Coleg Cambria

Name of lead inspector: Sarah McGrath, Ofsted Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

Grove Park Road Wrexham Clwyd LL12 7AB Monitoring visit: Coleg Cambria, 19–20 June 2019

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Context and focus of visit

From October 2018, Ofsted undertook to carry out monitoring visits to all newly directly funded providers of apprenticeship training provision which began to be funded from April 2017 or after by ESFA and/or the apprenticeship levy. This monitoring visit was undertaken as part of those arrangements and as outlined in the Further education and skills inspection handbook, especially the sections entitled ‘Providers newly directly funded to deliver apprenticeship training provision’ and ‘Monitoring visits’. The focus of these visits is on the themes set out below.

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Context and focus of visit

At the time of the monitoring visit, Colleg Cambria had 15 apprentices. Nine of these were levy funded and six were non-levy funded, with 13 apprentices aged 19 to 24 and the remaining two aged 16 to 18. One apprentice was working towards a standards-based apprenticeship in heavy vehicle service and maintenance technician. One apprentice was on a hairdressing framework at level 2 and the remaining 13 were on frameworks at levels 2 and 3 in engineering, heating and ventilation, and industrial applications.

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Reasonable progress

Governors and senior leaders have a well-thought-out and clearly defined strategy for the development and delivery of apprenticeship programmes. They have introduced apprenticeships in areas where they have the greatest expertise and a high standard of resources. Further developments are being considered in line with local priority sectors and campus redevelopment.

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Reasonable progress

Members of the college board have a broad range of experience and expertise that are relevant to the role. The board includes local business and community leaders and members with extensive experience in education and quality improvement. The board has a clear understanding of apprenticeship provision at the college and holds senior leaders to account competently.

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Reasonable progress

Managers have a good understanding of the principles of an apprenticeship and they plan programmes carefully to meet these. Managers and staff work closely with employers to ensure that all apprentices benefit from high quality off-the-job training. This includes taught sessions and effective mentoring in the workplace. Apprentices develop good practical skills that they put in to practice at work and, as a result, add value to their employers’ businesses. Monitoring visit: Coleg Cambria, 19–20 June 2019 Training staff have good technical skills. They are well qualified and have extensive experience in their subject areas. Staff benefit from good staff development that includes regular industry updates. As a result, staff have up-to-date knowledge and experience of current industry practice.

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Reasonable progress

Assessors and work-based learning managers have regular meetings during which they thoroughly review apprentices’ progress. Any concerns are quickly addressed. The vast majority of apprentices make good progress.

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Reasonable progress

Managers accurately identify the majority of areas for improvement within the provision. They plan appropriate actions to address these and leaders carefully monitor progress against these plans. Senior leaders recognise that as the number of apprentices increases, they need to develop further the use of quality assurance systems in order to maintain the high standards of provision.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have successfully developed training programmes that meet the needs of both apprentices and employers. Staff work closely with employers to ensure that training allows apprentices to develop a broad range of new knowledge, skills and behaviours and addresses the needs of the business. Staff accurately assess the existing skills and knowledge of apprentices when they start their programme and use this information to inform training plans.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices receive sufficient high-quality on- and off-the-job training. Trainers and mentors work closely together to plan training that ensures apprentices develop new skills that they are able to use competently in the workplace. This effectively consolidates learning and enables apprentices to recognise the value that they add to their employer’s business.

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Reasonable progress

Most apprentices make good progress. Trainers and mentors challenge apprentices particularly well to develop very good practical skills. Most apprentices produce at least the expected standard of work, which is well presented. Apprentices on level 3 engineering aerospace programmes produce practical work of a particularly high standard. In a minority of cases, trainers do not challenge apprentices sufficiently during theory sessions. As a result, the most able do not make the rapid progress of which they are capable.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices develop good employability skills. They are professional, articulate, polite and respectful. Trainers support apprentices well to develop oracy, communication and teamwork skills. Apprentices use technical language accurately and appropriately.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices develop good mathematical and English skills through taught sessions that focus on the specific skills they need to develop. Teachers of mathematics and Monitoring visit: Coleg Cambria, 19–20 June 2019 English carry out detailed assessments of apprentices’ starting points and use these effectively to plan training. However, vocational staff do not routinely correct spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors in apprentices’ work and some go on to make the same errors in subsequent submissions.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have ensured that appropriate safeguarding arrangements are in place. Staff are appropriately trained and benefit from regular updates.

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Reasonable progress

Managers work well with local agencies to raise awareness of issues relating to safeguarding and to provide specialist advice and support. Managers at the college have taken appropriate steps to ensure that work-based learners are able to access services and support. For example, they use a safeguarding application on mobile devices for apprentices. However, managers do not monitor whether apprentices engage with safeguarding awareness-raising initiatives such as the safeguarding fair in September.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices have a broad understanding of safeguarding and of the ‘Prevent’ duty. They are aware of what radicalisation is and its potential indicators.

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Reasonable progress

Staff and apprentices pay close attention to health and safety and are aware of the requirements within their industries. Apprentices feel safe in college and in their workplaces and they know what to do if they have any concerns. Monitoring visit: Coleg Cambria, 19–20 June 2019 the guidance ‘Raising concerns and making a complaint about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/complaints-about-ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . Learner View Learner View is a website where learners can tell Ofsted what they think about their college or provider. They can also see what other learners think about them too. To find out more go to www.learnerview.ofsted.gov.uk .

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Reasonable progress

Employer View Employer View is a website where employers can tell Ofsted what they think about their employees’ college or provider. They can also see what other employers think about them too. To find out more go to www.employerview.ofsted.gov.uk .

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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