Stoke-on-Trent College

Overview

The report states that the overall effectiveness of Stoke-on-Trent College is ‘Good’, marking significant improvement from the previous inspection. Most education programmes, including adult learning and provision for learners with high needs, are rated ‘Good’, though apprenticeships ‘Require improvement’.

Strengths

• Learners are ‘motivated to achieve’ and benefit from teachers who provide ‘encouragement and guidance’.
• The majority of learners make ‘successful transitions to their next steps’ after completing their courses.
• Leaders have developed ‘effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders’ to address local skills gaps.
• Teachers demonstrate a ‘good understanding of the needs of learners with education, health and care plans’.
• Most learners receive ‘effective careers advice and guidance’ to support progression into employment or further study.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure apprentices’ starting points are accurately assessed to inform learning plans that support capable progress.
• Apprentices’ English and mathematics skill levels should be identified promptly, with relevant training provided for their development.
• Monitoring of apprentices’ progress needs refinement to ensure all complete their apprenticeships by the expected date.
• Learners with high-needs funding should participate in a broader range of work experience activities to understand wider opportunities.

Safeguarding

The report confirms that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’, with an appropriately trained team supporting staff and learners.