Croydon College has been highlighted as a national case study of successful improvement and transformation in the Further Education Commissioner’s 2024–2025 annual report, published by the Department for Education.
Transformation: Commissioner’s annual report describes Croydon College’s turnround from ‘inadequate’ as ‘remarkable’
The Commissioner reports on how Croydon College, which includes Coulsdon Sixth Form College, went from an “Inadequate” Ofsted rating in February 2023 to being rated “Good” in all areas 20 months later, describing the turnaround as “remarkable”.
Croydon College is based near East Croydon Station. The report notes that Croydon College serves one of London’s most diverse and disadvantaged boroughs, and plays a vital role in its community, providing education and skills training across its Croydon and Coulsdon campuses.
The report says: “In February 2023, the college faced its biggest challenge – an Ofsted inspection graded it as ‘inadequate’. Whilst this judgement was unexpected, significant weaknesses at the Coulsdon campus had increased the risk of an inadequate grade.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
“Governors and senior leaders responded decisively, embracing external support from the Department for Education and the Further Education Commissioner. A single, robust improvement plan was launched, targeting areas with the greatest impact on learners.
“Difficult decisions were made, but the focus remained unwavering, restoring quality and confidence.
“The turnaround was remarkable… In October 2024, just 20 months after the inadequate grade, Ofsted reinspected and judged the College as ‘Good’ in every category. Intervention was lifted the following month, testament to the determination and collaboration of staff, leaders, governors, and partners.”
In 2024–2025, the report says, Croydon College’s achievement rates had “improved significantly” to 88%, retention improved to 94% and “high grades in key vocational areas rose dramatically”,
Caireen Mitchell, chief executive of Croydon College, said: “We are incredibly proud to be recognised in the FE Commissioner’s annual report as a case study of what is possible when a college community comes together with ambition, determination and a relentless focus on learners.
‘Incredibly proud’: Croydon College principal Caireen Mitchell
“The past two years have been transformational for Croydon College and Coulsdon Sixth Form College. Our staff, governors and partners have worked tirelessly to deliver rapid and sustainable improvement, and most importantly to ensure our students feel safe, supported and able to succeed.
“This recognition is a testament to everyone across the College who believes in the power of education to change lives, and we remain committed to building on this momentum for the future.”
Read more: Dozens of jobs at risk as DfE is set to close its Croydon office
Read more: That’s NEET: College offers students fresh start in January
Read more: College given ‘Good’ rating after Ofsted inspectors’ return visit
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ROTTEN BOROUGH AWARDS: In January 2026, Croydon was named among the country’s rottenest boroughs for an EIGHTH time in nine years, in Private Eye magazine’s annual round-up of civic cock-ups
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“Difficult decisions” seem to be covered by this section:-
We were therefore very pleased to find that the college had
realised a c.£2.2 million financial benefit because of activities directly related to suggestions in the CEFSS report, including:
• undertaking a structured study on teaching staff deployment
• formalising internal policies so that they were consistently applied year on year
• undertaking a full review of overhead costs, which had been found to be high compared with sector benchmarks in the original review and systematically benchmarked each of these to “right-size” the cost base
• improving the progression rate of learners over two years, resulting in improved income
Gosh – this reads like bureaucratic cut-and-paste gobbledygook. Can someone translate, please?