Exceptional Exeter College once again awarded “Outstanding” by Ofsted

Exeter College is celebrating after a full Ofsted Inspection, which has resulted in the College retaining the impressive accolade of Outstanding.

Eight years since its last inspection Ofsted again confirmed that Exeter College is an Outstanding College. The College also scored the top assessment of ‘strong’ for its approach to meeting the skills needs of the area. This makes Exeter College the first college in the country to achieve the highest judgement in both elements of Ofsted’s new enhanced inspections.

The 21-strong Ofsted inspection team visited every College site and reviewed every facet of the College offer from 29 November to 2 December 2022.

Exeter College Principal and CEO, John Laramy CBE said:

“At a time when the national press is talking about Ofsted raising the bar for their top grade the team at Exeter College has demonstrated that we have sustained Outstanding, even in the new rigorous enhanced framework.

“I would like to wholeheartedly thank everyone who contributed to this exceptional sector-leading outcome, especially our amazing learners, apprentices, staff and governors. Ofsted has recognised what I see from our students, apprentices and staff every single day.”

Students and staff celebrating their Ofsted Outstanding rating.

Bindu Arjoon, Chair of the Board of Governors, added:

“We are delighted that the hard work of everyone at the College has been recognised in this way. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank all the students, staff and stakeholders for their personal contribution to our Outstanding College.”

The College achieved the top Ofsted rating of Outstanding in all four cross-college judgements; Quality of Education, Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development and Leadership and Management. The College’s Sixth Form provision, adult learning and apprenticeships were also rated as Outstanding. The Outstanding grade for apprenticeships is extremely hard to achieve, with very few colleges nationally having achieved this.

The report praises the standard of teaching and learning across the College as well as the standards of behaviour and culture, citing that teachers and other staff are excellent role models who work tirelessly to meet the needs of learners.

Zakia Volschenk, from Exmouth, is studying A Levels at Exeter College and is part of the Learner Leadership Team. Speaking about the Outstanding grade, she said:

“I believe it’s well-deserved and feel extremely proud to be a part of a constantly developing institution that really takes into consideration the student’s opinions. I know that the opportunities at Exeter College will give me an advantage when it comes to applying to university or finding future jobs.”

As national exams returned last year, Ofsted’s inspection included scrutinising learner results and outcomes in exams. This meant that the summer’s record-breaking A Level results and top 10% value added performance were assessed as part of the inspection process.

Jade Otty, Vice Principal and Ofsted Quality Nominee, said:

“I am so pleased that the exceptional work of our teachers and support staff has been recognised by Ofsted. The College is Outstanding thanks to their expertise, care and commitment. I am proud too that this report reflects how amazing our learners and apprentices are in working with us to create a college community in which everyone can thrive and develop. We were also delighted that the report credited the support and work of our community and industry partners”

You can read the College’s full Ofsted report here.

Ofsted Inspections

The new Education Inspection Framework (EIF) came into force in September 2019. This rigorous inspection framework means fewer schools and colleges have been awarded outstanding nationally.
Ofsted’s new enhanced inspections of Further Education providers and Sixth Form colleges came into force in September 2022. It means that in addition to the EIF focus on Quality of Education, colleges are also judged on how well they link with community, civic, industry and education partners to meet their region’s skills needs.
Exeter College is the first college in the country to receive the top grade of Outstanding and the top grade of ‘strong contribution’ to skills needs.

Ofsted Outstanding, bringing Exeter College to the next level  

We’re Devon’s only Ofsted Outstanding tertiary college, but how has this top rating helped to shape us and our students’ education?

We were first awarded our Outstanding rating in 2012, after inspectors arrived unannounced, checking on all aspects of College life. This inspection awarded us an overall rating of Outstanding, bringing us to the top level of Ofsted’s rating system, and announcing us as one of the very best colleges in the country.   

Two years passed and the Ofsted inspectors arrived again, once more awarding us with an Outstanding overall rating. On top of this, they ranked us as Outstanding across each of the categories; Outcomes for Learners, Learning and Assessment, Quality of Teaching and the Effectiveness of Leadership and Management.  

Exceptional College

A lot of schools or colleges would see achieving Ofsted Outstanding across all categories as ‘job done’ but not us. We have used this backing as a launchpad to continue to innovate and flourish, benefiting our students and the wider community.   

John Laramy, Principal and Chief Executive at Exeter College since 2009, said, “While it was our strategic ambition to become Ofsted Outstanding, for us the most important part of this was the national confirmation that our students are achieving great things.   

