Kidderminster College has retained a rating of ‘Good’ from Ofsted following a full inspection of NCG colleges in November 2024.

Our purpose/mission is to develop the skills of our students to assist them in succeeding in the modern world and to make a positive contribution.

We are pleased that our Overall Effectiveness continues to reflect the consistently good standard of education delivered by colleagues and our valued partners that will help us achieve our goal of developing the skills that students require for their next steps in education, training or employment.

With our apprenticeship achievement rates amongst the highest in the sector, we are delighted that inspectors reported that apprenticeship provision is of good quality and are aligned closely to local and regional priorities.

Under Ofsted’s new inspection framework, we were also assessed for the first time on how well we meet local, regional and national skills needs, including how we work in partnership with stakeholders. The report highlights how we engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders across the Wyre Forest and wider Worcestershire region, how we consider regional priorities when planning curriculum within colleges, and how in most curriculum areas, stakeholders are involved in the design, implementation and delivery of the curriculum.

The report highlights many positives about our college, including:

 

  • Learners and apprentices make good progress in the development of new knowledge, skills and behaviours and are prepared well for more challenging work.

 

  • Learners and apprentices enjoy being part of the diverse and inclusive college communities at each of the college sites. They value studying in college environments where there are high levels of mutual respect and where learners and staff are approachable and openly support and care for each other.

 

  • Leaders take good account of local and regional priorities when planning the curriculum.  At Kidderminster College, for example, they work with digital companies to develop courses that meet their skills needs.

 

  • Learners and apprentices feel safe and know how to keep themselves and others safe at their colleges, at work and during online training.

 

  • Most learners benefit from valuable experience of the workplace and the world of work. Most learners progress to positive and sustained destinations on completion of their programmes such as further study or employment.

 

Cat Lewis, Principal of Kidderminster College, said: “I am delighted to retain our rating of ‘Good’ from Ofsted, which demonstrates our commitment to our students and the communities of Worcestershire and the Wyre Forest.”

“I am particularly proud that learners feel safe on our campus and enjoy being part of our diverse community, and that our work with valued partners and stakeholders across the region to design and deliver our curriculum to ensure we meet skills needs has been recognised by the inspection team.”

“As a team, we are committed to providing education that will help our students to succeed right here in Worcestershire, or wherever they choose to take their next steps and create a skilled and talented workforce for the future.”

Liz Bromley, CEO of NCG commented: “This is a positive result that reflects the hard work and dedication of colleagues and partners across the country to deliver high-quality education and opportunities that can transform lives.”

“I am pleased that the report highlights the continuous improvements we have made as a Group since our last Ofsted inspection, particularly in our apprenticeships provision and in the work we have done to ensure we meet local and regional skills needs by putting employers and stakeholders at the centre of our curriculum development.” 

“As an ambitious organisation we will continue to strive for outstanding education for the benefit of our learners and the communities we serve, which are at the heart of our organisation.”

Read Kidderminster College Ofsted Report in full here.