put in place to address them. Deputy Principal and Director of Specialist and Learning Support to lead on this with Heads of Department. In general female students are outperforming male students, although there is no significant differential in performance by gender. The pattern in the College is consistent with the national trend for male and female performance. Male retention and achievement are slightly below female on AS Level courses. The College will continue to investigate strategies to improve male retention and achievement. Deputy Principal and Assistant Principal – Curriculum and Quality (Teaching and Learning) to revisit strategies to improve male students’ success rates. The information above is intended to be a headline summary of the salient points arising from retention and achievement data for 2010/2011. More detailed analysis will form part of the self-assessment report. Also relevant to this section of the annual summary report is that in the Ofsted inspection which took place in October 2011, students expressed the view that they like the College’s diverse community, where everyone is respected and valued equally. In addition, students feel that people from all different backgrounds are welcomed in college, that bullying or harassment are not tolerated, and that there is always someone to help them if they have a problem. The inspectors also observed that the ‘thought-provoking [equality and diversity] displays and attractive postcards that promote a range of services are strategically placed and are easily accessible. Issues are raised and differences celebrated in lessons and through special events and themed weeks. The College uses data well to identify any underperforming groups and continually develops strategies that have been effective in narrowing any gaps’. 12.2 Student Profile The table below shows a three year trend in terms of the College’s student profile, for comparison against the community and staff profiles.
Figure 18 Equality and Diversity Summary Gender Ethnicity LD&D EMA Postcode Current Student Cohort 2011/12 (Nov 2011) 49% male 51% female 26% minority ethnic 24% with disclosed learning difficulties or disabilities n/a 33.0% from postcode areas described as deprived Student Cohort Overall 2010/11 49% male 51% female 22% minority ethnic 21% with disclosed learning difficulties or disabilities 52% 33.0% from postcode areas described as deprived Student Cohort Overall 2009/10 47% male 53% female 20% minority ethnic 15% with disclosed learning difficulties or disabilities 52% 31.8% from postcode areas described as deprived 13.0 Plans for 2011/12 This section provides a brief summary of planned initiatives and events related to equality and diversity, for the 2011/12 academic year. Notable dates, e.g. religious and cultural celebrations, international days of celebration etc. will be promoted through use of the TV screens in College. Particular events such as National Anti-Bullying week will be promoted in a more detailed and active way through, for example, the tutorial curriculum, sale of wristbands and a student competition. The tutorial curriculum: initial sessions will promote the College’s mission, values and ethos, and will be followed by sessions on the themes of respect and an introduction to equality and diversity. There will be one major equality and diversity theme per term, those being respect and anti-bullying and harassment in the autumn term, gender equality (including sexual orientation) in the spring