Waltham International College Limited

Waltham International College Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Jane Hughes, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: Crown House, 7th Floor, Cambridge Road, Off Linton Road Barking IG11 8HG Monitoring visit: Waltham International College Limited, 25–26 July 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 adult learning provision which began to be funded from August 2017 or after by the Education and Skills Funding Agency. 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 ‘Monitoring visits to providers that are newly directly funded to deliver adult learning 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

Established in 2010 and originally located in Manchester, Waltham International College Limited (WIC) is a private training provider now based in Barking and Dagenham. In October 2017, the provider gained adult education funding to offer short courses to adults in the local area. Currently, there are 20 learners completing functional skills courses in English and mathematics. Approximately 250 learners have completed a variety of courses in 2018/19. A high proportion of learners are employed at the start of their course.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have designed and implemented their adult programmes effectively to meet the needs of the local community. Leaders have worked closely with employers, particularly those in information and communication technology (ICT), to ensure that learners develop the skills needed by employers, such as fault- finding and programming. Employers value the responsiveness of the WIC leadership team and engage with its members frequently by attending careers events and offering work experience for learners.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have a clear vision to help learners develop skills and progress in their lives. They work closely with groups of learners from low socio-economic backgrounds, Eastern European nationals and those with low-level English and mathematical skills. Learners are recruited with integrity and benefit from the centre being open seven days a week.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders, managers and tutors track closely the progress that learners make. Very detailed progress-tracking records allow staff to identify quickly when learners fall behind, do not attend sessions or need extra help. Tutors have appropriate qualifications and experience. Monitoring visit: Waltham International College Limited, 25–26 July 2019 Leaders have recently put in place an experienced board of governors. Governors support and challenge the leadership team appropriately. Their most recent input has led to higher expectations by staff of learners’ attendance.

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Reasonable progress

Clear and thorough quality-assurance processes are in place. Managers use these well to monitor the quality of teaching, learning and assessment, and the performance of staff. Managers take appropriate actions to ensure the necessary improvements and frequently review the effectiveness of these actions.

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Reasonable progress

Managers do not focus enough on how well their courses have supported unemployed learners into work. Learners attend workshops to help them apply for jobs, update their curriculum vitae and practise interview skills. However, managers do not analyse how many of these learners gain jobs.

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Reasonable progress

The vast majority of learners achieve their qualifications in functional skills English and mathematics, the diploma in ICT and the award in social media. A large proportion of learners move from entry-level functional skills courses to the next level.

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Reasonable progress

Staff assess learners’ prior knowledge and skills thoroughly at the start of the programme. They use this information well to develop learners’ individual learning plans, identify extra support needed and plan learners’ next steps.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors support most learners with English as a second language very effectively to build on their prior learning and develop their English skills. As a result, learners have successfully applied for promotion at work and state that they are more able to communicate with their peers. However, for a small minority of learners whose English-speaking skills are very poor, the functional skills course was not appropriate and did not help them to improve their skills.

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Reasonable progress

Most assessment of learners’ work is thorough, and tutors sample and moderate each other’s marking to ensure consistency. Tutors give learners detailed and helpful feedback on their assessed work. As a result, learners are clear when they have not met assessment criteria and understand how to improve their answers. Tutors support learners well to correct spelling and grammatical errors.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors and staff give learners very good one-to-one support when learners fall behind or need extra help due to personal reasons. Staff arrange extra sessions for learners and make available online course materials to support learners to get back Monitoring visit: Waltham International College Limited, 25–26 July 2019 on track. Learners enjoy coming to the centre and value the support available from all staff members.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders, managers and staff focus closely on the safety of their learners. They pay particular attention to ensuring that learners are aware of the dangers of radicalisation and extremism. Through effective partnerships, they recently held an informative ‘Prevent’ event attended by 300 learners and members of the community.

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Reasonable progress

Learners feel safe at the centre and know to whom they should report any concerns. The designated safeguarding lead (DSL) has completed the appropriate training and formed good links with the local authority, should a safeguarding referral need to be made.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers ensure that staff are safe to work with learners and that staff and learners complete the necessary training. The DSL keeps a close watch on any learner who may be vulnerable. Learners have access to a ‘safe space’ at all times should they need to talk or spend time on their own. Policies and procedures are appropriate. Monitoring visit: Waltham International College Limited, 25–26 July 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

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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

regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to

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Reasonable progress

the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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