Salford City College

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Short inspection of Salford City College

Inspection dates: 3–4 December 2019 Outcome Salford City College continues to be a good provider.

Information about this provider Salford City College's last inspection was on 25 November 2015. The college operates from six campuses located in and around the city of Salford in the north-west of England. The college campuses are: Pendleton Sixth Form College, Eccles Sixth Form College, Worsley College, Future Skills, City Skills and Frontier House (apprenticeships division)The college provides a wide range of post-16 education and training from entry level qualifications to level 3 for college-based programmes and from level 2 to level 5 for apprenticeshipsCurrently, there ar...e 3,862 learners who study education programmes for young people, 2,168 learners studying adult learning programmes, 1,591 apprentices on apprenticeship programmes and 98 learners enrolled on programmes for learners with high needsThe college works with 15 subcontractors who provide training for education programmes for young people, adult learning and apprenticeships.

These subcontractors provide training for a very small number of learners and apprentices at the college. What is it like to be a learner with this provider? Learners and apprentices enjoy their time at college. They greatly appreciate the support they receive from teachers, assessors and support staff at college.

Many learners identify the 'good support arrangements' as a key ingredient to them making good progress in their studies. Learners benefit from well-structured learning that incrementally becomes more difficult. This helps learners improve their knowledge and skills and embeds learning in their long-term memory.

They can then draw effectively on this knowledge. For example, learners on complementary therapies courses study in a classroom that is infused with lavender oil. They can identify the smell of the oil when entering the classroom because they have used it in previous practical sessionsThey can explain articulately the benefits of lavender oil when carrying out treatments on patients who are unwellMany learners say they could not succeed without the opportunity and support given to them by staff at the college, which motivates them to study.

Learners who are on access-to-higher-education science courses told inspectors that they now believe in themselves and aspire to progress to a range of science-related degrees, including biochemistry, radiography and conservation