Cogent Skills Training Limited

Cogent Skills Training Limited Progress monitoring report

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Name of lead inspector: Ruth Stammers, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent Learning Provider

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Address: Unit 5 Mandarin Court Centre Park Warrington Cheshire WA1 1GG Monitoring visit: Cogent Skills Training Limited, 10–11 February 2021

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Context and focus of visit

Cogent Skills Training Limited (CST) was last inspected in February 2020. At that time, inspectors judged the overall effectiveness of the provision to require improvement.

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Context and focus of visit

This monitoring visit focused on the extent to which leaders and those responsible for governance are taking effective action to provide education and training in the current circumstances. It was undertaken as outlined in the operational note on visits carried out from January 2021 and with reference to the further education and skills handbook.

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Context and focus of visit

These visits are to help learners, parents, employers and government understand how providers are meeting the needs of learners in this period, including those with high needs and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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Context and focus of visit

Following changes to government guidance and the imposition of COVID-19 (coronavirus) lockdown restrictions, inspectors carried out this monitoring activity remotely. As a result, the range of evidence available to inspectors was narrower than would be the case during an on-site inspection. Therefore, this report provides a more limited level of assurance.

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Context and focus of visit

The impact of COVID-19 has been taken into account in the findings and progress judgement below. Inspectors did not evaluate leaders’ response to COVID-19 during the spring and summer of 2020, when the provider was not open to all learners and there were no national expectations regarding remote education.

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Reasonable progress

CST provides apprenticeship training for laboratory and science manufacturing technicians. At the time of the visit, CST had 17 apprentices in learning and a further seven awaiting their final assessment. Since the previous inspection, leaders have made the strategic decision to close CST following completion of current apprenticeships. Leaders and staff will continue to offer apprenticeship training through their sister company Cogent Sector Skills Council Limited.

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Reasonable progress

Since the previous inspection, leaders have altered their methods for assessing apprentices’ starting points. Leaders now work well with apprentices and employers to evaluate prior learning and the needs of both the apprentice and the employer. Monitoring visit: Cogent Skills Training Limited, 10–11 February 2021 Apprentices have developed new knowledge, skills and behaviours that they can apply in the workplace. A few apprentices have gained promotion to supervisory positions since starting their apprenticeship. They attribute this to the training they have received from tutors at CST.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have placed a greater focus on apprentices’ achievement of high grades. They carry out training with tutors to ensure that they are effectively challenging apprentices to strive for higher results. Tutors devise assessments which are based on real scenarios within apprentices’ workplace. Apprentices can now relate assessments to their laboratory work and are achieving higher grades as a result.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have continued to improve and revise their careers advice and guidance. For example, apprentices who are aspiring for promotion to supervisory roles are able to access short courses, such as the effect of human behaviour in health and safety. Apprentices who aspire to higher education are offered guidance on applications to higher education institutions and the degree programmes best suited to their chosen career. As a result, apprentices are now better informed about their next steps.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders consult with external agencies to help them to understand the threats to apprentices from radicalisation and extremism. Tutors use examples to illustrate key messages, such as the potential for extremists to target pharmaceutical employers, where a few of their apprentices work. However, while the majority of apprentices are aware of these dangers and how to report concerns, a significant minority have a limited understanding of the dangers they may face.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders oversight of the quality of subcontracted provision has improved since the previous inspection. Thorough monitoring of the quality of training is in place, with a specialist subcontractor for polymer technology. This rigorous monitoring is not completed for the other subcontractor. Consequently, leaders cannot be assured that all apprentices are receiving high-quality training.

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Reasonable progress

Governors have an accurate view of the quality of provision. They receive reports and data from senior leaders that enable them to provide appropriate challenge. Governors hold senior leaders to account and assist leaders to make progress with most of the improvements following the previous inspection.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors were well prepared for online learning prior to COVID-19 restrictions. Online delivery was already integrated into the curriculum, and tutors were familiar with the use of online platforms and software. This has resulted in limited disruption to delivery for apprentices.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors have adapted their delivery methods due to COVID-19 restrictions. For example, in science, apprentices have been unable to complete practical assessments in laboratories. To overcome this, apprentices have watched videos of experiments and been provided with sets of data. They have written accounts of how they would have carried out the experiment. This has allowed apprentices to continue to make progress towards completion of their qualifications. Monitoring visit: Cogent Skills Training Limited, 10–11 February 2021 Tutors provide apprentices with materials and resources prior to online sessions to support their learning. Apprentices use these to prepare for the session and develop their knowledge. They join the online training with queries on aspects of the topic being covered. The small group size allows tutors to target questions to all apprentices to check their understanding. Because of this, online sessions are now

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Reasonable progress

more interactive, and apprentices gain a deeper understanding of key concepts.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have supported apprentices who are struggling with workload or home schooling their children during the pandemic. They have altered session times to fit in around apprentices’ shifts and caring responsibilities. Leaders have also shared mathematics and English resources with apprentices to help them to home school their children. Apprentices have built resilience and value the support they have received.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and those responsible for governance should take further action to:

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Reasonable progress

 reinforce the dangers of radicalisation and extremism throughout the apprenticeship so that all apprentices are aware of the dangers they may face  implement rigorous monitoring of the quality of training in all subcontractors. Monitoring visit: Cogent Skills Training Limited, 10–11 February 2021 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.

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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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