Cheadle and Marple 6th Form College (CAMSFC) has been ‘Highly Praised’ by Ofsted after the latest inspection quoting “Inspirational leadership, collective will and passion of staff” leading to a glowing report and Grdae 2 ‘Good’ ranking by inspectors.
The Ofsted report, which was published on Tuesday (April 22nd), states in a highly positive introduction: “The inspirational leadership, collective will and passion of staff to improve provision are having a positive impact” and proceeds to list a range of areas where the college has improved significantly since its last inspection in December 2012.
These include:
“A very rapid rate of improvement in standards”
“Teaching and learning have recently improved to a good level, reflecting the priority given to them by leaders and managers”
“Staff, students and apprentices have established a harmonious learning environment”
“The college has developed an inclusive curriculum that meets local community needs well.”
In addition it praises the “swift and appropriate action” taken in early 2013 which led to a “rapid reversal of student slow progress” which has resulted in improved results – with better A Level grades being highlighted in particular.
It further goes on to report how teaching and learning are much improved across all provision and courses; how much students enjoy their time at college; and how the college has created a “friendly positive learning environment that appeals to the great majority of students.”
Ofsted also recognises the driving force behind this impressive improvement. In granting a ‘Good’ rating for the college’s Effectiveness of Leadership and Management, the report pinpoints that in early 2013 the college adopted a focused five-year strategic plan which “clearly redefined the college’s vision and mission”.
This intervention is further credited to Jenny Singleton, the college Principal, who is described by Ofsted as being personally “dynamic and inspirational”.
The report goes on to state that the Principal and the senior management team “are leading a very demanding pace of change…to bring about measurable improvements in teaching, learning and assessment, and in outcomes for students” and that the college has instigated “a dynamic and relentless culture of improvement” which has “improving teaching, learning and assessment as the key priority”.
The report concludes that “Cheadle and Marple Sixth Form College is ambitious to be an outstanding college within its community, and for its community.”
CAMSFC’s Principal Jenny Singleton said:
“I and my team are all passionate about teaching and learning and I am delighted that Ofsted has recognised the huge strides we have made with regards to driving up standards and creating a positive and inclusive learning environment which our students really respond to.
“This report also acknowledges our ambition to become an outstanding college for both academic and vocational studies, and that we have a five-year plan underway which will dramatically re-shape the institution for the better.
“Of course there is room for further improvement and Ofsted has highlighted those areas where we can still do more. We will therefore continue to target these within the wider transformation programme we are driving through, and I am confident that the standard of teaching, facilities and student care will continue to improve across the college as a result.”
A major element of the college’s new strategic plan is also cited in the Ofsted report when it refers to “a clear repositioning of the college to reflect the different nature of the two campuses” and through this process help to “restore the college’s reputation, quality and academic success.”
This repositioning process has already commenced with the college’s two campuses having recently adopted separate identities – The Cheadle College and Marple Sixth Form College respectively– together with the creation of a new, overarching strategic body called The Cheadle & Marple College Network.