QAA Academic Review – Art and Design

The Quality Assurance Agency reviewed our HNC and HND programmes in Graphic Design, 3-D Design (Furniture Restoration) and Interior Design in 2005/06.

We are delighted that QAA reported confidence in the academic standards achieved in the programmes in Art and Design at the College. This is the highest grade that QAA can award. This involved approval of our teaching and learning. Additionally, student progression was judged to be commendable, as were the learning resources that the College provides in connection with these programmes.

This is a good outcome, on which the College is building through our Higher Education expansion.

Ofsted Re-Inspection, November 2006

In her staff bulletin, the Principal said:

“I would like to congratulate everyone who was involved in our re-inspection. It was an excellent outcome.

Engineering Further Education went from an unsatisfactory to a good, which is a remarkable achievement and not often seen in a re-inspection. This is down to the hard work of the staff at all our Centres, Banbury, Bicester, Blackbird Leys and Oxford. All facilities looked gleaming. The stunning achievements and retention certainly helped the outcome. At level 3, for example, success rates for younger students on long courses were 29% above the national bench-mark. Well done.

Engineering Work Based Learning and Business and Management also achieved some excellent feedback enabling their grades to move to a 3. The inspectors were very complimentary of the work undertaken and feel that once all efforts have been translated into improved retention and achievements, then these areas would also see even more success.

So well done to you all.”

CoVEs

The college has a number of Centres of Vocational Excellence including :

Construction & Building Services (Lead)
Engineering – Performance Motor sports (partner)
Engineering – Lean Manufacturing (partner

Improving success rates in FE provision:

• Overall 16-18 long courses. At all levels (1, 2 & 3), success rates are generally well above the national average. Levels 2 and 3 show particularly pleasing rising year on year trends.

• Overall adult long courses. At all levels, success rates show steeply rising trends to well above the national average.

• At the college, adults and young people have achieved the full level 2 qualification that is so important for employment, at a full 10 per cent above the national average.

• At level 3 (A level or equivalent), young people have achieved at a rate of 5 per cent above the national average.

• Improving success rates have been noted in work-based learning provision, particularly for advanced apprentices, which exceed the national average.