This week: Andrew Collinge are a cut above the rest.

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Sussex Training Group

Effectiveness of provision Satisfactory: Grade 3

Capacity to improve Satisfactory: Grade 3

Achievement and standards Satisfactory: Grade 3

Sussex Training Group (STG) which operates three training centres in Chichester, Worthing and Littlehampton, scored “satisfactory” in all areas inspected. The STG has 147 learners enrolled on apprenticeships, with another 12 on E2E schemes and 57 on Train to Gain programmes.

Ofsted found that overall success rates are satisfactory and are just above national averages. STG were deemed to be good on early years and health and social care apprenticeships and satisfactory on advanced apprenticeships in these two areas, on Train to Gain programmes and in hairdressing, which is the second largest area of the provision.

Apprentices” attainment of skills and their standards of work were found to be generally satisfactory while E2E learners develop good personal and social skills but progression rates are poor.

On the health and care courses Ofsted found that there were particularly good arrangements for flexible training and learning and good links with employers but that there was slow progress to achieve frameworks in early years courses.

Andrew Collinge

Andrew Collinge Training Limited scored the highest in this weeks roundup, with Ofsted finding that overall provision was outstanding. The 171 hairdressing apprentices and advanced apprentices at their training centres in Liverpool and Birkenhead received high levels of individual support and guidancethroughout. Ofsted reported that well planned and varied teaching fromhighly skilled practitioners, exceptional skill development and highly effectivelearner support provides learners with very good opportunities to succeed.

Success rates are excellent. 91% of learners who left the advanced apprenticeship course in 2006/07 successfully achieved the full framework. Learners develop excellent skills. Andrew Collinge places significant emphasison clients” rights to a highly professional service. Learners quickly adopt aprofessional and confident approach to client consultation, technical servicesand product promotion.

All learning sessions observed during inspection were good or outstanding.The report found that sessions are well planned, drawing on emerging and current fashion trends to establish good links with on-the-job activities. The advanced apprentice programmes incorporate a photo shoot experience and a high profile hair show, and all learners train for an inter-salon competition attended by salon employers and parents.

Monitoring of learners” progress was deemed to be particularly effective with frequent reviews and to-do lists devised for learners so they are fully conversant with their targets.

The only criticism the report made was that some management of the on- and off-the-job training insufficiently focuses on a shared approach to skill development, an area for improvement not identified in the self-assessment report.

Equality and diversity are well promoted and have improved substantially since the previous inspection. Promotional literature is designed to use non-stereotypical images of hairdressing. The proportion of male learnershas increased to 15% following strong encouragement for young men toparticipate although the proportion from ethnic minorities is still low.

Armstrong Learning(New Deal for Musicians)

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 Contributory grade: Good: Grade 2

Sector subject area:-

Performing Arts Good: Grade 2

Armstrong Learning, based in Manchester, hold the sole Department forWork and Pensions prime contract to provide New Deal for Musiciansprogrammes nationally. At the time of inspection there were 218 participants on the 13 week programmes. Of these 130 are on New Deal for Young People and 88 are New Deal 25+ programmes. Approximately 1,000 participants have completed the programme since its start in August 2006.

Overall, Ofsted found the programme to be good with participants attaining good employability skills. Learning materials and resources were deemed to be outstanding and Ofsted praised the fact that Armstrong Learning ensured the programme was highly individualized to suit each participant.

Amongst the initiatives offered to New Deal participants Ofsted highlighted the freephone number given to applicants to contact Armstrong Learning after their 13 week programme has finished. Many take this opportunity up and ex-participants state that advisers are always happy to support them.

However employment outcome was an area marked for improvement, with figures for 2006/07 deemed inadequate although the Ofsted report noted that their was an improvement in progression to employment figures for this year.

Anglo British Academy of Advance Studies

Effectiveness of provision Good: Grade 2

Capacity to improve Good: Grade 2

Achievement and standards Good: Grade 2

Quality of provision Good: Grade 2

The Anglo British Academy of Advance Studies (ABAAS) delivers learndirect courses in Manor Park and Forest Gate in London. At the time of inspection approximately 120 learners were enrolled, mostly on skills for life courses in literacy or numeracy.

Ofsted scored ABAAS as “good” across the board. Overall success rates are 83% on literacy and numeracy courses, significantly higher than the national average. Teaching and personal support was good. Learners” skills, particularly in speaking and writing, improve well while completing their course.

However, the report deemed there was insufficient monitoring of the small number of learners whose attendance was poor.

The learners questioned said that they liked the encouraging staff and flexibility of courses but that “the temperature of the Manor Park learning centre was too hot in the afternoons”.