Brampton College is a privately owned sixth form college. It was established in 1989 under its original name of ‘The Tuition Centre’. It is situated on a single site in a quiet residential street in Hendon in North West London. The college moved from Golders Green to its present site in October 1998 where an existing building was extensively refurbished to provide the present accommodation. The facilities in the annexe were subsequently added. There are currently 247 male and female students from 15 to 19 years of age attending the college, although occasionally a student may be older. The vast majority of students take full-time courses. Currently five students are of compulsory school age and there are eleven advanced level (AL) students who attend the college on a part-time basis. All students take either the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) or AL General Certificate of Education (GCE) courses at Advanced Subsidiary (AS) or A2 level. The majority of students are from the surrounding area, although some travel from some distance across London to attend. There is a minority of 21 overseas students attending the college. All overseas students are taking AL courses and are above compulsory school age. Currently 12 students are identified as not having English as their principal language. There are no students of compulsory school age who have statements of special educational need. All applicants to the college are selected on the basis of their motivation and ability to meet the demands of the courses that they wish to follow. The ability range of students is broad. There are students, at all levels, who have been identified as having learning difficulties. The college brochure emphasises its aim of providing a ‘friendly and informal atmosphere with a high level of academic discipline and an ethos of hard work, as well as its commitment to the individual student through the quality of care and support that they receive’. The college emphasises that this is to be achieved ‘through having a staff of highly dedicated and enthusiastic teachers together with small classes where students receive individual help and attention’. Summary of main findings Brampton is a very effective college which is well regarded by both students and their parents. It employs a range of carefully considered strategies to support students in achieving their maximum academic performance. The college leadership sets clear goals for providing a supportive learning ethos and management structures are effective in ensuring their delivery. The curriculum is exceptionally well-matched to students’ needs and the teaching is of high quality. Most students appreciate and respect the high quality of the learning environment provided by the college, the individual support that they receive and the generally harmonious atmosphere. The good quality of monitoring and the effective individual support provided through the personal tutor system plays an important part in helping students at all levels, including those of compulsory school age, to develop confidence and subsequently to make good progress. What the college does well: • it provides high quality teaching, a significant proportion of which is outstanding; • its assessment system is rigorous and very effective in monitoring the progress of students; • it cares very well for its students, both personally and academically, through the effective personal tutor system; • its staff are well qualified for the subjects that they teach and this has a positive impact on the quality of teaching and learning; • its accommodation is outstanding and provides a very good environment for learning; and • its students demonstrate a mature responsibility and high standards of behaviour in response to the good example set by the diligent and professional approach of teaching staff.