Our performance and recognition

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We are proud to be able to support our learners with an award-winning education, with year on year increasing student success that exceeds the UK National average; and a student satisfaction rate that exceeds the national average.

We have seen year on year increasing student success that exceeds the UK National average; and a student satisfaction rate that exceeds the national average.

Activate Learning has been praised as “a good provider” of further education and skills by Ofsted in its latest report.

Following the inspection in November 2022, Ofsted awarded the Activate Learning colleges Banbury and Bicester College, Bracknell and Wokingham College, City of Oxford College, Farnham College, Guildford College, Merrist Wood College and Reading College with an overall rating of Good. Its provision for learners with high needs was rated Outstanding.

Some of Ofsted's key findings from their inspection were:

The large majority of learners achieve their qualifications and progress to further education, training or employment because of good support and preparation for their next steps.
Learners develop particularly good personal, social and employability skills.
The majority of learners benefit from good teaching, learning and assessment. Teachers help learners to develop their confidence and make good progress.
Leaders “provide clear strategic direction, vision and mission.
Employers’ strong involvement with learning programmes helps prepare learners well for work
Since the previous inspection, governors and senior leaders have been successful in improving the quality of teaching, learning and assessment.
The college is an effective learning organisation.

Ofsted's findings relating to learners with high needs:

Provision for learners with high needs is Outstanding, with “highly effective personalised programmes.
Outstanding work experience opportunities for learners with high needs.
Excellent partnership working with local community and the local council influence change and promotes a positive image of what learners with high needs can do.

The inspection team commended Activate Learning as an “effective learning organisation”. They highlighted “employers’ strong involvement” in developing learning programmes and in preparing learners for work and complimented the way learners develop their confidence and their personal, social and employability skills.

Inspectors hailed improvements in the quality of teaching, learning and assessment that have improved results so that the “large majority of students progress” to employment or higher study.