MidKent College

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings

This is a good provider Leaders, managers, governors and staff have developed a highly student-centred ethos. This culture permeates the college.

Staff are proud to work at MidKent college. They value the passion and determination of the leadership team. Leaders, managers and governors have dealt effectively with most of the weaknesses of the previous inspection.

As a result, the provision is now good. The willingness of staff to engage fully in a strong programme of professional development has led to substantially improved teaching, learning and assessment. Students make good progress with their studies.

They develop the skills and knowledge they need for their next steps.... Standards of work for apprentices in the workplace are good. Students benefit from a wide range of excellent work placements which are highly relevant to their future career plans.

Good employer involvement and engagement further strengthen these arrangements. A comprehensive range of support services helps students to maintain healthy minds, bodies and attitudes to learning. Achievement of apprentices is too low.

Too few apprentices complete their apprenticeships on time. Not enough of the large number of students retaking GSCE English and mathematics achieve grades 4 to 9. Attendance, although improving, is still too low.

Information about the provider

MidKent College is a large general further education college with two sites serving the communities of Kent and Medway. The campus in Gillingham serves the towns in the unitary authority of Medway. The second campus in Maidstone, the county town of Kent, serves nearby towns.

Both regions include diverse areas of deprivation and prosperity. The number of pupils at both Medway and Kent schools that achieve all components of the English Baccalaureate is above the national rate. The number of unemployed people in Medway is slightly above the average for the South East.

The number of people in employment in Maidstone is higher than the national average. The college provides a range of post-16 education and training, including 16 to 19 study programmes in a variety of vocational subjects, adult learning programmes and apprenticeships. At the time of the inspection, approximately 5,600 students were enrolled at the college.