Bristol college given ‘good’ Ofsted rating

A college in central Bristol has received a ‘good’ rating from Ofsted, after previously been deemed as ‘requiring improvement’.

City of Bristol College was awarded the rating in January, after demonstrating it was able to meet local and regional skills needed following its most recent inspection by the national body.

The college has around 3,000 students, and 5,000 adult students, with four campuses across Bristol.

Ofsted praised City of Bristol College across a number of areas, stating: “Staff and students collectively create a culture where students and apprentices can be themselves.

“As a result, students and apprentices are respectful and value the diverse and inclusive college population.”

During the four-day inspection, a team of fifteen inspectors found that “teachers and other college staff foster mutual trust and respect. Students and apprentices are keen to learn and are supportive of each other in their learning.

Ofsted had previously said the college ‘required improvement’ – photo: Mia Vines Booth

“As a result, students and apprentices display high levels of positive behaviours and are proud of their work. They enjoy their lessons and are motivated to engage in new experiences.”

The college’s quality of education, behaviour and attitudes and leadership and management were all praised in the report, but Ofsted found that the area of ‘personal development’ still ‘requires improvement’, after a previous inspection in November 2019 earned the college the same rating.

Speaking about the report, Peter Rilett, chair of the corporation said: “I am delighted that the recent Ofsted report recognises the journey that City of Bristol College has been on and the distance travelled; rewarding us with a ‘good’ rating.

“As Bristol’s college, the report is clear that we have strong relationships with a wide range of partners which helps us to meet local, regional and national skills needs.

“The corporation appointed Julia Gray to the post of principal & chief executive at the start of this year. Julia brings over twenty years’ experience working in the further education sector to this role and will lead the college on the next phase of our journey.”

Gray added: “I am so pleased to have joined City of Bristol College at the right time to have had the privilege to work with staff, students, apprentices and stakeholders to lead us through this most recent Ofsted inspection.

“The college plays a key role in the city and region and this successful inspection outcome recognises the hard work of the whole-college team and the significant achievements of our students and apprentices.

“This Ofsted outcome will allow us to look to the future, our continued improvements and the further work that we can do to meet the needs of the communities we serve.”

You can read the full report here.

Main photo: Mia Vines Booth

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