in the early 2000s, annual reports from the office for standards in education (ofsted) have deemed the school outstanding. on the strength of a recent ofsted grade one for science provision, the college was awarded ‘beacon status’ for science in 2005 by the department for education and skills. in the same year, it achieved the status of centre of vocational excellence (cove) for sport and recreation. a new £2 million, three storey learning resources centre was unveiled during this period. in 2006 work began to extend the sports hall, or cowley building, to provide more teaching and social space.