Bournville College of Further Education Inspection Report 2000
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Bournville College of Further Education R E P O RT FROM THE INSPECTORATE 1999-00 THE FURTHER EDUCATION FUNDING COUNCIL THE FURTHER EDUCATION FUNDING COUNCIL The Further Education Funding Council (FEFC) has a legal duty to make sure further education in England is properly assessed. The FEFC’s inspectorate inspects and reports on each college of further education according to a four-year cycle. It also inspects other further education provision funded by the FEFC. In fulfilling its work programme, the inspectorate assesses and reports nationally on the curriculum, disseminates good practice and advises the FEFC’s quality assessment committee. College inspections are carried out in accordance with the framework and guidelines described in Council Circulars 97/12, 97/13 and 97/22. Inspections seek to validate the data and judgements provided by colleges in self-assessment reports. They involve full-time inspectors and registered part-time inspectors who have knowledge of, and experience in, the work they inspect. A member of the Council’s audit service works with inspectors in assessing aspects of governance and management. All colleges are invited to nominate a senior member of their staff to participate in the inspection as a team member. Cheylesmore House Quinton Road Coventry CV1 2WT Telephone 024 7686 3000 Fax 024 7686 3100 Website www.fefc.ac.uk © FEFC 2000 You may photocopy this report and use extracts in promotional or other material provided quotes ar e accurate, and the findings are not misrepresented. Contents Paragraph Summary Context The college and its mission 1 The inspection 6 Curriculum areas Science 9 Floristry and horticulture 15 Leisure and tourism 21 Childcare, health and social care 28 Access to higher education, teacher education and British sign language 35 ESOL and pre-vocational access 41 Basic skills 46 Cross-college provision Support for students 52 General resources 59 Quality assurance 66 Governance 76 Management 85 Conclusions 94 College statistics Bournville College of Further Education Grade Descriptors Student Achievements Inspectors assess the strengths and weaknesses Where data on student achievements appear in of each aspect of provision they inspect. Their tables, levels of achievement are shown in three assessments are set out in the report. They use ways: a five-point scale to summarise the balance • as number of starters, which is the number between strengths and weaknesses. of enrolments on qualifications where the The descriptors for the grades are: student was expecting to complete the qualification that college year. For • grade 1 – outstanding provision which has example, a student on a two-year many strengths and few weaknesses programme who began their programme • grade 2 – good provision in which the in October 1995, would appear in the strengths clearly outweigh the weaknesses results for 1996-97 because this is the • grade 3 – satisfactory provision with year in which they expected to complete strengths but also some weaknesses their qualification • grade 4 – less than satisfactory provision • as a retention rate, which is the in which the weaknesses clearly outweigh percentage of qualifications which students the strengths have completed as expected or where they are continuing their studies beyond the • grade 5 – poor provision which has few expected end date of the qualification. For strengths and many weaknesses. programmes of study of two years or more, Audit conclusions are expressed as good, retention is calculated across the whole adequate or weak. programme, that is, from the start to the Aggregated grades for aspects of cross-college end of the qualification provision and curriculum areas, for colleges • as an achievement rate, which is the inspected during 1998-99, are shown in the number of qualifications students have following table. fully achieved as a percentage of completed qualifications with a known Grade outcome. Partial achievements are not included. 1 2 3 4 5 %%%%% Curriculum areas 10 53 30 7 – Cross-college provision 14 54 23 7 2 Source: Quality and Standards in Further Education in England 1998-99: Chief inspector’s annual report Sample size: 104 college inspections Summary Bournville College of Further and 3 have been below the national average for the sector over the last three years. Education Students’ achievements overall are at, or West Midlands Region above, the national benchmarks at levels 1, 2 and 3. The college has been successful in widening participation in further education and Inspected May 2000 continues to maintain a tradition of working Bournville College of Further Education is a with students who have learning difficulties general further education college in south-west and/or disabilities. Since the last inspection the Birmingham. It offers courses in all of the college has improved its financial position and programme areas funded by the FEFC. Work in the quality of, and access to, much of its six programme areas together with basic skills teaching accommodation. There is good and aspects of cross-college