Ofsted round-up – This week: Variety of providers across England receive results

Cornwall Marine Employers Training Group, Ltd

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:

Engineering Satisfactory: Grade 3

Established in 2002, as a non-profit company designed to support marine business within Cornwall, Cornwall Marine Employers Training Group Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cornwall Marine Network. CMETG Ltd has a contract with Devon and Cornwall Learning and Skills Council for Train to Gain provision. Almost all provision is National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) in engineering.

Ofsted found that the overall effectiveness of the provision is satisfactory with timely success rates for the first cohort being high and current learners making satisfactory progress. Ofsted found that the NVQs being taken are very well matched to employers and learners’ needs, however, some assessment work was found to be incomplete and inconsistencies in the use of other paperwork was found.

Although this is CMETG Ltd’s first inspection, Ofsted found that they demonstrated a satisfactory ability to improve and that the overall success rate was high for the first cohort of learners despite learners’ achieving a different qualification than the one they were originally recruited to. Learners’ skills are found to be developing well alongside their NVQ. The self-assessment report was found to be satisfactory, however, was also found to be insufficiently clear about some aspects, with other aspects not being graded. Key strengths within the company include high overall and timely success rates, highly relevant qualifications closely matched to the needs of learners and employers and strong and effective partnerships to develop local marine industries.

As identified in the self-assessment report, the entire first group of engineering learners successfully completed the performing manufacturing operations NVQ at Level 2 in the designated time. However, points were lost due to learners not demonstrating all their skills as they had gained NVQs in a subject they had not originally registered for.

Quality Training Consultants Ltd, Dorset

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: Satisfactory: Grade3

Sector subject area:

Construction, planning and the built environment Good: Grade 2

Formed in May 2003, Quality Training Consultants Ltd (QTC) is a registered limited company with headquarters in Poole, Dorset. Providing full-cost industrial and management training courses to business primarily in the South West of England, QTC also subcontracts to probation and youth offender services that provide courses supported by European Social Funds. Currently there are 61 learners of which all are employed and put forward by their companies.

With QTC providing a wide range of programmes that successfully meet the needs of learners and employers, learners are receiving satisfactory support and access to impartial advice and guidance; however, Ofsted has found that the records of progress reviews are insufficiently detailed. Ofsted has found that QTC demonstrates a good capacity to improve and that managers are aware of the challenges of expanding their activities and making effective decisions to improve the quality of training.

Although the self-assessment process was introduced in 2008/09 and is not yet fully established as a tool for improvement, it was found to be self-critical with QTC recognising the need to ensure that learners are achieving their qualification more quickly. Most self-assessment judgements and grades matched those awarded by inspectors. Key strengths included very high achievement rates, good teaching and training, particularly responsive provision which meets the needs of learners and employers, clear strategic direction, very effective partnership working to benefit learners and good operational management.

Achievement rates for 2007/08 are high at 94%. Of the 47 learners who started on the programme, 44 achieved their qualifications. Timely success rates for the provision are low in 2007/08 with only 57% of learners completing their qualification by their planned end date.

Expedient Training Services Ltd, Newcastle

Summary of grades awarded:

Effectiveness of provision Satisfactory: Grade 3

Capacity to improve Satisfactory: Grade 3

Achievement and standards Good: Grade 2

Quality of provision Satisfactory: Grade 3

Leadership and management Satisfactory: Grade 3

Equality of opportunity Contributory grade: Satisfactory: Grade 3

Sector subject area:

Construction, planning and the built environment Satisfactory: Grade 3

Established in 2002, ETS operates from its Quay Corner Training Centre in Jarrow and offers training across the North East. ETS provides training and accreditation in construction to Level 2 National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs). Employers supported by ETS staff carry out on-the-job training in the workplace. ETS has recently achieved the Matrix standard.

The overall effectiveness of the provision was found to be satisfactory. ETS has a satisfactory capacity to improve and managers frequently monitor the progress of individual learners against their planned end dates, and take early actions to identify and resolve any slow progress by learners. Service level agreements are in place for all subcontractors and roles and responsibilities are defined clearly. However, ETS does not set targets for improving learner performance or experience, and its arrangements to monitor the work of subcontractors are unclear and insufficiently formalised.

The self-assessment report for 2007/08 is the first the ETS has produced. Ofsted found the report to be evaluative and critical. Ofsted found that staff and subcontractors have not been involved in the self-assessment process sufficiently. Key strengths found were high overall success rates, good training, extensive range of specialist provision, very clear strategic focus and direction, effective strategies to maintain and improve success rates, good management of training and very good links with employers.

Achievements and standards are good with overall success rates being high. Ofsted found that most learners successfully completed their qualifications and that in 2006/07, overall success rates were outstanding at 97% with almost all learners achieving within the planned end date of their training. However, the decision to withdraw learners from an unsatisfactory employer has had a negative effect on its overall success rate of 79% in 2008. Learners were found to make good progress with most completing in a timely manner.

Natalie Hailes