Thomas Rotherham College needs to improve, says OFSTED

OSTED says in its latest report on the college that target-setting by the management is not rigorous enough to drive up standards.

It adds that there was a lack of accountability among staff for student performance and that the governing body does not represent the college or the local community.

OFSTED rated the college as requiring improvement and lead inspector Bev Barlow said: “Leaders and managers have not been successful in improving outcomes consistently.

“Approaches have been implemented inconsistently, quality assurance has been ineffective and expectations of student outcomes have been too low.

“The senior team has recently been reorganised and a number of new initiatives have been introduced to improve students’ outcomes, the quality of teaching and learning, and student monitoring, but it is too soon to know whether these will be effective.”

TRC says a new management system had been brought in and the inspection had not accounted for updated exam results.

A spokeswoman said: “The major criticism of leadership and management is of the system for performance management of staff.

“A new system which was under development but not in operation at the time of the inspection is now being introduced.

“The report refers to TRC students’ high rates of progression to their first-choice universities, including the most prestigious ones, and the support the college provides for this.

“The college has above average success rates, positive student destinations and excellent facilities.

“Governors and staff are committed to addressing shortfalls identified in the report in order to improve the student experience further.”

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