There is a long way to go to ensure every apprentice gets high-quality training, Ofsted has said today.
Speaking at the Association of Learning and Training Provider (AELP)’s conference today, Paul Joyce, Ofsted’s head of FE and skills, said some independent training providers have ”a lot to do to understand and deliver a quality experience for apprenticeships.”
This spring, Ofsted resumed new monitor visits to apprenticeship providers. In April, Ofsted’s chief inspector Amanda Spielman revealed that a third of new apprenticeship providers visited by Ofsted since March had at least one “insufficient progress” judgement.
Ofsted interim visits: A first-hand account
Need to know: Ofsted plans some full inspections in the summer
Background: Insufficient progress in new apprenticeships providers
Speaking today, Mr Joyce called initial findings “quite disappointing” and said: “Too many new providers are still not doing enough to ensure that apprentices receive good provision, there’s still a long way to go to ensure that every apprentice gets high quality training. This is something that should worry all of us and it’s a situation that needs urgent attention as lockdown restrictions continue to ease and as DfE guidance for the sector continues to adapt.”
He added: “Some of the providers, particularly those very new to the market, still have a lot to do to understand and deliver a quality experience for apprentices. At the end of the day, apprenticeships are a quality product, are a quality brand, and what we need to do is all we can to support those providers to deliver quality, and to ensure learners at the end of the day get a quality experience, but much more work to do and I’m sure will be the subject of of many more conferences to come.”
Apprenticeships teaching: new CPD offer
Speaking after Mr Joyce, apprenticeships and skills minister Gillian Keegan said the government would introduce a CPD package to improve teaching of apprenticeships.
He said: “We will introduce a free online professional development package through the apprenticeships Workforce Development Programme, and that will hopefully achieve a widespread and rapid improvement in apprenticeship teaching capability, those that need that extra CPD support.”