Adult education given 'outstanding' rating
Outstanding - that is the rating a thriving adult education service was handed after a gruelling inspection by Ofsted.
Staff at Wolverhampton Adult Education is celebrating after being given top mark's in last month's assessment, making it one of only eight adult skills and employment services in the country to hold the rating.
More than 9,000 students take up courses each year at more than 50 venues around the city.
Schools chief Councillor Phil Page said: "This is an incredible achievement for our Adult Education Service and I'd like to pay tribute to the staff and students whose hard work has helped secure this excellent result.
"It does a great deal to prepare local people for the world of work through specific courses, such as help with CV writing, interview skills and training, and access to higher education courses.
"As a result, we have a high success rate of learners progressing into work, training or further and higher education.
"The Adult Education Service is exceptional in how it both values, and invests in, the individual, whatever walk of life they come from, and it's great that Ofsted recognises the tremendous learning opportunities that the Adult Education Service provides."
The inspectors' findings are supported by latest data from the Skills Funding Agency, which show that the city's service has the highest success rate for further education courses in the Black Country and Birmingham, with more than 90 per cent of students passing courses.
Students with learning or physical disabilities also have above average pass rates.
Ofsted inspectors gave the service top marks for the quality of teaching, learning and assessment and the effectiveness of leadership and management.
Their report states: "The vast majority of learners at all levels achieve their goals.
"Learners progress well from each level to the next and into further and higher education and employment.
"Teaching, learning and assessment are outstanding, which is reflected in the very high number of learners who acquire very good personal, social and employability skills.
"Resources are excellent and give learners a very good experience of learning. Tutors provide each learner with very high levels of respect and encouragement."
Courses offered by the service include arts and crafts, creative studies, languages, English, maths, ICT and teaching and care.
Some courses are free or available at a reduced rate, depending upon an individual's circumstances.
