Westminster
Adult Education Service (WAES) is celebrating the publication of its
Ofsted inspection report after being awarded a Good: Grade 2 overall.
During
the week commencing 11 May 2009, the service was inspected by Ofsted,
the government department responsible for setting and monitoring
standards in education. The purpose of the inspection was to assess
the quality of education provision for adults provided by WAES, and
to consider the effectiveness of the service along with its capacity
to improve.
The
inspection also assessed the service for leadership and management
and quality assurance procedures. The Ofsted report found that the
overall effectiveness of provision, including capacity to improve was
Good: Grade 2.
The
inspectors found that: ‘The quality of provision is good as is
teaching and learning. Enthusiastic teachers, many with good
professional experience, provide strong support for learners and
develop good relationships with them. The service is responsive to
government and local priorities and has developed a wide range of
accredited provision that develops employability and life skills for
learners well. The service has made good progress in addressing the
weaknesses identified at the previous inspection. Success rates for
learners improved significantly in 2007/08. Provision for literacy
and numeracy is much improved and three of the curriculum areas
inspected were judged to be good. The curriculum has been shaped to
meet local needs and government priorities. Train to Gain success
rates are very high. Learners very much enjoy their lessons and their
standards of work are high. They gain self-confidence and develop
essential skills’.
Since
WAES’ last inspection in 2005, the Service has shown improvement in
many areas. Teaching and learning observations have also improved
since the last inspection with 72% graded as good or better, with no
sessions graded as inadequate. Train to Gain, a new provision for
WAES, was also inspected and awarded a Good: Grade 2.
Sandra
Ugalde, WAES Director of Curriculum and Quality said: “The
inspection results confirm our position within Westminster, and
acknowledge the hard work of the services’ staff and learners. The
report also confirms that the provision at WAES is responsive to
government and local priorities through the development of our wide
range of accredited provision that support employability, life
skills, progression routes as well as learners self confidence.
Barbara
Holm, WAES Head of Service said: “We are extremely proud to be
recognised as a good Adult Education provider that meets the needs
and interests of our learners. Everyone at WAES works very hard to
provide the very best experience for all our learners. I would like
to take this opportunity to thank them for their commitment and
dedication.”
Summary
of grades awarded:
*
Effectiveness of provision - Good: Grade 2
*
Capacity to improve - Good: Grade 2
*
Achievement and standards - Satisfactory: Grade 3
*
Quality of provision - Good: Grade 2
*
Leadership and management - Good: Grade 2
*
Equality of opportunity - Good: Grade 2
Sector
subject areas
*
Health, public services and care - Good: Grade 2
*
Preparation for life and work - Good: Grade 2
*
Arts, media and publishing - Good: Grade 2
*
Leisure, travel and tourism - Satisfactory: Grade 3
*
Train to Gain - Good: Grade 2
Key
strengths:
*
High and improving success rates on many courses
*
High standard of learners’ skills and good personal development
*
Good teaching and learning
*
Responsive curriculum development and broad range of provision
*
Good support for learners
*
Clear strategic direction from senior managers and strong governance
*
Highly effective partnerships
*
Successful Train to Gain provision
A
full copy of the report can be viewed at
www.waes.ac.uk/inspectionreport.
