Background

Over the last few years, City of Bristol College has emerged as one of the region's leading education providers. Major expansion and management restructuring have created a further and higher education college that is at the forefront of its field.

The College has received and exceptional Ofsted report which praised the College for its outstanding leadership and management and commented that 'education and social inclusion are outstanding.' More recently, the Adult Learning Inspectorate named City of Bristol College as one of the top training providers in the country.

City of Bristol College continues to deliver high quality education, training and skills development. It is the only college in the West of England to hold the Learning and Skills Beacon status for excellence and innovation, which is awarded to the very best provider of the further education and skills sector.

The College has also achieved Centre of Excellence (CoVE) status for its work in aeronautical engineering, supervisory management and hospitality services.

Success for All

Find out more about the college's mission.

Exceptional Ofsted Report

Ofsted inspectors visited the College in February 2006 and were particularly impressed with the College's outstanding leadership and management which promotes a culture of quality improvement and provides clear direction. The report highlights the 35 per cent growth in the number of 16 - 18 year olds studying at the College and comments on the above average success rates for the College's 850 A Level students. The inspectors praised the College for its effectiveness of teaching and the support and guidance given to learners.

Adult Learning Inspectorate praises College

The College has been named one of the top training providers in the country by the Adult Learning Inspectorate, the government body responsible for the quality of education and training for adults and young people.

At the launch of his annual report for 2005-06 Chief Inspector, David Sherlock, named City of Bristol College as one of a small number of providers to receive 'good' or 'outstanding' inspection grades for every aspect of its training.

Contributing to the Prosperity of Bristol

Bristol is a prosperous city with an expanding economy but is also divided with areas of serious social and economic deprivation. The College contributes to the prosperity of the city and the wider region as:

• the leading provider of high-quality education, training and skills development
• a key stakeholder in the local economy: employing over 2,000 staff; annual turnover of £65 million; and a contribution of £120 million to the local economy
• a strategic partner in the wider provision of education and training, community regeneration and the development of the local economy.

Learner Participation and Recruitment

Over 30,000 students.

11 faculties delivering education and training at all levels in most academic and vocational areas.

The widest choice of programmes in the West of England area providing an extensive network of curriculum progression routes for learners. On offer are over 1,000 full and part-time day and evening courses including provision in all 15 subject sector areas and at all levels - from pre-entry through to university level.

Approximately 7,000 16-18 year old students:

• 4,000 full-time
• 1,500 part-time
• 1,250 CoBC and other Managing Agents’ apprentices.

A large and expanding vocational schools link programme for 14-16 year olds. Up to 1,000 year 10 and 11 school pupils study at the College at any one time. English for Speakers of Other Languages and over 12 vocational areas of study are on offer to pupils from over 30 schools within the greater Bristol area. In the last year 64 per cent of those 14 - 16 year olds studying full-time at the College have progressed to further study at the College. 71 per cent of those completing full-time study at the College gained Level 1 qualifications. Qualifications gained by 14 - 16 pupils studying at the College make a valuable contribution to schools' league tables and achievement in Bristol.

Customised courses for those joining the College at 16 with no qualifications or who did not attend school.

Extensive programme of skills training focusing on key local/regional priority areas:

• 20,000 enrolments sponsored by over 1,200 employers
• 88% of employers rated the service offered by the College as good or excellent in a recent satisfaction survey
• High profile training contracts with employers, including Airbus, NHS, HSBC and Porsche cars
• Extensive range of full cost programmes designed to meet employer needs
• Wide range of professional/updating qualifications

Leading provider of adult and community learning (ACL) in the City with extensive community partnership provision.

Up to 8,000 students on Skills for Life qualifications

Between 15-20 per cent of students are BME – compared to 8 per cent of the Bristol population.

Up to 2,000 university level students and a growing Foundation Degree programmes in partnership with a number of universities including University of Plymouth, University of Bristol, University of the West of England, Kingston University, Bath Spa University and University of Bath.

Pathfinders for: Kingswood Partnership 14-19 Pathfinder, Skills for Life Whole Organisational Approach Pathfinder, Learning for Living - developing access to skills for life for adults with learning difficulties and/or disabilities Pathfinder.

Learner experience and performance

A major contributor to the raising of educational achievement in Bristol which has a low level of school performance and achievement at key stage 4.

Ofsted inspectors found that students were extremely positive about the college and that they enjoyed the learning experience. Overall learner satisfaction level of 92 per cent. (07/08 early course questionnaire), against a national learner satisfaction survey average of 90 per cent.

92 per cent of learners rate the quality of teaching as satisfactory - against a national benchmark of 90 per cent . Our student surveys show there is a consistent level of quality across all College centres. 90 per cent of students were satisfied with the college as a place to learn and make friends (2007/08 early course questionnaire).

