St Neots Community College flying high after Ofsted inspection

Staff and students at St Neots Community College are celebrating after Government inspectors released their latest Ofsted report.

The Hunts Post revealed last week how the college underwent a positive Ofsted inspection, and were waiting for official confirmation of the result.

The report said the senior management team had raised expectations and attainment, enhanced pupils’ progress, significantly improved teaching, improved behaviour and attendance and established a positive relationship with parents and carers.

The quality of teaching was good and had improved significantly over the last year: “Three quarters of the sample of lessons observed were found to be good or better,” the report stated.

“Lessons are now well planned to meet the students’ learning needs; the rate of students’ progress is now good because of the improvements secured in teaching.”

Inspectors particularly highlighted the leadership and management of the Longsands Learning Partnership, of which St Neots Community College is a founder member.

“The reorganisation of leadership and management has embedded ambition and driven improvement in an outstanding manner.”

They also praised the learning partnership’s governing body and the effectiveness of its work with senior managers, and commended Cambridgeshire County Council for its support.

The college was encouraged to secure higher levels of student progress and to raise standards, and to raise students’ aspirations.

Executive Principal Rob Whatmough said: “This is a superb outcome for students, staff and governors. The report does full justice to recent improvements but they are based on foundations the College Director Scott Preston and many other colleagues have been working on for two years.

“We know we can go further still in College improvement. Above all, the inspection report endorses the direction we have taken, which is about securing high standards of learning and teaching to further the progress of all students.”