Riverside College, which includes Cronton Sixth Form College, is proud to announce that following an inspection in April 2024, it has once again achieved an OUTSTANDING rating from Ofsted, replicating its success from four years prior.

Link: Riverside College / Cronton Sixth Form Ofsted Report 2024

The comprehensive evaluation by Ofsted inspectors resulted in the following judgements:

Overall Effectiveness: OUTSTANDING

• Quality of Education: Outstanding
• Behaviour and Attitudes: Outstanding
• Personal Development: Outstanding
• Leadership and Management: Outstanding
• Education Programmes for Young People: Outstanding
• Provision for Learners with High Needs: Good
• Adult Learning Programmes: Outstanding
• Apprenticeships: Outstanding

Under the new Further Education Framework, Ofsted also make a judgement on how Colleges are meeting the skills needs of their region. After detailed analysis which included speaking to over 90 key stakeholders, inspectors awarded the highest judgement possible concluding that:

“The college makes a STRONG contribution to meeting skills needs.”

Principal Mary Murphy said: “We are overjoyed to have maintained our outstanding rating. This achievement is a testament to the unwavering dedication and hard work of our exceptional staff and students. I am immensely proud of our college community for their pursuit of excellence and for consistently upholding the high standards that have once again been recognised by Ofsted.

“This achievement is a credit to the entire Halton community, including the Borough Council, Head Teachers, partners, employers, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, and the support of our students and their families.

“We are committed to building on this success, and to continuing to offer outstanding education and opportunities to all our learners.”

Within the glowing report Ofsted praised students and apprentices themselves by saying:

• “Students and apprentices are articulate, enthusiastic and polite.”
• “They feel part of a community …… and feel valued and respected”
• “They are highly motivated, want to do their best, take pride in their work and have high aspirations”

Ofsted also praised the college’s exceptional student experience which result in consistently high achievement levels that are above national averages, they said:

• “Students and apprentices enjoy a broad curriculum that extends their experiences and prepares them for their next steps, work and life in modern Britain.”
• Students “develop a wide range of highly relevant knowledge, skills and behaviours that prepare them exceptionally well for progression.”
• “Apprentices rapidly develop the new industry-standard knowledge skills and behaviours”, “they swiftly become valuable employees.”
• “Students who have high needs …. develop their technical knowledge and skills very well. Teachers make learning accessible.”

Teaching staff were commended for their innovative approaches, deep subject knowledge, and ability to engage and inspire students:

• “Students and Apprentices benefit from highly effective teaching.”
• “Leaders ensure teachers are highly qualified and have expert subject knowledge.”
• “Teachers systematically provide high-quality developmental feedback to students.”
• “They routinely challenge students …. to ensure they achieve their aspirational targets.”
• “Students and apprentices greatly improve their skills and written work at college.”
• “Students and apprentices make or exceed their expected progress.”

Leaders and Managers earned recognition for their “strong sense of community,” their drive to“provide life-changing opportunities for young people and adults”, the College’s “culture of continuous improvement,” and the “highly effective quality assurance processes” that enhance education quality.

The report praised the College’s Governors for their “significant expertise” and “wealth of experience.” They possess a “highly accurate understanding” of the college and set “clear and precise targets” to ensure “sustained improvement.”

For more information please contact Helen Smith, Head of Marketing at Riverside and Cronton on helen.smith@riversidecollege.ac.uk