Inspire Education Group

Overview

Inspire Education Group is a large further education college in Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire, formed by the merger of Peterborough Regional College and New College Stamford. The report states that overall effectiveness is ‘Good’, with ‘Outstanding’ provision for adult learning and learners with high needs, but apprenticeships ‘Require improvement’.

Strengths

• Adult students study in an ‘exceptionally positive, supportive learning environment’ and make ‘excellent progress’ on demanding programmes.
• Provision for learners with high needs is ‘Outstanding’, with students enjoying ‘calm, inclusive environments’ and achieving positive outcomes like employment.
• Staff ‘care passionately’ about student well-being, evidenced by ‘College of Sanctuary’ status and support for asylum seekers and refugees.
• The college makes a ‘strong contribution to meeting skills needs’ through close alignment with regional priorities and industry partnerships.
• Most students demonstrate ‘positive attitude’ to learning, with high attendance and good progress in subjects such as musical theatre and early years.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure staff accurately assess apprentices’ starting points to plan appropriate courses and prevent repetition of previously studied subjects.
• Staff must work effectively with employers to link on- and off-the-job training, ensuring apprentices can apply classroom learning in the workplace.
• Leaders must ensure staff track apprentice progress effectively, providing timely assessment and ‘frequent and useful developmental feedback’.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are ‘effective’, with leaders having developed an ‘effective culture of safeguarding’ where students feel safe and understand local risks.