“This applies to work-based learning which is provided under the aegis of colleges, and is based on the 14 further education colleges we have inspected so far,” said Stephen Grix, OFSTED’s head of post-16. “I would not like to put a figure on it, but certainly the majority of the provision is unsatisfactory” The comments were made during a seminar for principals at the Association of Colleges’ annual conference in Birmingham.

The inspections themselves are yet to be published. But the picture appears to be reinforced by the first 25 OFSTED area inspections for post-16 provision under the new regime.

These have thrown up such problems as the “high number of work-based trainees leaving before completion” in Hull and the “declining NVQ achievement rates” in Middlesbrough. In Westminster there was “insufficient information, guidance and advice about work-based training opportunities”.

Key skills, a central Government priority, is often among the weakest areas.

The Adult Learning Inspectorate’s own work confirms this. Its first 129 work-based learning inspections found 59 per cent of providers less than satisfactory. This applies to both colleges and private providers.

The ALI figures include Modern Apprenticeships. There off-the-job tuition is the responsibility of private training providers, some of which sub-contract to colleges.

“There are a number of criteria in which schemes are inspected and some are satisfactory in some areas and not in others,” said Chris Humphries, director general of City and Guilds. “The same demoralising tone OFSTED used to take with schools is now being applied to a new area.”

The Learning and Skills Council spends pound;801 million of its pound;5.5billion budget on work-based learning. Where providers have been found less than satisfactory, local skills councils are now working with them to develop post-inspection action plans.