City of Wolverhampton College shortlisted for awards

City of Wolverhampton College has been shortlisted for two national awards, just three years after being rated as inadequate by Ofsted.

The college has been nominated for two Association of Colleges (AoC) awards.

The nominations - for 'Outstanding Leadership of Improvement' and 'College Engagement with Employers' - represent further evidence of the college's transformation since receiving the worst possible Ofsted grading in 2012.

Having dramatically improved the completion rate of its students, the institution received a 'good' Ofsted rating in November last year and now ranks in the top 15 per cent of English colleges for success among 16 to 18-year-olds.

The Award for College Engagement with Employers is granted to the college that best works with employers to meet their training needs.

After being shortlisted for the prize last year, the college will be hoping to go one better and claim first place in 2015.

The Award for Outstanding Leadership of Improvement is for colleges whose management has been visionary and ambitious, and has had a significant impact on student achievements.

Principal Mark Robertson said: "These are very prestigious awards and it's fantastic to be shortlisted for even one, let alone two, and for the college to be recognised on a national level.

"This is a great reflection of the very high standards being achieved for students and for employers at the college and my thanks go out to all the staff and students who have made City of Wolverhampton College one of the best in the country."

The college currently has around 10,000 students and 800 apprentices working for employers around the country.

It works with the BBC to train its 46 new local radio journalists, with Wolverhampton Wanderers FC to train office staff and with the Express and Star to train its reporters.

AoC award winners will be announced at the association's annual conference on Tuesday 17 November.