College chiefs bullish, despite Ofsted report (From This Is Wiltshire)

College chiefs bullish, despite Ofsted report

10:14am Thursday 1st June 2006

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BOSSES at Salisbury College say they are focusing on the future, after receiving a second "inadequate" grading from Ofsted inspectors in two years.

Although the inspection team noted some areas of improvement, it judged the overall effectiveness of the Southampton Road college to be unacceptable and said that more must be done to increase the pace of change.

Three of the eight curriculum areas examined by the inspectors were described as unsatisfactory and the report said that students' achievements were still too low.

Health and social care, information and communication technology, and hairdressing and beauty therapy were at an unacceptable level, while the other five curriculum areas were described as "satisfactory".

Overall, while one-third of observed lessons were judged "good" or better, fewer than half were described as satisfactory worse than during the 2004 inspection.

"Progress made in addressing most of the key weaknesses identified at the last inspection has been inadequate," the inspectors reported.

They are now demanding that the pace of improvement in all areas be hastened.

Several problems have been identified, including low student achievement rates, poor attendance levels, the quality of provision in the three inadequate curriculum areas and the proportion of unsatisfactory teaching and learning.

Despite the difficulties, inspectors recognised that the college had improved strategic planning and knew how it would achieve its targets, while results were getting better.

"Though they remain low, considerable improvements to student success rates have been made since the new principal and senior management team have been in place," said the inspectors.

There was also praise for the college's social and education inclusion, communication and relationships with the local community and the range of student support services.

The college is recovering from a time of turmoil that saw four principals in four years, financial instability and job cuts.

Bosses said it was too soon for the inspectors to appreciate fully many of the changes that had been put in place, and they expected a more positive picture when the team returned next March.

Gill Thompson, who has been at the helm since September 2004, said the college was firmly focused on the future.

"Obviously, staff and governors of the college are disappointed that Ofsted has been unable to report fully on all the changes and improvements that we have made in the past 16 months, but it hasn't stopped any of us from continuing with our drive to make Salisbury a thriving college for the area," she said. "This Ofsted report is the final comment on a difficult period in our history, and we are already seeing strong shoots of recovery."

Applications for courses starting in September are already up 15 per cent, and more than 600 Year 9 pupils have visited the college to find out about vocational training.

One of the most reassuring signs for the college is the continued support of the Learning and Skills Council, at a time when the government says it will not fund failing institutions.

"Salisbury College is now moving forward after a difficult few years," said south-west regional director Malcolm Gillespie. "The Learning and Skills Council is working closely with the college to build a positive future for learning in Salisbury.

"The college now has a strong management team in place and is making progress in a number of areas.

"We are encouraged by the positive steps taken so far and are looking forward to the next stage of their plans, which will include new buildings for the college."

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