A COLLEGE is celebrating a glowing Ofsted report which represents a “watershed moment”.

Andover College, in Charlton Road, was inspected by Ofsted earlier this year, with provision for 16-18-year-olds, adults and apprentices under the microscope, receiving a clean bill of health maintaining its good report.

Inspectors noted that since their last inspection in 2014 “leaders, managers and governors have continued to provide a consistent, good-quality of education for students” adding that the college had “successfully improved the quality of the student experience and student outcomes” with “improved achievements for students on 16 to 19 programmes, for the majority of adult learners and for those apprentices on programmes directly delivered by your staff”.

Deputy principal, Martin Simmons who worked directly with inspectors during the inspection said: “This is another watershed moment for Andover College.

“The report confirms what so many young people are now saying, namely, there is no need to leave the town when what is on offer in Andover is of such a high standard.

“Support for students, individualised learning plans, talented and creative teachers all lead to students who are ready for university or roles in industry.”

Inspectors went into a wide variety of lessons to see the everyday classroom experience of students, noting that “since the previous inspection, the proportion of students gaining high grades at A-level has increased”.

Teachers were also praised both for their approach and their valuable and highly relevant skills.

College principal Tim Jackson said: “Inspectors saw the college operating in a normal way and validates our everyday commitment to exceptionally high standards and support for students. I am so pleased the skills, knowledge and expertise of our teachers was so clearly acknowledged in the report.”

The inspection team also approved the college’s approach to training apprentices.

The report read: “Apprentices develop new skills well during their off-the-job training. These enhance their practice and their progression opportunities at work. Apprentices develop new skills well during their off-the-job training. These enhance their practice and their progression opportunities at work.

“In business administration apprentices have taken responsibility for developing the social media within their marketing company.”

There was praise for the college’s leaders and managers for their effective work with Enterprise M3, the Local Enterprise Partnership, and local councils “to respond to local and regional skills gaps” and “carefully design the curriculum to meet these needs”.