A year and a half after being rated as “Inadequate” following an Ofsted inspection, when the leadership was warned “about the risks associated with radicalisation and extremism” on its campus, Croydon College, together with Coulsdon Sixth Form College, has had its rating upgraded to “Good” overall, including “Good” in all eight assessment areas.
Much improved: Ofsted inspectors were satisfied that Croydon College is ‘Good’
The May 2023 Ofsted report had been the first since Croydon College’s merger with Coulsdon Sixth Form College in 2018.
Croydon College, located in a bustling town centre site between East Croydon Station and the Fairfield Halls, is among the biggest further education institutes of its kind in the country, with almost 6,000 on its roll, including nearly 1,000 pupils at the Coulsdon site.
Ofsted inspectors returned on two occasions for monitoring visits in the months that followed the “Inadequate” report, with a full visit conducted by a team of 14 taking place at the start of October.
Their report says: “Since the previous inspection, leaders, staff and those responsible for governance have taken effective actions to improve the quality of education, behaviour and attendance at both campuses.
Ofsted marks: Croydon College and Coulsdon Sixth Form College are now rated ‘Good’ in all categories
“They have rightly focused their attention on improving the curriculum and quality of teaching and assessment for young learners and those who have high needs. They have made notable improvements across these areas. This has led to increased and high achievement rates in many subjects for learners and apprentices.”
Among their recommendations for further improvement, the inspectors said that the college should “increase the proportion of learners who achieve their qualifications, where the quality of teaching is not consistently good, such as sports, engineering and hair and beauty”; that they should “involve more employers in the design of the curriculum”; and that they need to “ensure all teachers check learners’ understanding thoroughly and effectively”.
The inspectors addressed the previous findings that some attending Coulsdon felt intimidated, saying that learners attending the college feel that it is a “safe haven” for them.
Delighted: Caireen Mitchell
Caireen Mitchell, who has been principal and CEO since 2018, said this morning, “We are absolutely delighted with the overall rating of ‘Good’ for the College.
“It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff and demonstrates how much they care about our students. Our teachers do this job because they want to make a difference to the lives of young people, they want them to succeed and do well in whatever career they choose, and I am extremely proud that this has been reflected in the Ofsted report.
“As a team we are committed to creating a safe and effective learning environment for our students and we will continue to improve and develop as an education provider that the communities of Croydon and Coulsdon can be proud of.”
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