Bedford College
Bedford College is one of the most successful colleges of further and higher education in the country. Bedford College recently achieved an outstanding Ofsted report – identifying it as one of the best further education colleges in the UK. It is a large general further education college that enrols over 14,000 students each year of whom 3,500 are aged 16-18 and a further 700 are aged 14-16. The college offers courses in all programme sectors except agriculture and at all levels from basic skills to university level. More students go on to university from the College than from any other educational institution in the county, nearly 500 each year. The College is a nationally accredited centre of vocational excellence (CoVE) in five areas: Plumbing, Housebuilding, Sustainable Technologies, Health & Social Care and Supervisory Management.
The College has excellent leadership and management. In 2007 it was awarded 5 Star Recognition for Excellence by the British Quality Foundation and won the national award for Leadership. Its financial management is graded outstanding by the Learning & Skills Council and its advice and guidance services are fully accredited to the national Matrix standards. The College is also recognised as a good employer, consistently awarding average pay rises above the national recommendations and showing the lowest sickness absence of any college in the Eastern region.
The College enjoys excellent and longstanding links with local employers. It is a member of the CBI and the Principal sits on the CBI Eastern Region Council. It has a number of employer advisory groups in areas such as Construction, Engineering & Aerospace, Hair & Beauty, Art & Design. The College also enjoys excellent links with the local educational community. It is represented on the local strategic 14-19 partnership and a number of school trusts.