Ofsted 2023

Nescot is delighted to have been rated ‘Good’ in every area by Ofsted.

A team of inspectors spent four days at the college in January 2023, meeting students, visiting lessons and interviewing staff, governors, partners and other stakeholders.

Ofsted rated Nescot’s overall effectiveness and every single thematic judgement as ‘Good’, which is the second-highest possible grade. You can read the full report on Ofsted’s website here.

“We are so proud to be judged to be ‘Good’ in every single area,” said CEO and Principal Julie Kapsalis. “It’s testament to our culture of teamwork, innovation, inclusion and of putting the learner at the core of everything we do.

“The inspection validates the work we do but also helps us to be able to build on our strengths and continue to improve in the interests of our learners.

"Nescot plays a key role in the local community, changing and improving people's lives, and I am very proud to be part of the organisation.”

Andy Cowan, who started his career at Nescot as a music technician and returned in November as Deputy Principal and the college’s Ofsted nominee, said he was ‘delighted’.

“The inspectors observed and shared some great examples of really effective teaching, learning and assessment, and most importantly the impact that has on our students,” he said.

“We have some ambitious plans for the future, but we’re confident in the ability of our staff to keep growing and improving and delivering the education that our students deserve.”

The inspectors praised the ‘effective teaching’, ‘supportive and caring’ culture, and said students ‘enjoy their courses and are motivated to succeed’. Other highlights include:

• “Experienced and expert staff help most apprentices to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need to become better at their jobs.”
• “Students and apprentices apply their learning in the classroom and the workplace confidently and successfully.”
• “Students and apprentices work well with each other and their teachers, demonstrating kindness and consideration.”
• “Leaders collaborate very effectively with a wide range of stakeholders to identify, understand and contribute to meeting skills needs locally, in the region and nationally.”
• “Experienced staff use their secure knowledge of students with high needs to plan learning carefully and support them well […] as a result, students with high needs become more confident, independent and ready for adult life.”
• “Staff feel they are well-supported by leaders. Staff value the steps leaders and managers have taken to improve their wellbeing and manage their workloads.”
• “Well-qualified and experience governors support and challenge leaders effectively.”

Nescot was previously rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted in January 2016, and in September 2010. You can read all our previous inspection reports on the Ofsted website here.