Somerset College

Ofsted rated Somerset College ‘good’ in our last Inspection held in February 2007. More than ten significant areas of the College were inspected.

The inspection was based on effectiveness and quality of provision, capacity to improve, achievements, standards, leadership and management.

As important as the overall grading given are the comments that Ofsted inspectors make as part of the inspection;

‘This is a good college.... Achievements and standards are good… Success rates, particularly on vocational courses, have increased significantly since the last Inspection and in 2005/6 they were at or above and, at some levels, significantly above, the national average for 2004/5.’

Inspectors commented further: ‘The College provides an inclusive and safe environment. A rich range of activities promotes equality and diversity across the College. The College provides productive and responsive partnerships for the benefit of learners and the community.’

Rachel Davies, Principal at Somerset College, said: ‘The outcome resoundingly endorses our position as a good college. The inspectors recognised significant improvements since their last Inspection, and were warm and positive about us. It’s a great way to celebrate our 150 year anniversary of arts and design education delivery. Staff and students deserve the recognition.’

Chris Bishop, Chair of the Board, said: ‘We know that we can sustain and improve last year's above-benchmark success rates. This college has a great future.’

Click here to read the full report.

Each year our Arts and Design division welcomes 15 Norwegian students onto the second year of a BA (Hons) programme. In early 2008 an Ofsted inspection graded the support we give this group of students, including accommodation and welfare support provision. Overall the quality was graded ‘good’ with several parts of the inspection graded ‘outstanding’.

We believe we lead the way in developing innovative teaching and learning practices for our students and staff. Our facilities are continually improving and recently we can point to Genesis, Hot House, the Somerset Centre for Enterprise and the Francesco’s Graduate Hair Academy as examples of our enterprising and exciting approach to education and training.

Genesis is the South West’s leading sustainable construction education centre. It is wholly constructed from sustainable materials and provides a fine example of how these materials can be incorporated into contemporary building techniques. Students from schools and colleges throughout the region visit Genesis to learn about sustainability. Genesis is used by many local and regional companies and organisations as an inspirational conference and meeting venue as well as being a showcase for sustainable construction to the building industry. It has already won many major construction and education awards.

The Somerset Centre for Enterprise provides a wide range of training to employers in Somerset and beyond. Our relationship with local and regional employers means we can provide quality work experience opportunities for our students that will give them the edge when they look to start their careers. The Centre also provides conference and meeting facilities for local companies.

The Hot House is a business incubation centre sited on the College campus. It provides low rent office space and facilities including boardroom and café for students from throughout the South West who want to start their own business.

In September 2008 we opened the Graduate Hair and Beauty Salon. This superb facility has been developed in partnership with the Francesco Group (FG), one of the UK's top three high street hair and beauty chains.

Somerset University Partnership Project (SUPP)

A university for Somerset is an ambition that could be made possible thanks to a partnership between Somerset College, Yeovil and Bridgwater Colleges. Plans are at a very early stage to form a university partnership that would encompass all three campuses. All three institutions already offer degree-level courses in conjunction with university partners in a wide range of subjects.

Somerset College Principal Rachel Davies said:

‘Somerset has a massive untapped wealth of potential students. By setting up a university in the county we would be able to exploit that breadth of potential students. Somerset College currently has more than 1,000 students studying for degrees in various subjects, and this looks set to grow. We have been providing higher education courses for more than 15 years through our partnership with the University of Plymouth, but we would be able to offer far more courses through a University of Somerset’.