Leeds College of Building

Overview

The report states that overall effectiveness ‘Requires improvement’, driven by concerns regarding attendance, progress monitoring, and provision for students with high needs. However, it highlights ‘Good’ personal development and effective safeguarding, noting that teachers create a ‘calm and welcoming classroom environment’ and students display respect.

Strengths

• Teachers are ‘well qualified and experienced’ in construction trades, providing clear instruction and helpful feedback.
• Students and apprentices feel safe, benefiting from a personal development programme covering bullying, radicalisation, and mental well-being.
• Adult learning programmes and apprenticeships are rated ‘Good’, with students gaining meaningful work experience and clear career guidance.
• Leaders engage effectively with employers and local stakeholders to ensure the curriculum meets regional skills needs, including green skills.
• Staff promote a ‘supportive and developmental culture’, with governors holding the executive team to account.

Areas to improve

• Ensure actions lead to ‘rapid improvements in attendance, punctuality and students arriving at lessons ready to learn’.
• Improve oversight of apprentices’ progress, particularly regarding English and mathematics qualifications required for end-point assessment.
• Ensure managers follow up on quality assurance improvement actions and provide meaningful work experience for study programme students.
• Improve target setting for students with high needs to ensure they make good progress towards their education, health and care plans.

Safeguarding

The report states that ‘The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.’