Success and Achievements
West Nottinghamshire College is celebrating a unique double.
The College has become the first in Nottinghamshire to gain Learning and Skills Beacon status and Best Companies accreditation.
Awarded by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), Beacon status recognises education providers that are exceptionally well managed and deliver outstanding teaching and learning. Only those that achieve Grade 1 (Outstanding) for Leadership and Management in their Ofsted report and no less than Grade 2 (Good) in all other areas are eligible to receive it. Last year the College was awarded Grade 1 across all categories by Ofsted inspectors, ranking it as one of the best colleges in the country. The then Further Education minister, Siôn Simon MP, presented staff with a certificate of Beacon status at a special awards ceremony at The Gibson Hall, London, in January, 2009.
Meanwhile, achieving Best Companies accreditation means the College joins an elite group of organisations labelled a ‘first class’ employer. The scheme follows the Michelin star-style rating system for organisations that show high levels of employee engagement. The College, which employs 1,200 staff, has been awarded one star at the first time of seeking accreditation. A coveted ‘star status’ recognition award was presented to Principal and Chief Executive Asha Khemka OBE, Deputy Principal Tim Grant and Director of Human Resources Tracey Thompson at a celebration event in London.
Ofsted Success
In May 2008 the College underwent its full Ofsted inspection. The report published in July was no less than spectacular, with the College achieving grade 1s (Outstanding) across all categories. Inspectors were particularly impressed with our outstanding results for all students, our excellent partnerships and outstanding employer responsiveness. They commented on the outstanding leadership across the College and the high staff morale. They also highlighted our outstanding governance, financial management and value for money.
The inspection result places the College within an elite group, as very few other general FE colleges in the UK have achieved grade 1 across the board. West Notts is the only general further education college within the East Midlands to have achieved such an outstanding result.
To read more about the College’s impressive results download a copy of our summary booklet.
To read a full copy of the report visit the Ofsted Website.