“Once we were rated Outstanding across all categories, the staff at the college immediately looked at what’s next. We used the validation from Ofsted as a platform and have since set a new vision, which is to become an ‘exceptional college’. I am very pleased to report that with the partnerships we have now, and experiences the College is now able to offer, we are on track to achieve this new milestone.”  

Our Achievements

In recent years, our College has gone from strength-to-strength. We were named as 2016’s Centre of the Year at the City and Guilds Lion Awards, STEM FE College of the Year 2018, and even as one of the Top 100 Best Not-For-Profit Organisations to work for by the Sunday Times in 2019.   

As a college, we pride ourselves on our reputation for our academic, vocational and Apprenticeship excellence, which continues to grow. In 2019 our students achieved exceptional A Level results, with a 99.7% pass rate, well above the national average of 97.6%. Our vocational success continues to exceed the national average, and recently our Apprenticeship team was shortlisted in the Association of College’s Beacon Awards for Employer Engagement.   

Looking to the future, while reflecting on 50 years of excellence since being named as the UK’s first ever tertiary college, has been the key to our drive to exceptional education.   

World Class Facilities

We continue to invest in our College, making sure we have the tools and facilities to provide students the best education. Our renowned Centre for Creative Industries offers students the latest software and equipment in the creative arts, giving them the means to achieve their full potential. In 2015, we opened our Maths and Science Centre, with 11 purpose-built laboratories. On top of this, our Technology and Construction Centres have also seen recent investment, making sure teaching practice is industry-led and fit for the future.   

Our new Digital and Data Centre is also currently under construction. Opening early 2021, this Centre will be part of the wider South West Institute of Technology plan, which will revolutionise the teaching of digital, manufacturing and engineering education across the South West.

Ongoing Success

Due to our Ofsted Outstanding rating, our strive of educational excellence, and our outstanding teaching, we have been selected by the Government to be one of the first providers in the UK, and the only provider in Devon, of the new T Level qualification, which will be rolling out this September.

John Laramy said, “Since the Ofsted Outstanding rating I am delighted to report that student results have improved further and the College’s estate and facilities have really developed. I personally lead ‘learner voice’ and just last week heard first-hand about the great work going on right across the College from learners themselves. I believe part of our ongoing success is down to the way that students and Apprentices remain at the heart of our decision making – their ambition and feedback inspires all of us.  

“During the last few months, we have really benefited from the combination of expert teachers, a dynamic digital strategy and great students. As Principal, I get a real buzz from students achieving their absolute potential and using the result to realise their ambitions.”  

We are currently planning for enrolment, where we will welcome students who will be joining us in September. Everyone who holds an offer to study with us will be informed about the enrolment process in the coming weeks.

You can still apply online to study at our Ofsted Outstanding College for a September 2020 start. Once all requested documents have been submitted and reviewed, applicants will be given a conditional offer.

March 2000: Exeter College ranked as ‘best in the west’

As part of Exeter College celebrating 50 years as the UK’s first ever tertiary college, we’re talking to some of the inspirational students, staff and alumni who have helped make us the Ofsted Outstanding education provider we are today.

Then:

In March 2000, we welcomed Further Education Funding Council bosses into our College, who completed a breakdown inspection over a week-long period.

Ranked against seven other local education centres, Exeter College came out on top. We obtained the best score for two performance levels and came second for a third.

The inspectors commented on the outstanding student support and the impressive increase in our overall A Level pass rate, with a 13% increase since 1998.

Tim Smith, Principal at the time, said, “At a time when education is coming under such intense scrutiny, it is good to achieve a grade profile that is probably the best in the west in the current academic year.”

Now:

Two decades later and we continue to uphold these incredible results, currently standing as Devon’s only Ofsted Outstanding further education College.

We have also been named as the best in the South West for employer satisfaction in Apprenticeships and we’re on the Sunday Times Top 100 Not for Profit Employer list. On top of this, we’ve been selected as one of the first colleges in the country (the only one in Devon) to offer the T Level qualification, rolling out this September.

Additionally, we’ve maintained our amazing results, setting new records for the latest academic year. Our A Level students achieved an overall pass rate of 99.7%, well above the national average. Our International Baccalaureate results were the best in the College’s history, with 100% of students passing and nearly a third of students achieving more than 40 points out of a possible 45.

We couldn’t be prouder of all our students, staff and partners who have helped to shape and uphold the success of our college.

Interested in joining Exeter College? Apply now online.

Exeter College is celebrating 50 years since being named as the UK’s first tertiary college. Although our roots date back to the 1800s, our status as a tertiary college marked a revolution in further education and 2020 marks our 50 years of excellence since that landmark. If you have a memory of Exeter College through the years that you’d like to share then contact marketing@exe-coll.ac.uk or get involved on social media using #ExeColl50