The City of Liverpool College

Overview

The City of Liverpool College is a large further education provider judged as ‘Good’ overall, with ‘Outstanding’ personal development and adult learning. Leaders are described as ‘ambitious’ and ‘passionately committed to turning disadvantage into advantage’, creating a positive environment where students feel safe and supported.

Strengths

• Personal development is ‘highly effective’, with progress leaders coordinating support to help students transition, achieve, and progress.
• Adult learners ‘progress exceptionally well’, with ESOL students gaining independence and vocational students accessing mentoring and industry masterclasses.
• Teachers are ‘suitably qualified and knowledgeable’, often being ‘dual professionals’ who maintain vocational currency and use effective assessment strategies.
• The college makes a ‘strong contribution to meeting skills needs’ through extensive employer partnerships and industry boards that keep curricula up to date.
• Students with high needs are ‘welcomed and provided with the support to meet their needs’, achieving results in line with peers.

Areas to improve

• Teachers must provide ‘precise, developmental feedback’ rather than generic comments, ensuring students understand how to improve their work.
• The college needs to improve outcomes for students on AS/A-level courses, where achievement is ‘far too low’ and many leave before completing.
• Leaders must ensure more apprentices are retained on their programmes, as ‘too many leave their programme before they complete it’.

Safeguarding

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