Steps to Improve Teaching and Learning Since Previous Inspection

Since its previous inspection by OFSTED in November 2007, Ashbourne has continued to improve upon its teaching and learning provision through implementing a variety of different measures and expanding ICT provision throughout the College. These measures include:
 
1.  The purchase and installation of Interactive Whiteboards throughout the College

2. Supplying all teaching staff with Macbook laptops for use in their daily teaching practice, lesson planning, and recordkeeping  

3. In-House INSET training in ICT (encompassing both Interactive Whiteboard training and training in online teaching resources such as Shareflow, Wordpress, and YouTube/BBC IPlayer) and Child Protection policies

4.  The establishment of a budget for external training and INSET courses for all teaching and management staff

5.  The introduction of a faculty system designed to enable staff to be supported and mentored across all departments, with each department overseen by a senior tutor who is Head of Faculty

6.  Implementing a programme of regular staff appraisals for all teaching and management staff

7.  Encouraging peer observations amongst teaching staff to promote best practice

8.  Developing induction procedures for new and existing staff at the start of each academic year, with new staff and Faculty Heads undertaking additional workshops on top of the standard induction

9.  A desire for all new staff applying to the College to have QTS as indicated in our recruitment materials

10. A plan to begin offering teaching places to practising PGCE students

11. Supplying all members of staff with an in-house network e-mail account to facilitate communication between teaching staff, management, and administration

12. Facilitating and streamlining systems for resource provision

13. Developing the reports system to allow reports to be uploaded directly onto the central database

14. Encouraging and supporting staff working as examiners or moderators for external exam boards as a model of best practice

15. Restructured the Middle School timetable to provide English as a Foreign Language assistance to compulsory school aged children as far as possible

16. Scheduled a regular, compulsory double period of sports and games for compulsory school aged children and arranged a number of indoor and outdoor activities for these children.  Some of these activities allow them to make use of the local parks and public spaces

Please also review our College Policies.