Kendal College is celebrating inspection success from the education watchdog Ofsted.
Ofsted inspectors visited the college, which has three campuses in the town, in March.
Their report, published this week, said the college met the expected standard.
Ofsted have five grades – with urgent improvement the lowest and exceptional the highest.
The college, which has a total of 2,402 learners, meets the expected standard across all areas and the report said: “Learners and apprentices value being taught by knowledgeable tutors in welcoming
environments.
“They appreciate the college’s warm and collegiate culture where they establish firm friendships and positive relationships.”
Inspectors said learners mostly receive support needed to make appropriate progress and generally produce work of a high standard.
However, they added: “Learners mostly achieve their qualifications and progress to higher study, training or employment.
“Leaders took the decision to enrol most learners without English or mathematics qualifications on to GCSE qualifications.
“This has resulted in a decline in the proportion of learners who achieve a grade 4 or higher in GCSE English and mathematics.
“Leaders rightly identify this as a priority for improvement.”
The report highlighted that that the college’s curriculums were relevant to local and regional priorities and tutors were typically subject experts.
Inspectors added: “In performing arts, tutors use their expertise adeptly to teach concepts such as characterisation and dramatic technique.
“Learners, including those with significant barriers to learning, explain these concepts accurately, with confidence and enthusiasm.
“Tutors generally use purposeful teaching strategies. Tutors who teach A-level psychology use case studies skilfully to help learners to consider how initial patient impressions can mislead clinicians in diagnosing mental health conditions.
“Tutors mostly use assessment well and provide learners with constructive feedback.
“However, on a few courses, assessment is less effective. In GCSE English, tutors plan limited opportunities for learners to use the feedback that they receive to improve their work.”
There are 346 adult learners at the college.
The report said: “Adult learners mostly make positive progress from their starting points and achieve their qualifications.
“Learners with additional needs or disadvantage typically achieve in line with their peers.
“However, too few learners studying functional skills mathematics achieve their qualifications.
“Learners mostly progress to higher-level study or employment. Learners studying short courses progress to employment in related disciplines.”
There are 639 people on an apprenticeship course at the college.
Its apprentices mostly pass their courses, with just over half achieving merit or distinction grades.
However, the report said: “Leaders rightly recognise that too many apprentices do not achieve their apprenticeship within the planned time frame.
“Leaders’ actions have reduced the number of apprentices who go beyond their planned time frame substantially in the past 12 months.”
Principal and CEO Jason Turton said: “This report reflects the hard work of our staff and, most importantly, the experience of our learners. We are proud to see that students feel supported, safe and able to succeed here.
“Our ambition is to be the best place to study and the best place to work in our region, and this outcome shows the real progress we have made towards that.
“The development of our Westmorland campus and our expanded A-level and Level 3 offer are key to that. We are giving students more choice, more independence and clearer pathways into their future.
“We also work closely with our local schools and careers advisors so that young people understand all their options and can choose the path that is right for them.
“We know there is more to do, but this gives us an excellent platform to continue building on as we raise aspirations and outcomes for learners across our community.”
The report outlined the college’s next steps:
- Leaders should continue to improve qualification achievement rates for young learners and learners with high needs studying GCSE English and mathematics.
- Leaders should implement actions to improve the progress that A-level learners make from their starting points so that they achieve the highest grades.
- Leaders should improve the precision of the targets set for apprentices to ensure that they make rapid progress from their starting points and achieve their apprenticeship in the planned time frame.
- Leaders should continue to implement actions designed to further reduce staff workload
