Ofsted Inspection 1st – 5th October
Why does Ofsted inspect Colleges?
They inspect Colleges so that they can provide information to parents and carers, to promote improvement and to hold Colleges to account for the public money they receive. College inspections are required by law. They provide an independent assessment of the quality and standards of education in Colleges, and check whether learners are achieving as much as they can.
When do inspections happen and how long do they last?
A College judged to be ‘good’ is normally inspected within four years from the end of the College year in which it was last inspected. The College of Animal Welfare was last inspected in 2008.
Colleges now receive two days notice of their inspection. The inspection usually lasts for four – five days and the number of inspectors on the inspection team will vary according to the size and nature of the College. The College of Animal Welfare has a team of seven inspectors.
Who inspects Colleges?
Her Majesty’s Inspectors and additional inspectors carry out the inspections. All inspectors have been trained to, and assessed against, Ofsted’s 2012 standards.
What happens during an inspection?
Inspectors look at the College’s self-evaluation and analyse the learner’s progress and attainment. They talk to the Principal, employers, lecturers, staff, and learners, and also consider parents views. They spend most of their time observing a wide range of lessons and looking at the quality of teaching in the College, and its impact on learning and progress. They also look at the behaviour and safety of learners at the College, the promotion of spiritual, moral, social and cultural development; and how well the College is led and managed.
*How can I make my views known?
Ofsted is keen to seek users’ views directly. For this purpose, Ofsted has set up online questionnaires for learners, employers and parents / carers.
Information from these sources will be collected by inspectors up to the end of the second day of the inspection so that users may register their views up to this time.
Where the son, daughter or young person in their care is aged 16-18, or aged 16-24 where the learner has learning difficulties and/or disabilities
If you are the registered parent of a learner at the College, the College will send you a letter notifying you of the dates of the inspection. This letter provides you with details and options for providing your views. The OFSTED survey site, Parent View, is the main source of gathering parents’ views about a College. Inspectors will use the views expressed on Parent View when inspecting your learner’s College.
Can I speak to the inspectors?
You may have the chance to speak to the inspectors during the inspection, for example at the start of the College day. The inspection administrators will be happy to pass on messages to the inspectors and may be able to arrange telephone conversations if you are unable to speak to them in person. Their contact details will be in the letter that tells you about the inspection. Please remember that inspectors cannot deal with complaints concerning individual learners or settle disputes between you and the College.
What happens after the inspection?
Ofsted give Colleges an overall grade from 1 to 4:
- grade 1 (outstanding)
- grade 2 (good)
- grade 3 (requires improvement)
- grade 4 (inadequate).
The lead inspector reports her or his judgement to the Principal. The inspectors’ findings are published in a report for the College, parents and the wider community. Inspection reports provide information about the effectiveness of the College’s work and contain recommendations about what the College should do to improve further. The College must take all reasonable steps to make sure you receive a copy of the report. Reports are also published on the Ofsted website here.
What happens if Ofsted judges a College to be ‘inadequate’?
If inspectors judge a College to be inadequate it will be placed in one of the following two categories.
Special measures
This means the College is failing to provide its learners with an acceptable standard of education, and is not showing the capacity to make the improvements needed. Inspectors will visit the College regularly to check its progress, until it can be removed from the category. Ofsted will then inspect it again after about two years.
Serious weaknesses
This means that one or more of the key areas of the College’s performance require significant improvement, but the leaders and managers have demonstrated the capacity to improve. Inspectors will visit the College regularly to check its progress, until it can be removed from the category. It will be inspected again within 18 months of its last inspection.
Colleges that were judged to be ‘inadequate’ and made subject to a notice to improve under the previous College inspection framework (before September 2012) may receive a monitoring visit from inspectors and will normally be inspected within 18 months of their last inspection.
Where can further details be found about College inspections?
The ‘Framework for College inspection’ sets out the statutory basis for inspections. It summarises the main features of College inspections and describes how the general principles and processes of inspection are applied. The ‘College inspection handbook’ sets out what inspectors must do and what Colleges can expect, and provides guidance for inspectors on making their judgements.
What happens if I have concerns about the inspection?
Complaints are rare, but we treat them very seriously. You can find out more by contacting Ofsted.
If you need any more information about Ofsted and what they do please contact Ofsted.
What happens if I have concerns about the College?
If you are concerned about your son/daughters College, you should start by talking directly to the course tutor or Principal or, if necessary, the governing body or the local authority. If you are not satisfied with the responses you receive Ofsted may be able to help.
Contact Ofsted
Helpline: 0300 123 4666
Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk