EKC Group (the group) is a very large general further education college group in East Kent. The group consists of six colleges serving the communities of Ashford, Broadstairs, Canterbury, Dover, Folkestone and the Isle of Sheppey. Most colleges offer technical and vocational courses across a very broad range of subject areas and apprenticeships. There is a specialist plumbing and electrical training centre at Ashford College and, since September 2022, leaders have offered A-level courses at Canterbury College. The group offers full-time courses for 14- to 16-year-olds in Broadstairs, Canterbury and Folkestone. Leaders offer courses from entry level up to level 5, with just under two thirds of courses being below level 3. The largest subject area across all colleges is preparation for work. Other very large areas include building and construction, mathematics, crafts, creative art and design, and health and social care. At the time of the inspection, there were approximately 5,500 learners on education programmes for young people, 90 of whom were aged 14 to 16. Approximately 1,950 learners were studying adult learning programmes and there were approximately 750 apprentices. There were just under 600 learners in receipt of high-needs funding and just over 900 had education, health and care plans. There were approximately 260 care-experienced learners, many of whom live in some of the most deprived areas in the county.