Craven College

Overview

Craven College is described as having an "Exceptional" overall standard, with leaders establishing a culture where "learners and apprentices are put first." The report highlights a "kind and authentic leadership" style that fosters openness, resulting in an inclusive environment where staff are highly ambitious for their learners.

Strengths

• Leaders have "very successfully established an inclusive culture" with a "well-established, purposeful inclusion strategy" and resources like sensory spaces.
• Apprenticeships are rated "Strong standard," featuring "highly tailored curriculum[s]" matched closely to job roles and taught by "industry experts."
• Provision for learners with high needs is "Strong standard," with "high-quality curriculum[s]" that are "ambitious and individualised" to each learner.
• Staff are "caring" and "highly ambitious," using training in "restorative practice" and "trauma-informed practice" to support learners effectively.
• Governors provide "effective support" and hold leaders to account through "rigorous challenge" and frequent visits.

Areas to improve

• Leaders recognise that learners on level 1 courses "do not develop their digital skills as effectively" and there is "more to do."
• In construction, leaders have identified the need to improve "learners' attendance and the range and availability of work experience placements."
• In adult functional skills, tutors "do not use initial assessment results consistently well to plan personalised learning."

Safeguarding

The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns are "actively identified, acted upon and managed."