Basingstoke College of Technology

Overview

Basingstoke College of Technology is described as a provider where learners “enjoy their time learning” and behave in a “polite and respectful” manner. The report highlights a curriculum that is “closely aligned to the college’s values” and meets the needs of learners, employers, and the community effectively. Leaders maintain strong relationships with stakeholders to address skills gaps, resulting in high aspirations and good progress for most students.

Strengths

• Learners demonstrate “high aspirations for their future” and develop “trusting and respectful relationships” with staff and peers.
• The college makes a “strong contribution to meeting skills needs” through effective collaboration with local employers and councils.
• Adult learning programmes are “ambitious” and allow learners to access education at a “time and place convenient to them,” with many achieving highly.
• Teachers are often “qualified industry experts” who use their knowledge to plan lessons well and help learners commit learning to long-term memory.
• Safeguarding arrangements are “effective,” with staff having an “excellent understanding of safeguarding issues.”

Areas to improve

• Leaders should ensure a greater proportion of young learners benefit from “high-quality, meaningful work placements.”
• Leaders should ensure learners with high needs are better supported to “develop the skills they need for adult life.”
• Leaders should ensure all learners receive feedback that enables them to “improve their work and achieve high grades.”
• Leaders should improve achievement rates for young people studying GCSE mathematics and adult learners studying functional skills with the subcontractor.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” noting that leaders prioritise safety and staff have an “excellent understanding of safeguarding issues.”