City of Wolverhampton College's remarkable turnaround sealed with three national awards
City of Wolverhampton College has been presented with three prestigious national titles having undertaken a remarkable turnaround over the last four years.
A ceremony was held at the college's Wellington Road campus this week to mark the trio of Beacon Awards handed out by the Association of Colleges.
They recognised efforts to work with employers and outstanding leadership.
In 2012 the college was rated as 'inadequate' by Ofsted which said too many students were dropping out of their courses, while others 'failed to achieve their full potential'.
Principal and Chief Executive, Claire Boliver, admits they were 'dark days'.
She said: "The college had lost its way. It had three notices to improve from the Skills Funding Agency and had no control over its finances. The quality was also extremely poor.
"In those dark days we hadn't got a lot to celebrate."
Interim principal John Hogg was brought in to run the college and a 'back to basics' transformation was carried out by Ms Boliver's predecessor, Mark Robertson.
The success story has culminated in these awards for leadership and employer engagement - with a 'leading light' title also bestowed on the college for its programme designed to tackle local unemployment and skill shortages.
Ms Boliver, added: "In one academic year the college went from 'inadequate' to 'good' and there were lots of 'outstanding' features.
"Wolverhampton needs its college and we have positioned ourselves in the best place we can to make sure it has one."
The college has built strong links with firms including Jaguar Land Rover, Moog and Lego.
And of 12 apprentice engineers currently employed by aerospace giant BAE Systems, 11 are studying with the college.
Mark Evans, Apprenticeship Manager at BAE, said: "From my experience with the college I can say that my point of contact has epitomised the ambitions set out by the principal.
"They are responsive and engage with us on a regular basis.
"As an employer that is what is really important to me."
The college was presented with cheques totalling £7,000 by the Association of Colleges.
Mark White, Chair of the association's Governors' Council, said: "I have never seen a transformation like there has been here and it is the perfect example of what aspiration, leadership and passionate governance can achieve."
