Ofsted round-up – This week: Variety of results for mixed providers

Train 4 Work, Hertford

Summary of grades awarded:

Effectiveness of provision Inadequate: Grade 4

Capacity to improve Inadequate: Grade 4

Achievement and standards Good: Grade2

Quality of provision Satisfactory: Grade 3

Leadership and management Inadequate: Grade 4

Equality of opportunity Contributory grade: Satisfactory: Grade 3

Sector subject area:

Health, public services and care Satisfactory: Grade 3

Train 4 Work Limited was established in 2008 in order to help "meet labour and skills needs" within the Hertfordshire care sector. T4W supplies training using Government funding through both the East of England and South East regions of the LSC for Train to Gain provision. All learners are employed and training is predominantly provided at employees’ work locations. Currently 226 learners are in training; 68 taking National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) in health and social care, 62 at Level 2 and six at Level 3.

The overall effectiveness of the provision is inadequate. Leadership and manage ment are inadequate with strategic direction being insufficiently clear. Ofsted said T4W has demonstrated that its capacity to improve is also inadequate and although success rates are good, quality improvement is only recently being developed.

The self-assessment process is inadequate as it was first produced just before it was due to be inspected by the quality manager. Staff were not involved in the process and were unaware of the proposed grades. The self-assessment report identifies strengths and areas for improvement; however, it is not sufficiently critical in its judgements about leadership and management. Key strengths include high success rates, good development of workplace skills, good individual coaching and support by assessors and very effective response to local employment needs.

Overall, achievement and standards are good. This was recognised in the self-assessment report but unsupported by relevant data. To date, overall success rates are high at 84% with outstanding success rates in spectator safety at 91% and care at 93%. The achievements of different groups are not routinely collected or analysed, however, there are no significant differences in outcomes between groups.

Computer Gym, Surrey

Summary of grades awarded:

Effectiveness of provision Satisfactory: Grade3

Capacity to improve Satisfactory: Grade3

Achievement and standards Satisfactory: Grade3

Quality of provision Satisfactory: Grade3

Leadership and management Satisfactory: Grade3

Equality of opportunity Contributory grade: Satisfactory: Grade3

Sector subject areas:

Health and social care Satisfactory: Grade3

Literacy and numeracy Satisfactory: Grade3

Business, administration and law Good: Grade 2

Computer Gym Ltd started in 1992 in Australia as a mobile computer-based training organisation. It launched in the United Kingdom in 1995 and has expanded its work into three divisions; employability, workforce development and offender learning. CG’s offices are in Esher, Surrey. At the end of July, CG had a total of 535 learners on Train to Gain, with 123 in health and social care, 39 in literacy and numeracy, and 40 in business, administration and law.

The overall effectiveness of the provision is satisfactory with Computer Gym demonstrating a satisfactory capacity to improve. Recent appointments of a Train to Gain programme director and a quality manager have been effective in bringing about improvements, although it is too soon to judge the full impact. Whilst timely completion is still slow for many learners, there has been a noticeable improvement in overall success rates.

The self-assessment report process is satisfactory and takes account of the judgements made by staff from CG and its subcontractors. The resulting report is, however, insufficiently evaluative and does not make effective use of key performance data or the views of learners or partners. Key strengths include good and improving overall success rates, good development of workplace skills and knowledge, good support for learners, good recent focus on action to improve performance and good partnership working.

Overall, achievement and standards are satisfactory. The overall success rate for all Train to Gain provision was 57% for 2007/08 and 69% for 2008/09. This does not include the 169 security learners who completed at the end of July 2009. The planned length of programmes was very short and timely success rates were low at 33% in 2007/08 and 31% in 2008/09. Most learners develop good workplace knowledge and skills alongside good personal skills.

KATS Limited, Hampshire

Summary of grades awarded:

Effectiveness of provision Good: Grade 2

Capacity to improve Satisfactory: Grade 3

Achievement and standards Good: Grade 2

Quality of provision Good: Grade 2

Leadership and management Satisfactory: Grade 3

Equality of opportunity Contributory grade: Satisfactory: Grade 3

Sector subject areas:

Vocational Training Good: Grade 2

KATs Ltd is a privately owned, work-based learning provider based in Havant in Hampshire. Founded in March 2003 to provide courses for managers and practitioners of work-based learning, it started to offer government-funded training in March 2008 through a Train to Gain contract with Hampshire and Isle of Wight LSC. KATs has 105 Train to Gain learners across Hampshire, including 30 studying customer service, 27 learning and development, and 14 on social care qualifications.

KATs demonstrates satisfactory capacity to improve with the company expanding and diversifying considerably since its inception in 2003. A clear, effective strategy and a flexible outlook enable it to respond rapidly to changing demand. Its passion for learning has expended local opportunities for mature workers in a range of sectors.

The self-assessment process was found to be satisfactory and is informed by input from assessors and learner evaluations. The report is brief, but the resulting quality improvement plan is concise, clear and practical, and identifies many of the characteristics found by inspectors. However, Ofsted have reported that targets for learners are not clear and that some are making slow progress. KATs use of data is also underdeveloped and unreliable. Key strengths include good success rates in social care in 2008/09. Good acquisition of skills, highly responsive provision to meet learner and employer needs, good guidance and continuing support, effective partnership working to promote learning and clear and effective strategy and mission are also strengths.

Achievement and standards are good. Overall success rates in 2008/09 were satisfactory at 80%. In social care success rates were also good. However, success rates for learning and development NVQ programmes in 2008/09 were low. Only eight of 18 learners achieved a qualification, although Ofsted said nearly all learners are making satisfactory progress. They are highly motivated and keen to progress both with their qualification and at work, revealed inspectors

Natalie Hailes