The Mary Ward Centre (AE Centre)

Overview

The Mary Ward Centre is a designated institute of adult learning that provides a "very warm welcome" to a diverse student body. The report describes a "good-quality education" where students make "good progress" through high-quality teaching and develop strong personal confidence and community networks.

Strengths

• Students receive "high-quality teaching" from "skilled and experienced tutors" who teach content and practical skills effectively.
• Learners achieve personal goals well, developing confidence in areas such as arts, ESOL, and counselling, while building "important friendships and networks".
• The curriculum is shaped effectively to meet local skills needs, with strong partnerships with local authorities and voluntary organisations.
• Tutors integrate English and mathematics well into courses and provide "good support" for students with special education needs and/or disabilities.
• Leaders maintain accurate quality assurance processes, ensuring students continue to receive a good education despite significant organisational changes.

Areas to improve

• Assess what students know at the start of courses and set "meaningful goals" so tutors can measure progress effectively, particularly in visual arts.
• Provide "effective advice and guidance on their next steps" across all courses, ensuring arts students receive detailed support for exhibiting or selling work.
• Identify and implement actions to improve attendance and punctuality in areas where these are "not high enough".

Safeguarding

The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."