Kendal College

Overview

The report describes a college where leaders have strengthened strategic governance and established a culture of improvement. Provision across young people, adult learners, apprentices, and those with high needs is consistently rated at the 'Expected standard', with learners benefiting from relevant curricula and supportive environments.

Strengths

• Leaders work strategically with employers to align curricula with local skills needs, particularly in the visitor economy and health sectors.
• Tutors are typically subject experts who use industry experience to teach up-to-date practices and sequence content carefully.
• Inclusion teams identify needs swiftly, providing personalised plans and support that help learners with additional needs make sustained progress.
• Learners study in "safe and collegial learning environments" where they feel comfortable participating and sharing views.
• Apprentices make positive contributions to the workplace, with many progressing to higher-level training or taking on additional responsibilities.

Areas to improve

• Leaders identify that the proportion of learners achieving grade 4 or higher in GCSE English and mathematics has declined and requires improvement.
• Too few learners studying functional skills mathematics achieve their qualifications.
• In a few instances, assessment is less effective, and targets set during apprentice reviews are not sufficiently precise or ambitious.

Safeguarding

The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an open culture where concerns are actively identified, acted upon, and managed to ensure learners feel safe.