We are thrilled to share the news that East Coast College has received an Ofsted ‘Good’ rating during our recent inspection, making us the largest Ofsted ‘Good’ college in Great Yarmouth and Waveney.
This fantastic achievement means that we buck the national trend, as other FE colleges around the UK have struggled to perform well following a merger. The governing body has set a high benchmark for academic excellence in the East of England.
Peter Aldous, MP for Waveney, was quick to celebrate our accolade:
“This is great news and I congratulate everyone at East Coast College for this tremendous achievement. A progressive and successful further education and sixth form college is vital to the future of Lowestoft and Waveney, so as to give our young people every opportunity to realise their full potential and to fully contribute to the area’s economic regeneration. I look forward to continuing to work with the college to build on this success.”
Under the guidance of CEO Stuart Rimmer, East Coast College has truly flourished, proving to be the number one choice for further education in the East of England. The Ofsted report commended us on our focus on establishing good relationships between students and teachers.
“This result is all about ‘teamship’. Our staff team is the most committed and student-focused of any college I’ve ever worked in. When students join our college they join ‘Team ECC’, whichever part of the college they belong to. We have the highest performing sixth form in the region, the largest STEM provision, the most inclusive and supportive choice, strongest employer links, university higher education and degrees taught in our towns, and really great teaching.
“We love supporting education and skills in our communities in Great Yarmouth and Waveney. We have some amazing plans to reveal over the coming months. There is no better choice for students in our region.”
Our staff have been praised as respectful and caring, helping to develop students into well-rounded individuals, not just academic achievers. Our students appreciate how their teachers truly listen to them and go out of their way to help.
Staff have set an atmosphere that is calm and orderly, geared towards learning. As a result, the Ofsted inspection found our students to be highly motivated, placing great value in their learning.
The Ofsted report also commended us on creating an environment where students feel safe and receive great personal help and advice when required. Student well-being is a top priority for our college, as stress can be felt from exam pressure or while students are developing. Our highly trained team of wellbeing staff work closely with partners and external agencies to provide the best possible care.
Mike Burrows, Chair of Governors, praised the hard work and commitment from all of our staff:
“We are delighted that Ofsted have rated East Coast College as ‘Good’. The commitment and teamwork of our staff is outstanding and their hard work and skill has made a real difference to the quality of learning and the experience provided for learners. It provides a tremendous boost for our staff, learners and the whole community.”
Thanks to investment and support from the local economy, we provide a wide variety of outstanding opportunities to help students across multiple disciplines. This has been reflected in Ofsted’s findings as it reported that students are confident in their progression plans. They know the specific courses to study, training opportunities to take and the higher education goals that they have. By attending East Coast College, local students can put their best foot forward when they enter into the workplace.
Investment from New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership was pivotal in our successful Ofsted inspection. Chris Starkie, CEO, said,
“This is good news for East Coast College, its staff, students and local businesses.
“We are delighted to have invested £10m from our Growth Deal with Government in the college’s new Energy Skills Centre, which is an excellent example of the college and partners developing an innovative solution to support the future needs of our energy sector.”
East Anglia is a leading region for STEM related jobs, with over 50% of the UK’s offshore wind energy being produced off the Norfolk and Suffolk coastline. Many of the necessary skills and training required for these jobs are taught here at East Coast College.
As a result, many businesses recognise the value that having an institution such as East Coast College so close by brings.
Stephen Baker, CEO of East Suffolk Council, also celebrated our ‘Good’ rating,
“This is excellent news. A strong educational provision is fundamental to the continued growth and success of Lowestoft. This rating by Ofsted will give the students and the college a huge boost in confidence.”
“A successful and confident college is critical to the ongoing development of the town in so many ways. This recognition by Ofsted is well deserved and hugely welcome and recognises the massive effort that the college has made.”
Two of our ex-students have demonstrated the talent, tenacity and academic rigour the college instils as they land their dream job at the Global Wind Service.
This is just one case out of many for East Coast College. Lowestoft Sixth Form continues to perform outstandingly with an astonishing 99.7% A Level pass rate, performing strongly in STEM subjects. It is in the top 25% of colleges nationally for student progression.