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This week: Work-based learning including Kwik-Fit and Network Rail
Network Rail, Gosport, Hampshire

Summary of grades awarded:
Effectiveness of provision     Good: Grade 2
Capacity to improve         Good: Grade 2
Achievement and standards     Good: Grade 2
Quality of provision         Good: Grade 2
Leadership and management     Good: Grade 2
Equality of opportunity     Contributory grade: Outstanding: Grade 1
Sector subject area:
Engineering and manufacturing technologies     Good: Grade 2

Network Rail is the government-initiated company that is responsible for maintenance and development of Britain’s railways, and day to day operations. In 2004, Network Rail introduced an advanced apprenticeship scheme that currently has 428 individuals learning about track and signal maintenance and electrification.

Ofsted reported that effectiveness of provision by Network Rail was good and listed more strengths than areas for improvement. Achievement and standards were good and the report stated that: “All learners achieve a good range of qualifications beyond the framework requirements.” Learners were found to be progressing well and retention rates were described as outstanding.

Inspectors agreed with the self-assessment that the quality of provision was good. They felt that resources and facilities for off-the-job training were outstanding and said that, “tutors are highly knowledgeable and industrially experienced.” However, they suggested that some teaching relied too heavily on tutor-centred delivery and was insufficiently targeted at individuals with different learning abilities. The design of the training programme and the support given to learners were listed as strengths.

Leadership and management were deemed good overall and promotion of equality was graded outstanding. Partnership working was considered another strength. Ofsted’s main criticism in this section was towards quality assurance arrangements, which they thought were underdeveloped and could be more consistent with regards to monitoring of learners.


Kwik-Fit (GB) Limited, Broxburn

Summary of grades awarded:
Effectiveness of provision     Outstanding: Grade 1
Capacity to improve         Good: Grade 1
Achievement and standards     Good: Grade 2
Quality of provision         Good: Grade 2
Leadership and management     Outstanding: Grade 1
Equality of opportunity     Contributory grade: Good: Grade 2
Sector subject areas:
Motor vehicle         Outstanding: Grade 1

Kwik-Fit is Europe's largest retail automotive repair provider specialising in the fitting and servicing of particular mechanical and electrical components for motor vehicles. The company runs an apprenticeship programme at training centres in Derby, Harlow and Gloucester. Kwik-Fit employs 106 apprentices, at fast-fit centres throughout England and Wales, and 211 adults who are completing a Level 2 NVQ in motor vehicle fast-fit as part of a Train to Gain programme.

This was Kwik-Fit’s third inspection in ten years, over which time there had been consistent improvement leading to the outstanding grade given to effectiveness of provision. Achievement and standards were good for work-based learning and outstanding for Train to Gain programmes. High success rates were listed as a strength and apprenticeship framework completion was found to be, “well above national averages.”

The quality of provision received a good grade. Off-the-job training was described as “well structured,” and for on-the-job training inspectors reported that: “Employers follow well planned training programmes to develop learners’ skills and knowledge.” Ofsted suggested that initial assessment for Train to Gain learners could be improved and target-setting for a minority of learners could be more specific. Support for learners was good, training resources were excellent and opportunities for progression were outstanding.

Ofsted graded leadership and management as outstanding. Their main criticism was that little focus on training could be found in the company’s business plan. Otherwise they said that quality improvement was “very effective,” the good partnership arrangements had a “positive impact” on the learners, and equality of opportunity within the company was good, including the initiatives to recruit female apprentices.


Middlesbrough Football Academy (Eston) Ltd, Middlesbrough

Summary of grades awarded:
Effectiveness of provision     Satisfactory: Grade 3
Capacity to improve         Good: Grade 2
Achievement and standards     Satisfactory: Grade 3
Quality of provision         Satisfactory: Grade 3
Leadership and management     Good: Grade 2
Equality of opportunity     Contributory grade: Satisfactory: Grade 3
Sector subject area:
Preparation for life and work     Satisfactory: Grade 3

Middlesbrough Football Club in the Community (MFCC) is a charity founded in 1995 that provides a range of football-related activities, including a Health Project aimed at the primary school sector and an Enterprise Scheme for secondary schools. In 2006, the organisation began to deliver Entry to Employment (E2E) programmes to young people. The current E2E intake stands at 39, of whom 10 are female and one is from a minority ethnic group.

Ofsted thought effectiveness of provision at MFCC was satisfactory and that the charity had demonstrated a good capacity to improve. Achievement and standards were given a satisfactory grade, but were also listed under the areas for improvement. The report noted that, during their time on the programmes, learners, “increase their confidence,” and, “develop good working relationships with their peers, tutors and work placement colleagues.”

Inspectors agreed with the self-assessment that teaching and learning were satisfactory. They said that better sessions used a variety of activities to motivate learners, while a few less effective sessions relied too heavily on text-based presentations. Monitoring was considered a key area for improvement. Inspectors felt the planning of individual learning needs and target-setting was insufficient. The range of work placement opportunities was highlighted as a strength, and the support for learners was good.

Leadership and management received a good grade. Ofsted stated that managers had, “developed a clear strategic vision with goals for further development of the provision.” Quality assurance policies were found to cover all key improvement issues effectively, and a “thorough” system for observation was in place. Equality of opportunity was satisfactory


Smart Training (Mardell Associates Ltd), Kingston Upon Thames

Summary of grades awarded:
Effectiveness of provision     Good: Grade 2
Capacity to improve         Outstanding: Grade 1
Achievement and standards     Good: Grade 2
Quality of provision         Good: Grade 2
Leadership and management     Outstanding: Grade 1
Equality of opportunity     Contributory grade: Good: Grade 2
Sector subject areas:
Early years and playwork     Good: Grade 2
Business management     Outstanding: Grade 1

Established in 1993, Smart Training is a private company, owned by Mardell Associates, that provides apprenticeships and Train to Gain programmes to learners in several locations in England. At the time of inspection there were 1,538 learners enrolled on early years programmes. The company works with a range of nurseries and childcare providers. Learners undertake off-the-job training once a month.

Ofsted graded effectiveness of provision as good and said that Smart Training had an outstanding capacity to improve. Achievement on Train to Gain programmes was very good, and overall success rates for apprenticeships had shown improvement. The report stated that: “All programmes are significantly above the national averages for each sector subject area.”

Teaching and learning were deemed good overall. The “well structured” training programmes were one of the company’s strengths and the use of workbooks was praised by inspectors for giving clear instructions to learners. The report noted that approximately one third of learners had additional learning needs and arrangements to identify and support those needs were judged to be outstanding. Inspectors suggested there should be more focus on learning when observations took place.

Leadership and management earned an outstanding grade. Staff and learners’ knowledge of equality and diversity, while graded good, was the only area to be picked up for improvement. Ofsted listed several key strengths for this section including a very good range of initiatives to improve success rates, good staff training, and well developed performance management systems.