GLOUCESTERSHIRE College at Five Acres is celebrating its third successive ‘good’ Ofsted rating.

Inspectors, who visited the college’s Cheltenham, Gloucester and Forest of Dean campuses during September and early October, looked at 10 areas including quality of teaching, learning and assessment and student development.

Students were praised for being ‘highly motivated, with good behaviour, a clear sense of purpose and a courteous attitude to peers, staff and visitors.’

The 17-page report concludes that teaching staff are ‘well-qualified and experienced; they are passionate about their subject and impart their knowledge and understanding with enthusiasm.’

The college’s apprenticeships provision was one of the key areas involved in the inspection, with the report noting that apprentices are ‘professional and confident’.

The report found the college was a ‘safe and welcoming’ environment and, in vocational areas, students have particularly ‘good access to well-equipped accommodation and resources.’

Students also benefit from ‘effective’ careers advice and guidance, and a broad range of work experience opportunities and work-related activities which help prepare them well for their next steps.

Principal, Matthew Burgess said: “The report confirms that the hard work we are putting in is paying off, with students receiving even higher standards of teaching and being even better prepared for their chosen careers.

“To achieve a ‘good’ rating across so many different areas is really a testament to our dedicated and talented staff, who are committed to giving students the best experience possible in their lessons, apprenticeships, college life and future careers.

“The report also highlights the motivation and good behaviour of our students, and professionalism of our apprentices, all of which are a credit to the college.”