5C:How is success in leadership and management recognised?

Leadership and management are excellent. They provide clear direction and thorough planning and impact positively on the quality of the provision. Roles and responsibilities are clearly allocated and co-ordination of the provision is effective. Co-ordination of literacy and numeracy across the college, for example, is very good. Good practice in one area is shared supportively with others. Team meetings are held regularly, are well attended and contribute to raising standards. There is a strong commitment and good access to regular staff development leading to consistently good teaching. Team teaching, mentoring and lesson observation are well established and, together with rigorously implemented quality assurance procedures have led to improvements in teaching and learning. The self-assessment report accurately identified the strengths and weaknesses of the provision. Action plans to address weaknesses are implemented energetically. Challenging recruitment targets for literacy and numeracy provision have been achieved. The close monitoring of students' attendance and punctuality has led to significant improvements in retention rates, particularly for students of ESOL.

View the inspection report for Newcastle College

Leadership and management are very good. There are clear and effective structures for the co-ordination of both basic skills courses and additional learning support. All teaching and learning support staff are involved in implementing highly effective quality assurance procedures. Staff appraisal links strongly to improvements in teaching and learning. The dissemination of good practice is excellent. Individual learning plans motivate students and the monitoring of progress against targets is exceptional.

View the inspection report for Knowsley Community College

Leadership and management are outstanding. There is a clear management focus on improving students' achievements and teaching and learning. There is an extensive and well-structured lesson observation system for full-time and part-time staff which is clearly linked to appraisal and staff training. Quality assurance, including self-assessment, is rigorous and has been successful in bringing about improvements to students' achievements. The mentoring scheme for new staff is effective in allowing teachers to develop their skills and share expertise.

View the inspection report for South Downs College

Strong leadership is provided by senior managers. Additional literacy and numeracy support is also well managed. All staff, including part-time and agency staff, are managed and supported well. There is effective teamwork among staff. Comprehensive quality assurance procedures have contributed significantly to raising retention and pass rates and bringing about improvements in teaching and learning. Managers conduct regular audits of classroom suitability, the completion of individual learning plans and course documentation. Course reviews make good use of data on attendance, retention and pass rates. Information from the regular student questionnaires is also considered and a student representative attends most reviews. Self-assessment in literacy and numeracy and learning support is rigorous and action plans are closely followed and monitored to measure improvement. Equality of opportunity is promoted effectively through lessons and tutorials.

View the inspection report for Southwark College

There is a positive culture, with mutual sharing of good practice. Additional support for literacy and numeracy in lessons is organised effectively and helps students to achieve well. The effectiveness of literacy and numeracy additional support is monitored rigorously to measure its impact.

View the inspection report for South Cheshire College

The effective co-ordination and management of community provision enables the college to respond effectively to local needs and college requirements. Quality circles meet termly; all staff are involved in moderation and the sharing of good practice.

View the inspection report for Park Lane College

All courses are evaluated by the teaching teams, who take into account the responses to learner questionnaires, and retention and achievement data. These evaluations form the basis of the annual self-assessment report. Realistic action plans are regularly reviewed, and have resulted in significant improvements.

View the inspection report for Richmond Adult and Community College

Regular course reviews focus on the needs of learners, target-setting, progress and achievement. Lesson observations are used to identify further training needs for staff. Good use is made of a range of funding sources to enhance learning opportunities. Teachers and managers have comprehensive information about learners’ retention rates, progress and achievement.

View the inspection report for Truro College