Northampton College gets top grades from inspectors

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) protects academic standards, the quality of student learning opportunities, and the quality of information provided by universities and colleges delivering higher education.

A team of QAA reviewers visited the college and delivered its endorsement of the way the college manages academic standards, quality and information.

In addition, the college was singled out for praise for best practice in its effective relationship with the University of Northampton that helps provide a distinctive experience of higher education for students.

QAA reviewers highlighted the college provided employability skills for students throughout their experience.

Reviewers found said the college works actively with Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and engages with a number of employment and enterprise panels to input directly into the strategies for developing skills in the region. Employers are involved in the development of new programmes and teaching teams are encouraged to ensure skills based assessments are included in the overall learning outcomes of programmes.

Principal Pat Brennan-Barrett said: “This is an endorsement of the high standards that we are proud to have attained.

“The judgement is particularly welcome at this time when many students are considering studying higher education in further education settings.

“To be assured that the quality of the provision is high as well as being able to study locally and usually with lower fees to pay is attractive for many people.

“This report should be welcomed by students making decisions about their next steps at this crucial time of year and the College will be open on Friday, 19 August from 9am until 2pm for those who would like advice on joining higher education programmes this September.”