deliver for our communities.”
Retiring in the summer after 27 years on the boards of the colleges that make up the Etc, he added: “I am extremely proud to have been a part of this incredible group of colleges, of everything it has achieved and everything it will go on to achieve in the future.”