Ofsted sees improvements at RNN Group

RNN Group was criticised for a “significant” decline in standards after flagship campus Rotherham College was merged with North Notts and Dearne Valley.

A follow-up check in spring 2021 noted steady progress being made across the three campuses as managers were given more control over the curriculum.

And now a full inspection by 13 Ofsted staff has moved RNN’s rating up from “requires improvement” to “good” across all eight key areas.

Jason Austin, RNN’s chief executive and principal, was delighted and proud of the group’s progress.

He said: “Our staff have worked incredibly hard during the inspection to showcase the amazing curriculum offering and provision we have across our colleges as well as over the last three years.”

Lead inspector Hayley Lomas said: “Since the last inspection, leaders have worked hard to improve the quality of provision that they offer to learners and apprentices.

“The curriculum is well-considered and ambitious in offering a wide range of progression pathways, enabling learners and apprentices to progress to further study, training or employment.

“Learners and apprentices feel welcome, safe and secure at all college sites.”

There were 2,488 young people on RNN’s courses when Ofsted’s team of 13 visited in November, plus 2,087 learners on adult learning programmes and 842 apprentices.

“Learners benefit from teachers and assessors who have good levels of vocational experience and expertise,” said the inspection report.

“Staff take part in frequent industrial updating to keep their vocational knowledge and practice current.

“Leaders and managers engage well with a wide range of employers and stakeholders.

“For example, in media make-up, staff use client briefs for live productions and shows.

“Learners are also involved in simulated major incident days delivered by uniformed services in the local region.

“In a few other areas, leaders rightly recognise that the level of employer engagement is not yet strong enough, and employers do not contribute fully enough to curriculum design.”

Attendance is another area which has been identified for further improvement.

Efforts have included liaising with bus companies or providing bursaries where service disruption has led to learners struggling to get to college, for example.

“These interventions are beginning to have a positive impact,” Ofsted says.

Mr Austin said: “I am particularly delighted that Ofsted noted that ‘learners and apprentices have access to a wide range of support to enable them to pursue their learning successfully’.

“Furthermore, it is the first time we have been inspected on our contribution to meeting the skills provision and I am very happy that we have received a very highly rated ‘reasonable contribution’, with the report stating that ‘leaders and managers engage well with a wide range of employers and stakeholders’.

“Finally, I want to extend a huge thank you to everyone involved in this: staff, learners, employers, partners, parents and carers, civic organisations, education, schools and local community groups; we could not have done this without you.”