The Croydon College Group has been praised by Ofsted for its dedication to creating a supportive learning environment and for maintaining high teaching and learning standards, achieving a ‘Good’ grade for every aspect and overall.

In early October 2024, 14 Ofsted inspectors conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the Group’s two institutions—Croydon College and Coulsdon Sixth Form College—under Ofsted’s new ‘enhanced inspection framework’ introduced in September 2022.

The Group was rated ‘Good’ across all four provision types and all four key judgements, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes of students, personal development and effectiveness of leadership and management.

The College is particularly proud of the inspectors’ recognition that students felt safe “as soon as they walk into college” and that the “college is a safe haven”. They also highlighted that “Learners are motivated to learn and develop a range of professional behaviours and skills because of their positive learning experience”

Teachers across the Group were acknowledged for how they plan and teach a challenging and ambitious curriculum for young and adult learners to continuously build on their knowledge and skills.

The report also concluded that:

  • The impressive progress our students are making across the curriculum and the impressive high achievement rate for our learners. This is why a high proportion of learners move on to the next level of course, further, or higher education or into employment
  • Teachers are experienced, knowledgeable and qualified in their subjects. They use a range of effective teaching strategies to help learners and apprentices recall, apply and consolidate what they have learned
  • Teachers give learners and apprentices helpful feedback about their work and challenge misconceptions
  • Leaders, managers and staff set high standards for learners’ and apprentices’ behaviour and attitudes at both campuses
  • Staff give learners with complex emotional needs effective support to help them self-regulate and take part in lessons
  • Leaders and staff have developed a personal and improved tutorial programme to teach a range of important and useful topics for learners to extend their knowledge beyond their academic and vocational studies
  • Learners and apprentices have access to a wide range of extra activities, such as trips, sport clubs and competitions
  • Leaders and managers provide staff with a range of relevant professional development and training opportunities. Teachers and staff have positive attitudes to their work and engage in training activities to develop their skills and improve the experience for learners and apprentices
Read the full Croydon College Group Ofsted Report
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