Coleg Gwent flies through pilot Estyn inspection
18 July 2018
Coleg Gwent has become the first college in Wales to pilot Estyn’s new inspection framework, securing a judgement of Good in everything it does.
The new framework for colleges in Wales comes into effect in September this year. Under the new framework, Estyn judges a provider in five Inspection Areas which is a change from the previous three Key Questions; greater emphasis is placed on the experience of the learner and the impact of the provider’s actions.
As well as changes to how a judgement is formed, Estyn now only includes notable strengths and weaknesses in the report.
Guy Lacey, Principal at Coleg Gwent, said, “It was interesting to work with Estyn through the pilot of the new inspection framework. We value the positive feedback and recognition from Estyn concerning the very good work that the college does to ensure that learners achieve their qualifications.
“We look forward to seeing how the new framework develops as it is rolled out across the sector.”
The report praises the college on its support for learners, particularly vulnerable students. Other significant achievements noted in the report include the college’s increasing success rates for vocational main qualifications, which are higher than the national average, for the third year running.
The College was commended for ensuring that learners have suitable progression routes by incorporating feedback from local employers and regional skills priorities into their planning.
“We’re pleased to be recognised for our effective links with employers. We have made notable progress to address the regional skills gap by working closely with employers to launch Wales’ first Career College, helping students become career ready”, continued Guy.