Aquinas College Ofsted Report November 2008

Ofsted inspectors conclude,”Aquinas is an outstanding college.”

The first sentence of the Ofsted inspection report, published at the end of November 2008, is simple, “Aquinas is an outstanding college.”  In fact, the adjective, ‘outstanding’ occurs no less than 26 times in the report.

 Summary of grades awarded

• Effectiveness of provision - Outstanding: Grade 1
• Capacity to improve - Good: Grade 2
• Achievement and standards - Good: Grade 2
• Quality of provision - Outstanding: Grade 1
• Leadership and management - Outstanding: Grade 1
• Equality of opportunity - Outstanding: contributory grade 1

Extracts from the report
“Aquinas is an outstanding college.  The college provides a very welcoming and positive learning environment and students enjoy the opportunities and experiences offered.  There is a strong commitment to the Catholic ethos at all levels. The college community effectively promotes the Gospel values of freedom, justice and love.  The well-planned ethics programme is valued by students and their personal development is outstanding.  Achievement and standards are good.  The progress made by the majority of students is very good. Teaching and learning are good.  The use of information learning technology (ILT) to enhance learning and students’enjoyment is very good.”
  
“Teachers and support staff work very well together to provide outstanding guidance and support.  The college’s response to education and social inclusion is outstanding.  A broad curriculum meets the needs of students very well. Alternative pathways are available for students not yet ready to study at advanced level and the college works hard to engage students who may otherwise not participate in further education.  Extensive enrichment activities and voluntary work enhances students’skills.  The Every Child Matters themes are embedded in all aspects of college life.”
  
“Leadership and management are outstanding.  A clear strategic direction places students at the centre.  Equality of opportunity is outstanding.“
 
Key strengths

• very inclusive college
• high success rates on many courses
• very good value added on A2 courses
• highly effective use of ILT to support learning
• outstanding range of courses and enrichment opportunities
• excellent individual support for students
• productive partnerships
• outstanding leadership to achieve the college’s mission and Catholic ethos
• outstanding governance.    

Areas for improvement
The college should address:

• low success rates on a minority of courses
• insufficient rigour in teaching and learning observations
• slow pace of improvement in a minority of underperforming areas
• aspects of self-assessment.
   

Dr Ambrose Smith, Principal, welcomed the report, “I am particularly pleased that the inspectors acknowledged the fact that at Aquinas the whole is more than the sum of the parts.  You cannot adequately encapsulate what the college is about merely by statistics.  It is a tribute not only to the professionalism and dedication of my colleagues but also an acknowledgement of the hard work of our students.”

He went on to single out two paragraphs from the report with which he was especially delighted:

§11. "Students are mature in their approach to learning. They attend regularly
and respond well to the college’s ethos. Students are very supportive of each other  in and out of lessons and contribute positively to college life. The standard of  students’ work is high and their behaviour is exemplary. The spiritual and moral development of students is outstanding."
 
and
 
§22.  "A very welcoming and positive atmosphere reflects a culture of equality,
tolerance, respect, support and success."

Finally Dr Smith looked forward to the new building which is now emerging from the playing field.  “It is good to have Ofsted’s high opinion of the college confirmed just as we are fully rebuilding it.  The £42 million project will completely replace our cramped and outmoded buildings.”