We’re still a good sixth form college.

Our latest Ofsted inspection took place on 17-18 April 2024 and we continue to be a Good provider.

Emma Soper, Principal of Connell, said:

“I’m really pleased to share the report from our recent short inspection. It recognises the work that has taken place since the last inspection in 2018 when the college was graded Good. The inspectors recognised our accurate self-assessment and our ability to improve the college further. We look forward to a full inspection in the future which will allow a deeper look at our provision and the opportunity for our grading to be reassessed. 

“The student-centred focus of everything we do shines through the report. We’re really excited about our future, growing our college, building on our success, and taking things to the next level. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our students and staff for their continued hard work; and our parents/carers and governors for their continued support.”

A few highlights from the report:

• Students improve their confidence and independence because of the education they receive. 

• Students are highly motivated and enjoy their learning. They take part in a range of activities to develop their knowledge skills and behaviours, e.g. volunteering, fundraising, etc.

• Students’ behaviour is exemplary and they demonstrate high levels of respect for staff and their peers. They feel very well supported by their teachers and progress tutors who they say help them to improve. 

• Students feel safe. They know how and to whom they should report concerns.

• Students benefit from a ‘core’ curriculum where they learn about local risks such as knife crime, spiking and county lines. 

• Students develop new knowledge, skills and behaviours because of their learning.

• Most students achieve merits and distinctions in their final assessments. 

• Students benefit from high quality impartial careers education, advice and guidance. They attend careers fairs and career insight days where they access information about university courses, degree apprenticeships and employment opportunities. 

• Teachers use assessment effectively to check and consolidate students’ learning. They use a range of activities such as effective questioning, modelling and self reflection to check that students understand and recall previous knowledge. As a result, students become fluent in their knowledge over time. 

• Progress tutors work with students to carefully create individual career plans. Students regularly review their career plans and targets so that they monitor their progress towards their development of knowledge, skills and behaviours required for their career aspirations. 

• Progress tutors support students to research their career pathways providing guidance on completing applications for university or employment. Most students progress to higher education, apprenticeships or employment.

• Leaders develop ambitious curriculums that are planned in a logical order. This means that students build their knowledge and skills gradually over time. 

• Leaders have effective quality assurance and improvement processes in place. They use these well to monitor the quality of education that students receive. Leaders have rectified all the weaknesses from the previous inspection. 

• Leaders and governors know the strengths and the key areas to improve, e.g. students that are at risk of not achieving are identified early and actions put in place to support them. 

• The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. 

What’s a short inspection? They’re for providers judged Good at their last inspection. During a short inspection, the inspectors will see what progress has been made against the previous areas identified for development. They also look at other key elements to check the provider remains good. They do not revisit the gradings of each aspect of provision.