Northampton College

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings

This is a good provider Provision for students with high needs is outstanding.

These students make exceptional progress with their independent living skills and with their achievement of qualifications. Provision for students on study programmes has improved and is now good. Teachers' and managers' actions have improved the quality of teaching, learning and assessment, which is now good.

Most teaching enables students and apprentices to develop good standards of practical skills rapidly. Governors and leaders have established systems for monitoring students' progress and have intervened rapidly to ensure that the large majority of them make good progress. Leaders and managers have i...ncreased the proportion of students who achieve their qualifications.

They hold subject managers to account when students' achievements are not good enough. Leaders and managers have used their good links with employers and the local community to ensure that the courses they offer meet local and regional skills needs. Students improve their skills in English well.

They quickly learn to use vocational and technical terminology precisely and confidently. Students and apprentices make good progress in improving their mathematics. They carry out relevant mathematical calculations accurately and interpret the results confidently.

Leaders' and managers' actions to improve the quality of apprenticeship provision have not yet had sufficient impact. Too many apprentices, especially those on electrical installation, do not achieve within the planned timeframe and too many do not finish the course. Too many students and apprentices do not understand the dangers specific to their subject or the local area, from those who hold extremist views.

In a few cases, mostly in theory lessons, teaching activities are dull and do not inspire or motivate students. Apprentices do not get enough help to improve their written English skills. In too many cases, they spell technical and specialist terms incorrectly.

Information about the provider

Northampton College is a large general further education college that has three sites, two in Northampton and a smaller site in Daventry. Most of the students and apprentices who attend the college live in Northamptonshire. The college offers courses in 14 of the 15 sector subject areas, predominantly from entry level to level 3 and with a small provision at levels 4 and 5, including higher level apprenticeships.

The largest areas are arts, media, and health and social care. The college works with one subcontractor. Young people in Northamptonshire leave school having made slightly less progress than those nationally.

Their achievements in GCSE examinations are broadly in line with the national rates. Rates of unemployment in the local area are lower than those nationally, but the proportion of the working population qualified to level 3 or above is lower than the national rate. Key industries in the region include construction, care, leisure, retail and engineering.