9th October 2018
Ofsted Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman visited Barking & Dagenham College on Friday, remarking that ?It?s a really impressive place.?
Ms Spielman and her colleagues were there to find out about the College’s highly regarded community engagement activities.
The College’s Director of Student Support Nicky Gibson explained about the work the College does to tackle the problem of knife crimes and gangs; she told the Chief Inspector about the risk assessment and risk management of offenders via a sharing of information agreement with the Metropolitan Police; this is seen as exemplary practice by Ofsted, who are keen for the College to share good practice across the further education sector.
They were then given a whistle-stop tour of the College, meeting staff and students in the College’s STEM Centre, creative arts department and entrepreneurial zone.
They also visited a youth conference which was taking place at the College and had been organised by the local borough and was aimed at engaging more youth in arts and culture. A group of talented youngsters from Marsh Green Primary, who were taking part in the youth conference, sang and played drums to a Brazilian piece called Magdalenha to the delight of Amanda and her colleagues.
At the climax of her visit, Ms Spielman commented:
It was a truly inspiring visit. It’s a college that is motoring on and doing really well.
