Ofsted praise OSFC’s staff and students

Ofsted inspectors have described Oldham Sixth Form College as “outstanding” for its leadership and management, the behaviour and attitudes of its students and its focus on students’ personal development.

Ofsted inpectors visited OSFC last month and have just published their report.

Inspectors said OSFC is a “calm, focused environment” in which students have a “positive, mature attitude to learning”. “Students feel comfortable and enjoy sharing their knowledge and working with their peers,” they added.

Ofsted praised our staff for their commitment to a “high quality education” and the opportunities they have to further develop their teaching practice. They described the overall quality of our education as “good”.

Our students achieve in the top 15% nationally for A Levels and in the top 30% nationally for vocational qualifications. The college is the first sixth form college nationally to be awarded Research School status and is also recognised as a Science Learning Partnership Hub.

Inspectors said that by offering four AS-level courses in Year 12 and enabling Year 13s to reduce this to three, we provide “breadth of curriculum and a greater learner choice”.

Ofsted also commended OSFC’s vocational programmes, our “highly effective careers advice” and the extra opportunities our students are given outside of lessons. 

The inspectors noted that our students feel comfortable, confident and safe when it comes to telling someone within the OSFC community about something that concerns them. They also recognised the “high-quality support” we provide in lessons for students with special needs.

While students on the college’s Health and Social Care course achieve results that place them in the top 10% nationally for their course, the college has identified improvements to this subject, which are already underway. Inspectors reiterated these areas of improvement. 

Suzannah Reeves, Associate Principal, said:

“Our focus on transforming lives in our community is central to everything we do - it’s what drives us to provide the very best education we can for our students.”

Jayne Clarke, Executive Principal, said:

“As a college, we take great pride in all aspects of the education we provide, from our broad and inclusive curriculum to the support and extra opportunities we give all our students. We’re delighted to have our work recognised with so many ‘outstanding’ judgements by Ofsted. This is a tribute to our high-achieving and dedicated staff and students.”