London College of Business and Law Limited

London College of Business and Law Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Carolyn Brownsea, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

Station House 11–13 Masons Avenue Harrow HA3 5AH Monitoring visit: London College of Business and Law Limited, 25 September 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

London College of Business and Law Limited (LCBL) provides project management training to corporate clients. In 2017, it became eligible to deliver training to apprentices. The first cohort of apprentices began in November 2017. They all study on the standards-based level 3 project controls technician. Currently three levy- funded apprentices are on programme. LCBL also deliver standards-based project management level 4 through subcontracting arrangements.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have engaged with employers to develop a curriculum that meets business needs. Leaders have developed highly effective employer relationships that support the development and introduction of new apprenticeship standards with employers.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders work effectively with employers to recruit suitable apprentices. They select apprentices who are either new to their post or who will benefit fully from the substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours included in the apprenticeship. They ensure that suitable arrangements are available to prepare apprentices for their final assessment. Apprentices are guaranteed employment on completion of their apprenticeship.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders, apprentices and employers meet frequently to review the progress that apprentices make. Leaders and managers have a good understanding of the progress apprentices make on their programmes. They identify swiftly those apprentices in need of further support. They ensure, through frequent discussions with employers and one-to-one reviews with tutors, that apprentices complete the required off-the-job training. Monitoring visit: London College of Business and Law Limited, 25 September 2019 The small team of tutors is highly skilled and experienced. Tutors use their broad professional and vocational experiences to develop apprentices’ knowledge, skills and behaviours. These include developing apprentices’ digital skills in the use of sector- specific software tools and project management skills such as risk management.

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Reasonable progress

Managers have yet to develop arrangements that assess accurately the impact that teaching, learning and assessment have on apprentices’ progress. They provide tutors with feedback on observations. However, they do not clearly link areas for improvement found at observations with a coherent staff development programme.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors enable apprentices to take on increasingly complex roles and responsibilities such as the delegation of projects, for which they have overall responsibility for project planning and scheduling. The standard of apprentices’ work is at an appropriate level, and work demonstrates a good understanding of the requirements of the vocational area. Tutors give helpful feedback so that apprentices know what they need to do to improve and achieve higher grades.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors are ambitious for their apprentices and their future career plans, which include progressing to chartered status. Apprentices understand the arrangements for their end-point assessment. Tutors provide detailed feedback and set challenging targets that enable apprentices to work towards high grades.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices attend learning sessions that are delivered either in the college or workplace depending on employers’ business needs. Apprentices benefit from the support and guidance tutors provide during these lessons. Tutors deliver stimulating sessions that enable apprentices to consider what they have learned and reflect on how they might apply what they know in their job roles and workplace practice. Employers provide apprentices with additional training on internal processes and systems, including sector-specific software, which enables them to progress rapidly in their apprenticeships.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors prepare apprentices well for their end-point assessment. The curriculum is designed to support apprentices to develop the knowledge and confidence required for professional discussions, presentations and practical tests. For example, apprentices know how to interpret and communicate technical information that enables all project team members to complete an assignment.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders’ self-assessment and quality improvement action plans lack sufficient rigour and do not focus enough on the quality of the curriculum and its impact on apprentices. They do not set sufficiently challenging targets in their quality improvement plans. For example, leaders have not identified a strategy to further Monitoring visit: London College of Business and Law Limited, 25 September 2019 develop apprentices’ knowledge and use of English and mathematics beyond the requirements for the apprenticeship standard.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers take appropriate measures to keep apprentices safe. They carry out appropriate pre-employment checks on new training staff, including those employed by subcontractors.

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Reasonable progress

All staff complete safeguarding training that equips them to carry out their roles. However, refresher training is not frequent enough to keep staff up to date with local and regional issues and priorities. The designated safeguarding officer is currently working towards appropriate training.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices have a good understanding of health and safety in relation to their roles. They know how, and to whom to report any safeguarding issues. At the start of their programme, apprentices are informed about British values and the risks of radicalisation and extremism. However, apprentices have insufficient understanding of how to apply their knowledge about the risks associated with radicalisation and extremism in their everyday lives. Managers have not paid sufficient attention to implementing appropriate online safety training for tutors and apprentices. Monitoring visit: London College of Business and Law Limited, 25 September 2019 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

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Reasonable progress

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.

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Reasonable progress

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 .

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Reasonable progress

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

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