High profile learning support and disability support – a major factor in delivering the College's policy of inclusive learning

Overall student success rates for retention and achievement are above the national average. Student retention 88 per cent. Student achievement 87 per cent. Overall success rate 77 per cent.

Overall A level pass rate – 96 per cent. A-C grades have increased from 67 per cent in 2003/04 to 77 per cent in 2006/07. Ofsted inspectors visiting the College in February 2006 reported that, 'the high grades increased further in 2005 and is well above national averages.'

'Learners across the College achieve high levels of work-related skills and improve their confidence, communication and interpersonal skills.' (Ofsted Report, 2006).

David Sherlock, Chief Inspector of the Adult Learning Inspectorate praise the College in his Annual Report: 'They have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to achieving the very highest standards in the quality of education and training they offer. Learners can be confident that they will receive first-class support to reach their full potential. To be one of the top providers in the country is a tremendous achievement and a great credit to the team at City of Bristol College.'

Well Qualified Staff

The College has high quality and well qualified staff and retained its Investors in People status. The recent Ofsted Report stated: 'Teachers are well-qualified and have a wide range of industrial and commercial experience which is highly valued by learners.'

All staff are entitled to free staff development in support of their job roles and the College provides the full range of accredited teacher training qualifications. In addition, staff are able to choose annually, one free short course from the College's extensive portfolio.

All new staff are provided with mentoring support including support for new teaching staff who are contractually required to gain teacher/trainer qualifications.

Partnerships

'The College contributes strongly to the improvement of educational opportunities in the Bristol area through successful partnership working.' (Ofsted Report, 2006).

'The College's responsiveness to the needs of employers is outstanding.' (Ofsted Report, 2006).

High profile national training contracts with a number of major employers, including Airbus, NHS, Porsche Cars and HSBC.

Leading partner in the 14-19 Bristol Campus and Kingswood Partnership.

Brunel Training and the Western Training Providers.

Education Unlimited - an innovative project offering individual support to young people not in work or training supported with European Funding.

Extensive community provision and a growing number of local community partners across the city including Beacon Centre, Barton Hill Settlement, Silai for Skills and The Park Opportunity Centre.

Trades Union Congress and member unions.

A substantial Prince's Trust Volunteers' programme.

A partner college of University of Plymouth, University of Bristol, Kingston University, University of the West of England, University of Bath and Bath Spa University.

The Learning and Skills Councils, Race Equality Council, Local Councils, Regional Development Agency, RNIB, schools, awarding bodies, Sector Skills Councils, Jobcentreplus and Connexions are amongst the College's key partners.

Investment in Learning

The College is situated on eight main centres with neighbourhood centres across the city. An ambitious £50 million capital build programme has been underway for some time and includes major investment in all College main centres.

The College plans to open a £30million South Bristol Skills Academy in Autumn 2009 as part of a City-wide partnership to prepare young people and adults for employment.

The College has recently relaunched its Ashley Down Centre as a world-class facility for vocational training. A £25 million refurbishment includes state of the art facilties.

A £7 million development programme for the Soundwell Centre in the north east of the city is now also complete and includes a new teaching block and extensive refurbishments. Further capital developments are planned to bring all the centres up to the highest standards.

'Generally resources are of a high quality and some specialist resources are excellent.' (Ofsted Report, 2006).

The College's flagship campus, the College Green Centre is situated in the heart of Bristol city centre and houses the College's A Level Centre. The A Level Centre attracts over 850 students from across the region and has good results.

A new specialist basic skills and ESOL centre Monarch House located in the city centre was opened in 2004. Other College main centres are located in: Bedminster, Lawrence Weston, Hartcliffe and Parkway.

Investment in IT of £1 million per year over three years.

Milestones since 2001:

• Merged with Soundwell College (turnover approx. £8 million)
• Achieved 33 per cent growth in full-time 16-18 year olds
• Continued to contribute to the raising of educational standards in Bristol and expanded partnerships with schools
• Expanded work with employers, with local, regional and national contracts
• Expanded basic skills and ESOL provision with a city centre site
• Taken responsibility for the management and delivery of the adult and community provision in Bristol
• Improved quality and student success rates at all levels above the national average
• Gained CoVE (Centre of Vocational Excellence) status in three areas; Aeronautical Engineering, Supervisory Management and Hospitality Services
• Invested £50 million in building and resources since 2000
• Maintained financial viability and category ‘A’ status
• Established a new senior management structure with curriculum responsibilities based on client groups
• Increased the overall College turnover from £32 million to £65 million
• Retained an effective devolved faculty structure