Proud to be Ofsted “Good”

In February 2022, The Cornwall College Group was inspected by Ofsted: the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. The week-long inspection focused on the quality and standards of our services across the Group, which includes Cornwall Colleges in Camborne, St Austell and Newquay, Duchy Colleges in Rosewarne and Stoke Climsland, Falmouth Marine School, Sisna Park, Bicton College in Devon, and CCB Training. The Group received a Grade 2 “Good” rating for each of the 8 areas inspected, resulting in a report full of praise for the Group’s standards, progress and services.

This new rating came as the result of great collective dedication and ever-growing ambition to level up our knowledge and skills, to tailor the best experience for our learners and to put innovation at the forefront of the services we provide.

“To receive a glowing report like this from Ofsted demonstrates the distance we have travelled as an organisation. But what is most important is learners, parents, and businesses in the region can have absolute confidence in our ability to deliver quality education and training experiences that will help them in their next steps, whether that is continuing education, starting a new career, or upskilling their workforce.” – John Evans, Principal and Chief Executive of TCCG

Summary of grades awarded

The quality of education	Good
Behaviour and attitudes	Good
Personal development	Good
Leadership and management	Good
Education programmes for young people	Good
Adult learning programmes	Good
Apprenticeships	Good
Provision for learners with high needs	Good

A selection of comments from the Inspection Report

Governors, senior leaders and managers have worked relentlessly to establish the college as an influential partner in the region. They work productively with local and regional stakeholders to offer a curriculum which meets the needs of learners, the community, and local stakeholders

Since the previous inspection, senior leaders and governors have transformed the culture at the college. Governors and leaders have high expectations for learners. Leaders are passionate about the power of education to change lives and benefit the wider community. They focus consistently on learners and their learning and well-being

Importantly, since the previous inspection, leaders and managers have improved the curriculum for learners with high needs. Staff work closely with community partners, such as local schools, local authorities, employers and parents and carers, to ensure that the provision now matches the needs of students. Managers ensure that most learners benefit from an individualised curriculum, which balances the development of independence, vocational skills and preparation for next steps well.

Teachers and trainers use their extensive skills and experience from industry to inform their teaching well. They teach learners practical skills to high standards through clear explanation, demonstration, and repetition, so that the skills become automatic.

Students and apprentices benefit from the strong culture of mutual respect and understanding that leaders and managers have created. Staff create a calm and inclusive environment in which most students and apprentices can study and learn.

Students and apprentices are safe at the college and know whom to contact if they have a concern. Leaders have ensured that staff responsible for safeguarding are appropriately trained. They have established strong links with external agencies, which they use to support students or apprentices with safeguarding concerns. Safeguarding staff have effective processes for recording incidents, and they take appropriate action, involving external agencies when appropriate.