Barking and Dagenham College – which has a main campus in Rush Green as well as two learning centres in Barking – has been rated ‘good’ after an Ofsted inspection in May.
The education watchdog previously told the college it required improvement after a visit in 2022, but has now graded it ‘good’ in almost all assessment areas.
The only area which still ‘requires improvement’ is apprenticeships, as inspectors found that apprentices “do not have a consistently high-quality learning experience”.
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A total of 226 out of more than 5,000 learners across the college are studying for an apprenticeship, and Ofsted said that “too many are behind in their studies”.
However, other areas – such as supporting students with high needs – were found to have “improved significantly” since the last inspection.
The Ofsted report published at the at the end of June said: “Across the college, learners appreciate the calm and supportive environment that staff create.
“Learners enjoy studying at the college.
“They feel safe and can easily identify staff who will help them if they need it.”
It added that students are prepared well for “future academic and professional challenges” by working together to meet deadlines and developing a sense of responsibility for their work.
The quality of facilities were also noted in the report, with inspectors describing the “state-of-the-art” production studios for creative media courses.
Since the previous inspection, leaders have also made improvements to staff training and development opportunities, resulting in a “high” quality of teaching.
Principal and chief executive of Barking and Dagenham College, Natalie Davison, said the college is “incredibly proud” to have achieved a ‘good’ Ofsted rating.
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She told this paper: “This result reflects the hard work, dedication, and passion of our staff and students.
“It’s a strong endorsement of the high standards of teaching, support, and opportunity we offer here at Barking & Dagenham College.
“We’re especially pleased that the culture we’ve built—one where learners feel safe, supported, and ambitious—has been recognised and celebrated.”
A spokesperson for the college also responded to the ‘requires improvement’ grading for apprenticeships, saying that “work is already well underway to swiftly address this”.
They added: “We are committed to ensuring all areas of the college meet the high standards our learners deserve.”
