Waltham Forest College rated 'outstanding'

In a recent inspection, Ofsted praised the further education college’s ‘excellent’ quality of teaching

Waltham Forest College has been rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, making it just one of 15 general further education colleges across the country to receive the rating.

A team of twelve inspectors praised the quality of teaching at the college and stated that “learners and apprentices flourish in an environment where they experience excellent teaching and training” and that “learners with high needs have life-changing experiences at the college”.

The curriculum was also found to “strongly meet local, regional and national skills needs”.

The report highlighted that “senior leaders, governors and staff have very high ambitions for learners who passionately promote a culture in which learners are challenged, motivated and supported to achieve highly. Staff and learners are equally committed to push themselves and strive to aim high”.

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The college received an outstanding rating for every category that was assessed apart from apprenticeships which were rated as ‘good’.

The college has 6,247 learners, with 2,189 being aged 16 to 18 and on full-time study programmes. Meanwhile, 4,014 adult learners are on full-time vocational courses, or part-time provision during the day or in the evening.

Janet Gardner, principal and CEO of Waltham Forest College said: “I am delighted Ofsted has recognised the exceptional student experience at Waltham Forest College and how this transforms the lives of thousands of students each year.

The whole staff team work relentlessly in their drive to support our students and ensure they achieve the very best outcomes to progress. The strong collaborations with employers, partners and stakeholders further supports the overall experience and ensures the College continues to meet local, regional, and national skills’ needs.”

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