Ofsted Summary

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Inspectors use a four-point scale to summarise their judgements about achievement and standards, the quality of provision, and leadership and management, which includes a grade for equality of opportunity.

Grade 1 – outstanding
Grade 2 – good
Grade 3 – satisfactory
Grade 4 – inadequate

Key strengths

Empowering culture that raises aspirations of learners, staff and key partners
High success rates
Outstanding personal development and progress of learners
High quality and innovative teaching and learning
Very inclusive and learner focused college
Outstanding support, target setting and monitoring of students’ progress
Many amazing buildings, resources and facilities to support learning
Outstanding governance
Significant contribution of the college to the regeneration and growth of its communities.

Newcastle College’s main campus in the centre of Newcastle has several outstanding new buildings to deliver courses in highly professional environments.
 
Achievement and standards are outstanding. Overall success rates for both learners aged 16 to 18 and for adults at all levels are high. Many students enter the college with low levels of attainment; they make outstanding progress in their main programmes, key skills and personal development; as a result progression is excellent.
 
Teaching and learning are outstanding. Teachers set high standards in the classroom; learners enjoy their studies and generally work hard. Teachers share good practice consistently and are innovative in developing new ideas. Resources for information and learning technology (ILT) are excellent and, along with well planned staff training, have had a significant positive impact on improving teaching and learning. For many learners their course exceeds their expectations.
 
Provision to meet the needs and interests of learners is outstanding. Varied curriculum with excellent progression opportunities. The college’s approach to educational and social inclusion is outstanding. Key and basic skills and enrichment opportunities are skilfully embedded into the curriculum.
 
Tutorial support is excellent. Learners benefit from high quality one-to-one tutorial support. Students benefit from outstanding tutorial and learning support. High quality individual learning plans (ILPs) are used exceptionally well to set students’ targets and monitor their progress. An outstanding feature is the use of the software to set and monitor meaningful targets for learners’ personal development.
 
The college is strong financially and has invested well in its many amazing buildings and industry standard resources to support learning and raise aspirations. It provides outstanding value for money. and makes a significant contribution to the regeneration and growth of the communities it serves.
 
Strategic leadership, management and governance are outstanding. The principal provides inspirational and highly effective leadership. Robust business planning and quality improvement systems quickly drive up standards.
 
The effectiveness of provision is outstanding. The college provides welcoming and inclusive environments for staff and students; a strong ‘can do’ culture permeates the organisation. High standards have continuously improved during a period of exponential growth in students from increasingly diverse backgrounds and abilities.
 
 
Management information and comprehensive feedback from learners are used exceptionally well to inform actions for improvement. Equality of opportunity is at the centre of all aspects of college life and well supported through a very strong customer service focus.

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