'Immensely proud' - Delight for Staffordshire colleges group celebrating 'outstanding' inspection result

Further education provider Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group were praised by Ofsted inspectors for their "exceptional" links with local employers, and regional business groups - and praised their work with local authorities and the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce to understand the local economy, job market and priorities.

The report by inspectors followed a rigorous inspection by a 13-strong Ofsted team in October during which inspectors reaffirmed the College’s Outstanding rating, which the college has held since October 2019.

Craig Hodgson, Principal and Chief Executive of NSCG, said: “I am so pleased that Ofsted Inspectors experienced first-hand what I see from our students, apprentices and staff every single day – a warm and welcoming environment where learners are motivated and enthusiastic and staff demonstrate creativity, energy and passion in all that they do. 

“The inspection period was an intense week for everyone involved and we wouldn’t have been able to achieve what we did without our students, apprentices, governors, employers and wider civic partners, who gave us their full support throughout, each playing an important part in the final outcome. Finally, a heartfelt thank you to our dedicated and talented staff team for their relentless pursuit of excellence, and for consistently upholding the high standards that make NSCG such a special place to learn and work – I’m delighted that these efforts have once again been recognised by Ofsted.”

The group was formed following the merger of Newcastle-under-Lyme College and Stafford College in 2016 and now caters to more than 6,000 learners across two sites in Stafford and Newcastle-Under-Lyme, alongside over a thousand apprentices.

The college offers a broad range of academic, technical and vocational courses from entry level to level 5. The largest subject areas are health and care, business, engineering, construction, sport, and performing arts.

In a joint statement, Adam Jogee MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme and Leigh Ingham MP for Stafford added: “We are delighted to learn that Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group has once again been rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted. This fabulous outcome is a reflection of the college’s unwavering focus on student success and its ability to adapt to the ever-changing needs of the local economy. 

"As MPs for constituencies that are served by NSCG, we are immensely proud to have one of the highest-performing colleges in England in our area, and we look forward to seeing the College continue to thrive and provide exceptional opportunities for generations to come.”