Furness College has been rated ‘Inadequate’ from Ofsted inspectors during an inspection in early October. The college is again on the hook to lose subsequent rounds of funding if substantial progress cannot be demonstrated. This recent turn of events puts a great deal of stress on the institution, which plays an extremely important role in the local education ecosystem.
The inspection findings, which were made public last week, pointed to numerous categories requiring immediate intervention. The governance of the college has been the subject of severe criticism from the Department for Education (DfE). They concluded, “Governors don’t hold leaders to account in a rigorous enough way and they are too dependent on what leaders say and too far removed from the scrutiny of information to make the required improvements.”
Nicola Cove, principal of Furness College, had described the Ofsted verdict as a “huge disappointment”. Gary Lovatt, chair of the board of governors, voiced similar concerns. In a joint statement, they recognized the difficult work that lies ahead but reiterated their determination to bring all parties to the table to develop needed reforms.
“We are focussed forward and want to give our ongoing reassurance to our students, parents, employers and stakeholders that everyone across college is committed to delivering all of these improvements.” – Nicola Cove and Gary Lovatt
Reeling from those losses, officials at Furness College have found evidence of advancements in some fronts since inspectors last year. We are already seeing tremendous progress from leaders, managers, and staff on their journey toward development. This improvement shows their willingness to change and tackle the criticisms levelled at them by Ofsted.
For all their faults, the DfE have produced a clear manifesto for the future of the college. One overarching aim is to increase leadership capacity and competency in order to rapidly improve the quality of teaching and learning. This directive reinforces the need for immediate and lasting action to improve the deficiencies found in that assessment.
Cove and Lovatt alleviated fears of some stakeholders in their statement. They are absolutely determined to make the necessary changes that will raise educational standards at Furness College. They recognize that substantial progress is essential not only for maintaining funding but for fulfilling their commitment to students and the wider community.