provision were support for students with specific learning inspected. Inspectors agreed with some of the difficulties, such as dyslexia. Staff development judgements in the self-assessment report. activities are well managed. The college However, a number of strengths identified by makes good use of the expertise of governors. the college were no more than normal practice. The corporation closely monitors the Inspectors found additional strengths and educational performance of the college. weaknesses which the college had not identified. Communications within the college are good. In most curriculum areas insufficient weight was The college, through its highly effective given to poor rates of retention and achievement contribution to local partnerships, continues on some courses. to serve the needs of the wider community. The proportion of lessons judged by inspectors The college should improve: the standard of to be at least satisfactory is similar to the provision in science; student rates of retention average for the sector as a whole. and achievement on some courses; additional Comparatively fewer lessons were good or learning support; tutorials and careers guidance; outstanding. In effective lessons students were space utilisation; the library; course reviews motivated and responsive. Teachers ensured and action plans; access to management that students understood their work. In some information; and the quality of curriculum and of the less satisfactory lessons there was no cross-college management in some areas. appropriate planning to ensure that suitable The grades awarded as a result of the inspection demands were made on students of different are given below. abilities. Rates of student retention at levels 2 Curriculum area Grade Cross-college provision Grade Science 4 Support for students 4 Floristry and horticulture 3 General resources 3 Leisure and tourism 3 Quality assurance 3 Childcare, health and social care 3 Governance 2 Access to higher education, teacher Management 3 education and British sign language 2 ESOL and pre-vocational access 3 Basic skills 3 Bournville College of Further Education 1 Context The College and its Mission 13% of part-time enrolments. Students under 16 years of age totalled 148. The number of 1 Bournville College of Further Education is a 16 to 18 year old students increased by 5% in medium-sized general further education college 1998-99. While 57% of 16 to 18 year olds came which was established in 1913. It occupies a from districts close to the college, there was an single site campus in south-west Birmingham. increase of 5% in the number enrolling from The college also provides courses for its local inner-city areas. In addition to specialist communities in 58 outreach centres away from colleges, there are six other further education the main campus. It recruits students from colleges and three sixth form colleges in Birmingham, Bromsgrove, Dudley and Sandwell. Birmingham. The city has a considerable The college provides courses in all programme number of independent schools, grammar areas funded by the Further Education Funding schools and schools with sixth forms as well Council (FEFC). Courses range from entry level as private training organisations. to higher education. Most provision is in the 4 The college’s senior management team curriculum areas of basic skills, business, comprises the principal, vice-principal, director health and community care, hotel and catering, of finance, director of human resources and humanities and science. The college has a the corporation secretary. The college business school, health and care centre, sixth management team includes three faculty form centre, science and technology centre and heads, the estates manager, community a wholly owned subsidiary, Praxis Solutions development manager, head of client and Limited. In addition, the college has franchise external relations and the faculty partnerships with a small number of local administration manager. Thirteen programme providers which account for less than 15% of areas have responsibility for the curriculum. total provision. The college has responded Since incorporation the college has continued positively to the needs of many refugees and to work well with Birmingham City Council and asylum seekers in the area. with the Birmingham and Solihull Training and 2 The overall unemployment rate in the Enterprise Council (TEC). There are strong links West Midlands is 4.3%, and in Birmingham with a range of higher education institutions 9.1%. In south-west Birmingham the rate and a formal partnership with two local ones. varies between 4.7% and 10%. In some parts There are good links with local employers, local of the area from which the college recruits, the schools and a wide range of local community unemployment rate is 26% and deprivation is organisations. Since the last FEFC inspection significant. The college has been identified by in 1996 the college has improved its financial the FEFC as one of a group of colleges that position significantly. It has also won many typically recruits a high percentage of students local, regional and national awards in both from disadvantaged areas.