Charity’s ‘life-changing’ college celebrates latest Ofsted rating

Staff and students at a “life-changing” college operated by YMCA Derbyshire, which helps youngsters overcome significant barriers to learning are celebrating their latest Ofsted rating.

The charity’s YMCA Key College, which provides vocational training for young people aged 16 to 18, or up to 24 for those with an education, health and care plan, has been rated ‘Good’ following an inspection at the end of last month.

The college caters to young people who require a more supportive pathway in education, offering them training with small class sizes and highly dedicated tutors.

Spread across three campuses – in Nightingale Road and St Mark’s Road in Derby, and Coronation Street in Ilkeston – the college, which is set to grow further over the next year, offers a wide variety of courses, including retail, catering, sport, childcare and practical work skills.

Louise Curd, director of lifelong learning at YMCA Derbyshire, said: “We are absolutely delighted with our recent Ofsted ‘Good’ rating and feel it is testament to the work our colleagues do day in, day out, to support our young people.

“At YMCA Key College we offer young people so much more than a qualification – we give our learners access to opportunities that help them grow in confidence and prepare for the future.”

Each year, YMCA Key College takes in around 136 students, who inspectors said benefited from “well-planned courses and personalised support that helps them enjoy their learning and make good progress.”

In particular, students valued “the strong relationships with staff, who they describe as caring, approachable and quick to offer help. This support builds their confidence, and learners are rightly proud of what they achieve.”

Inspectors also praised the college’s strong links with local employers and other organisations, which result in structured placements and well-designed courses that “prepare learners for the workplace and help them understand their role in the wider community.”

They credited college staff for “having a strong understanding of learners’ needs, including those who have previously disengaged from education or faced significant barriers to learning.”

They added: “Learners with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive tailored support and inclusive teaching. Learners with SEND feel well supported and achieve strong outcomes as a result of the targeted help they receive.”

Louise added: “We are passionate about creating pathways that give every young person the chance to achieve their goals and take their next steps in education, employment, or life.”

Gillian Sewell, chief executive of YMCA Derbyshire, said: “I am incredibly proud of our dedicated staff at YMCA Key College, whose commitment, care, and passion for supporting young people has been rightly recognised in this Ofsted report.

“Every day, they go above and beyond to ensure learners are given the support, opportunities and encouragement to thrive.

“This achievement is a true reflection of their hard work and unwavering belief in the potential of every young person.”