Rochdale Sixth Form College has been rated ‘outstanding’ for a second time following an inspection by the education watchdog. Ofsted has published a glowing report praising the college where nearly 1,900 youngsters either study A levels - including psychology, maths and chemistry - or vocational subjects such as health and social care.
Based in the town centre, the college was rated ‘outstanding’ when it was last inspected almost 10 years ago. Now it has repeated the success - just a year on from being named Sixth Form College of the Year by the Times Educational Supplement (TES).
Students told inspectors, who visited in October, that the college provides ‘a happy and supportive education where teachers are very helpful and make learning fun’. The report adds: “Students describe their experiences at the college as ‘heart-warming’, ‘enjoyable’, ‘rewarding’, ‘motivational’ and ‘safe’.
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"They talk about their college with pride. Almost all of them would recommend the college to a friend. Students told inspectors that the college provides a happy and supportive education where teachers are very helpful and make learning fun.”
Staff were also said to have high aspirations for their students - including those with special educational needs and disabilities. “They know their students very well,” officials noted.
“Teaching staff create highly purposeful and productive learning environments that enable students to flourish academically and personally. Around three quarters of students progress to university. Almost all high-needs students perform better than their peers and all progress to university.”
Teachers were also said to be ‘very effective’ in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion- ensuring students left the college with 'a set of values and standards' that prepared them well for the future.
And inspectors noted that students developed ‘high levels of confidence and resilience’. “For example, students respond positively following mistakes they make in their work and use this experience to self-reflect and to improve their next piece of work," the report adds.
Behaviour and attendance were also said to be exemplary, with youngsters described as ‘keen and enthusiastic to learn’. Students listen very attentively to teachers’ instructions and work very conscientiously throughout their time at the college,” the officials found.
Teachers were said to be ‘very well qualified and benefit from high-quality and highly effective professional development’. Inspectors noted how they utilise a range of teaching techniques to support learners to develop a strong understanding of what they have been taught.
Governance was found to be ‘highly effective’ with governors promoting extremely high standards across all aspects of the college. Safeguarding arrangements were also praised by inspectors.
“Leaders prioritise safeguarding to ensure that students are safe and protected,” the report adds. “Students are taught how to keep themselves safe at college, when travelling to and from the college and in their personal lives.”
Principal Richard Ronksley said he was ‘immeasurably proud of the college, the students, and the staff’.
He said: “Rochdale Sixth Form College is an incredible place to come to work and study, but it is only what the young people of the borough deserve.
“What is particularly pleasing is that not only do Ofsted praise the college for the high standard of education, they also report that students talk about the college with pride, describing it as ‘heart-warming’, ‘enjoyable’, ‘rewarding’, ‘motivational’ and ‘safe’.
“Ofsted also says that there is a ‘highly purposeful and productive learning environment exists that enables students to flourish academically and personally’.”
Rochdale Sixth Form College opened in September 2010. In April 2017, its governing body created the Altus Education Partnership, a multi academy trust that also includes the Edgar Wood Academy, a secondary school in Middleton.
The full report can be found on the Ofsted website.
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