Bicton College of Agriculture REPORT FROM THE INSPECTORATE 2000-01 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 2001 You may photocopy this report and use extracts in promotional or other material provided quotes are accurate, and the findings are not misrepresented. Contents Paragraph Summary Context The college and its mission 1 The inspection 6 Curriculum areas Agriculture and countryside management 9 Animal care 14 Recreation and outdoor leisure 20 Cross-college provision Support for students 25 General resources 33 Quality assurance 43 Governance 52 Management 61 Conclusions 70 College statistics Bicton College of Agriculture 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 1996, would appear in the strengths clearly outweigh the weaknesses results for 1997-98 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 1999-2000, 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. 12345 %%%%% Curriculum areas 6 44 44 7 0 Cross-college provision 9 45 38 8 0 Source: Quality and Standards in Further Education in England 1999-2000: Chief inspector’s annual report Sample size: 112 college inspections Note: percentages subject to rounding Summary Bicton College of Agriculture for part-time students is uneven and generally less satisfactory. Most students who complete South West Region their courses move on to employment or further study. The standard of teaching and learning Inspected October 2000 has improved since the last inspection. A minority of lessons are less well planned and do Bicton College of Agriculture is the major not meet the needs of students. Retention rates provider of land-based courses in Devon. The are good in most subjects, whereas pass rates self-assessment process involved contributions on some level 2 and 3 courses are consistently from staff at all levels and from governors. below the national average and declining. Inspectors agreed with many of the strengths There are significant weaknesses in and weaknesses identified in the self-assessment management and governance, particularly in report, but found others that had been omitted. strategic, operational and financial planning. In Some of these were significant. Not all addition to these weaknesses the college should judgements in the report were supported by improve: some aspects of teaching and learning clear evidence. Inspectors agreed with two of and quality assurance; guidance and support for the three grades for curriculum areas and with part-time students; the effectiveness of some three of the five grades for cross-college managers; and other important aspects of provision. governance and management. The inspection covered work in agriculture and The grades awarded as a result of the inspection countryside management, animal care, are given below. recreation and outdoor leisure, and aspects of cross-college provision. There have been improvements to the estate and facilities since the last inspection. The newly refurbished learning centre provides students with a good learning environment. High-quality specialist resources enable students to develop up-to-date knowledge and professional skills. The estate and farm are used effectively to support teaching and learning. The college has strong links with schools, employers and the local community. Students undertake well-organised work placements that are effectively linked to their programme of study. Full-time students receive good support but the quality of support Curriculum area Grade Cross-college provision Grade Agriculture and countryside management 2 Support for students 3 Animal care 3 General resources 2 Recreation and outdoor leisure 2 Quality assurance 3 Governance 4 Management 4 Bicton College of Agriculture 1 Context The College and its Mission of Plymouth, Bournemouth University, and the University of Exeter. 1 Bicton College of Agriculture was 3 The college attracts students on a regional established in 1947 to provide education and and national basis. The numbers of part-time training for the land-based industries in Devon. and higher education students have increased It is situated in a rural setting approximately steadily, but full-time further education student 9 miles from Exeter. The college estate includes numbers have declined. At the time of the last 190 hectares of farmland. The college’s inspection in June 1997, there were 878 buildings are located in grade I listed full-time students and 2,298 part-time students. landscaped parkland, among gardens and sports In 1999-2000, 769 full-time and 4,242 part-time fields. The specimen trees planted in the students were enrolled on college courses; nineteenth century, and the ornamental gardens 78% were aged 19 years or over. The majority and garden centre are a popular local attraction of students are on courses leading to vocational for tourists. The college farm is used primarily and professional qualifications. Full-time as a teaching resource, but is also managed as a students can undertake additional activities and commercial enterprise. The college estate qualifications alongside their main course of provides facilities for woodland and countryside study to enhance their employment prospects. management, outdoor leisure and recreation About 60% of full-time students come from activities, environmental and conservation Devon; 20% come from elsewhere in the south studies, horticulture, floristry and the west; the remainder are from elsewhere in the development of equestrian skills. Bicton House, United Kingdom or from overseas. Many a grade II* listed building, accommodates part-time courses are offered on a block-release offices, catering facilities, residential basis. The college is the sole national provider accommodation for students and some teaching for students supported financially by the rooms. Specialist accommodation includes National Trust and the People’s Dispensary for stabling for 40 horses, an animal care centre Sick Animals. In 1999-2000, 60% of students and a purpose-built veterinary nursing unit, and who completed their courses went into workshops for engineering and farm employment and 31% continued in education. mechanisation. The horticulture and floristry The college employs 153 full-time equivalent section has access to a large walled garden and staff, of whom 57 are teachers and a further glasshouses. The college has residential 36 directly support learning. accommodation for 300 students. 4 Devon is a rural county with its population 2 The college traditionally provided courses concentrated in a few urban centres in the in agriculture and related industries. Since south, north and east. Poor transport and long