Video: Grimsby Institute Group rated outstanding by Ofsted inspectors

The Grimsby Institute Group has become one of the first groups in Lincolnshire to achieve the top grade of ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted under a new framework.

The organisation operates general further education colleges in three locations including Scarborough TEC, Lincolnshire Regional College in Skegness and the Grimsby Institute, which also includes a dedicated 14-16 academy.

A comprehensive inspection was carried out in all locations.

Ofsted inspectors highlighted:

• The quality of teaching, learning and assessment as outstanding.
• A culture of high expectations in both staff and learners have led to significant improvements.
• The vast majority of learners make excellent progress from their individual starting point.
• Standards of learners’ work are high. Learners demonstrate a very good awareness of the technical knowledge required for their course.
• Outcomes for learners aged 14 to 16 at The Academy Grimsby are excellent and teaching and learning at The Academy Grimsby are engaging, briskly paced and very relevant to vocational and work contexts.
• High Needs provision is outstanding and learners make significant progress and achieve at least as well as their peers.
• Governance, leadership and management are highly effective.
• The development of partnerships and collaborative relationships is outstanding.
• Learners of all ages receive highly effective support, advice and guidance.

Ofsted’s inspection framework reviews nine areas and the group was graded ‘outstanding’ in eight out of the nine areas, these were:

• Effectiveness of leadership and management – Outstanding
• Quality of teaching, learning and assessment – Outstanding
• Personal development, behaviour and welfare – Outstanding
• Outcomes for learners – Outstanding
• 16-19 study programmes – Outstanding 
• Adult learning programmes – Outstanding
• Provision for learners with high needs – Outstanding
• Apprenticeships – Good
• 14-16 year old provision at The Academy Grimsby (TAG) – Outstanding

Debra Gray, principal of the Grimsby Institute and deputy chief executive of the group, who was the principle liaison with Ofsted throughout the inspection said:  “The Grimsby Institute knows its strengths and it knows its learners, as well as the community it serves.

“We are proud of who we are, where we are and what we do.

“Our exceptional staff and students work as a professional family to make excellence an everyday occurrence.

“I am incredibly proud of them.”

The full Ofsted report can be read online.