Blackburn College

Overview

Blackburn College is a large further education provider where students and apprentices are treated with respect in a "cohesive and harmonious culture." The report highlights "incredibly positive attitudes to learning" and "exceptionally courteous" behaviour, with leaders delivering "carefully considered and ambitious curriculums" that meet the needs of most learners very well.

Strengths

• Students and apprentices enjoy a supportive environment where they are "treated equally and respectfully by supportive and helpful tutors."
• Curriculums are "extremely well" planned and sequenced, allowing learners to build effectively on earlier knowledge and skills.
• Adult students make "outstanding progress," with courses designed to help them build language skills swiftly and move into positive destinations.
• Leaders collaborate "exceptionally well" with employers to ensure training meets the future needs of key industries and local skills shortages.
• Tutors are "experts in their fields" who teach to a "very high standard," helping students understand key concepts and develop technical vocabulary.

Areas to improve

• Implement "effective, timely and sustainable quality improvement measures across all apprenticeships" to ensure consistently high achievement rates.
• Ensure staff give students with high needs enough opportunities to develop "independent thinking skills" so they make the progress of which they are capable.
• Improve attendance and the proportion of students achieving higher grades in GCSE mathematics.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with students feeling safe and knowing how to keep themselves secure in their local communities.