Ofsted round-up – This week: Renault and two London boroughs

Renault UK Ltd, Rickmansworth

 

Summary of grades awarded:

Effectiveness of provision Good: Grade 2

Capacity to improve Good: Grade 2

Achievement and standards Outstanding: Grade 1

Quality of provision Good: Grade 2

Leadership and management Good: Grade 2

Equality of opportunity Contributory grade: Satisfactory: Grade 3

Sector subject area:

Motor vehicle Good: Grade 2

 

Renault UK Ltd (Renault) has operated a national apprenticeship-training programme since 2001. In August 2007, Renault started a direct LSC contract and subcontracted the delivery of the training to SPX Valley Forge (Valley Forge). Renault offers apprenticeships and advanced apprenticeships in vehicle maintenance and repair. Off-the-job block training takes place at technical training centres in Doncaster and Gloucestershire. Training is funded through South Yorkshire LSC.

Ofsted found that that overall effectiveness of the provision is good with achievements and standards being outstanding. Ofsted found that Renault’s capacity to improve is good and that strategies to maintain and improve overall success rates have been particularly effective. A very thorough and systematic approach has been very effective in improving performance against key performance indicators and resolving areas for improvement identified in the quality improvement plan.

Arrangements for self-assessment are good. Renault and Valley Forge staff are involved in the process effectively. However, Nissan managers are not involved. Learners’, employers’, and other stakeholders’ views are incorporated effectively. Ofsted found that all key questions of the common inspection framework are covered effectively and that self-assessment is clearly linked to the quality improvement plan. Key strengths include, very high overall success rates in 2007/08, good learner progress towards their apprenticeship framework, particularly effective on-and of-the-job training, good enrichment activities, very effective support for learners, particularly effective strategic planning and direction and excellent accommodation and resources.

Achievements and standards are outstanding, as identified through self-assessment. Overall success rates are significantly above nationa averages. They are very high for apprenticeships at 92% and for advanced apprentices at 91% in 2007/08. Timely success rates are also very high for advanced apprentices at 77% and well above average for apprentices at 63%. During the current year, high levels of achievements are being maintained with 82% of leavers achieving their full frameworks.

 

London Borough of Brent, London

 

Summary of grades awarded:

Effectiveness of provision Satisfactory: Grade 3

Capacity to improve Satisfactory: Grade 3

Achievement and standards Satisfactory: Grade 3

Quality of provision Satisfactory: Grade 3

Leadership and management Satisfactory: Grade 3

Equality of opportunity Contributory grade: Satisfactory: Grade 3

Sector subject areas:

Leisure, travel and tourism Satisfactory: Grade 3

Arts, media and publishing Satisfactory: Grade 3

Preparation for life and work Satisfactory: Grade 3

 

Brent adult and community education services (BACES), is Brent Council’s direct provider of adult education. In 2007/08 BACES was located within the council’s environment and culture directorate. West London LSC funds BACES’ provision. In 2007/08 3,420 learners were enrolled on accredited courses and 3,660 on adult safeguard learning courses.

Ofsted has found that the overall effectiveness of the provision is satisfactory with achievements and standards also being satisfactory. BACES has demonstrated that it is in a satisfactory position to make improvements and that since the previous inspection in 2005; BACES has made some improvements in the quality of provision. BACES has recognised that some aspects require improvement and is implementing better procedures to share good practice.

Ofsted has found that the self-assessment process is good and that the latest self-assessment report is thorough and accurate identifying areas for improvement. The self-assessment process was found to be well established with most of BACES’ grades matching those of the inspectors. Self-assessment is inclusive, with feedback from learners contributing to the overall outcomes. Managers effectively review the quality improvement plans at team meetings. Key strengths include good development of learners’ skills, good range of provision and highly effective partnership working.

Achievements and standards are satisfactory with the development of learners’ skills being good also. Overall success rates are satisfactory. On level 1 long courses, success rates in 2006/07 were good at 83%. Provisional date shows that BACES has maintained this success rate at 83% in 2007/08. Success rates on long courses at level 2 in 2006/07 were satisfactory at 67%. Provisional data shows that this success rate dipped slightly to 65% in 2007/08 but remains satisfactory. Success rates for short courses are satisfactory at 79% in 2006/07. Provisional BACES rates show a slight decrease to 75% in 2007/08, however in-year data for 2008/09 indicate that short course success rates are improving.

 

London Borough of Greenwich, London

 

Summary of grades awarded:

Effectiveness of provision Satisfactory: Grade 3

Capacity to improve Satisfactory: Grade 3

Achievement and standards Satisfactory: Grade 3

Quality of provision Satisfactory: Grade 3

Leadership and management Satisfactory: Grade 3

Equality of opportunity Contributory grade: Satisfactory: Grade 3

Sector subject area:

Preparation for life and work Satisfactory: Grade 3

 

Greenwich Council is funded by the London East LSC to deliver its Adult and Community Learning provision. All the provision is subcontracted to local providers, the largest of which is Greenwich Community College with over 85% of the provision. In 2007/08 the college supported 4,517 learners, largely in personal and community development learning. This provision was not inspected. Adult and community Learning in colleges is normally included in the main college inspection. Since GC’s previous inspection in 2005 the service has been re-organised and is now part of the council’s Directorate of Regeneration, Enterprise and Skills.

The overall effectiveness of GC’s adult and community learning is satisfactory. Achievement and standards are satisfactory also. Ofsted has found that GC has a satisfactory capacity to improve and that the effectiveness of steps taken to improve the provision since the previous inspection is satisfactory. Ofsted reports that GC has effectively built upon partnerships to meet strategic objectives and improve the quality of the provision, with good arrangements to engage first time learners.

Self-assessment arrangements are satisfactory and have improved since the previous inspection when they were judged to be inadequate. The current process is systematic and inclusive, with a clear procedure. Self-assessment is broadened by a wide range of relevant information including reports of observations of teaching and learning, a learner survey and learner documents. Ofsted found the self-assessment report to be satisfactorily evaluative and comprehensive but some aspects of the report are overly descriptive and lack clarity. Key strengths include, good development of learners’ practical skills and confidence, good arrangements to engage first time learners, a particularly wide range of persona development programmes, clear strategic planning and good development of subcontracting arrangements.

Achievements and standards are satisfactory, as is retention. In 2007/08, average retention across all GC programmes was 88%. GC does not have sufficiently strong data to validate 2007/08 learners’ success rates for its non-accredited provision. Learner feedback, however, indicates a high level of learner satisfaction and achievement of course objectives.

Natalie Hailes