Callywith College has been rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted inspectors

A college in Cornwall has retained its ‘outstanding’ rating from Ofsted following an inspection in March. Four years after achieving outstanding results in all categories, Callywith College in Bodmin, which has since doubled in size, has again been awarded the highest rating by the education watchdog.

The inspectors’ report on their latest visit describes “outstanding” post-16 provision and learner outcomes based on an unwavering commitment to excellence in education and student wellbeing. The Ofsted inspection looked closely at all aspects of the college’s work, the quality of teaching, support for learners, student outcomes and destinations, the effectiveness of leadership, the overall provision of education and the safety and wellbeing of pupils.

Inspectors found student work to be “of an exceptionally high standard” based on “high quality teaching from expert and highly qualified lecturers”. They described an organizational culture that is both “an inclusive environment” and one where “staff are very ambitious and have high expectations of their students.”

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Among other things, inspectors praised “outstanding resources to help deliver high-quality education”, “highly effective professional development for staff” and “high-quality individualized careers advice and guidance with meaningful work experience or interactions with the world work”.

The latest inspection framework focuses closely on the actual classroom and student support experiences through Ofsted’s ‘deep dive’ approach. In relation to this, inspectors found learners who “enjoy their studies, take pride in their work and are well prepared for life in modern Britain”.

“All students are exceptionally well motivated, demonstrate very positive behaviors and work well independently,” the report continued. “They are extremely well supported by lecturers and other college staff. They undertake an excellent tutorial program that is well planned and flexible enough to adapt quickly to a changing world.”

The report also praised “highly skilled and knowledgeable governance” and how “leaders, managers and administrators work well together”. It identified a strong shared understanding of the institution and a commitment to its continuous improvement.

Principal Jon Gray expressed his delight at the outcome of the inspection, attributing it to the collective efforts of a university community that always puts students first. “This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, staff and administrators,” he said.

“It reflects our shared commitment to providing a holistic education that empowers students to reach their full potential. The report speaks highly of our academic quality but also praises our complementary tutorials and pastoral provision as integral factors in an inclusive culture. This speaks volumes for everyone’s tireless focus to ensure that every student has the best chance for success.”

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The college currently attracts over 1,500 students aged 16-19 to its state-of-the-art campus, where they can study a diverse range of courses in a post-16 offering with a wide range of vocational and academic pathways. Many students choose to travel significant distances, from Cornwall and beyond, to attend college.

These application volumes, however, mean that not all students who wish to attend the college will be successful in securing places for September 2024. Principal Jon Gray said: “We set up the college to meet a widely recognized need to allows many more young people. people are getting access to the outstanding post-16 provision that they and their life chances deserved and certainly not with the intention of rationalizing provision or turning away any learners.

“However, with over 1,300 applications for 900 places in September, there will be disappointment for some again this year. Frustratingly, despite the available space and planning permission, we have twice been refused strong bids for capital expansion by the Department for Education, resulting in this current shortage of places We will continue to pursue all avenues for to address this unsatisfactory situation. We hope that this latest Ofsted result will now help us get the approvals and support we need to meet demand.

Applications for 2025 will open in the early stages of the autumn term and the college advises interested applicants to ensure they apply early.