JGW Training Limited

JGW Training Limited Progress monitoring report

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Name of lead inspector: Alex Lang, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

JGW Training Limited Ascento Learning and Development 2 Dronfield Court Ward Yard Dronfield S18 1NQ Monitoring visit: JGW Training Limited, 10–11 March 2021

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Context and focus of visit

JGW Training Limited (JGW) received a new provider monitoring visit in February 2019. At that time, inspectors made progress judgements under three themes.

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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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Significant progress

Leaders have made rapid and sustained progress to address weaknesses identified at the new provider monitoring visit. Leaders have strengthened their governance processes by recruiting highly experienced and well-informed experts to the board of governors. Governors understand the strengths and weaknesses of the provision, challenge leaders rigorously and hold them to account for their actions. Governors know the business well and support the leadership team as they move to employee ownership.

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Significant progress

Leaders focus their curriculum model on specialist digital and leadership apprenticeships. Since the monitoring visit, they have added two marketing apprenticeships to their portfolio, as a direct response to employers’ needs. JGW Monitoring visit: JGW Training Limited, 10–11 March 2021 offers standards-based apprenticeships at levels 3 to 5 in, for example, digital marketer, IT technical sales and leadership and management.

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Significant progress

Tutors tailor the curriculum skilfully to meet the needs of the employers and the apprentices. Independent study projects are designed to build the specific skills that apprentices require in their job roles. These skills are identified at the start of the apprenticeship with the employer and the apprentice. Employers confirm that apprentices are having a positive impact on their business. For example, apprentices have improved social media marketing campaigns and developed a new, more effective appraisal system.

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Significant progress

Staff are highly qualified and experienced in their subject area. They maintain and improve their knowledge of digital industries and leadership through writing blogs, returning to workplaces and conducting research. As a result, apprentices receive up- to-date training in the fast-moving digital industries.

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Significant progress

Leaders continue to invest in resources to improve the apprenticeship programmes. They acted swiftly to ensure that learning could continue online and remotely as no face-to-face teaching has taken place during COVID-19 restriction periods.

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Significant progress

Tutors offer in-depth and supportive remote and online teaching sessions, coaching sessions and group work. With the IT champions, they have worked tirelessly to develop the comprehensive online teaching materials. Apprentices enjoy their sessions and are highly complimentary about their tutors’ support.

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Significant progress

The curriculum is planned and sequenced well to allow apprentices to build their knowledge, skills and behaviours in a progressive way. The content is revisited frequently throughout the programme. For example, leadership and management apprentices learn about developing and leading individuals, which is reflected in later units when looking at managing conflict. As a result, apprentices can recall their new knowledge and skills. This supports them to achieve high grades at their final assessment.

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Significant progress

Apprentices develop substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours. They recognise the benefit the apprenticeship is having on their performance in their job. For example, apprentices on team leading courses now understand how their team’s performance contributes to the business as a whole. Employers compliment contributions that apprentices make at meetings and how they now see the ‘big picture’.

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Significant progress

Tutors benefit from specific training to help improve their teaching of English and mathematics. They now plan the curriculum carefully and embed English and mathematics across the apprenticeship. For example, report writing and social media campaigns look at appropriate use of language.

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Significant progress

Tutors skilfully encourage apprentices to reflect on their learning during frequent reviews. They ask probing questions and link learning to previous teaching sessions. Monitoring visit: JGW Training Limited, 10–11 March 2021 For example, digital marketer apprentices learn about strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis; in later units, they use the new learning to complete branding exercises to redesign posters and flyers. While most employers contribute to the apprenticeship reviews, leaders have rightly recognised this is an area for continued development.

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Significant progress

Apprentices are well supported. They have regular contact with their tutors, who check on their well-being and mental health. Apprentices are directed to additional learning modules, for example coping with stress and time management, where necessary. Tutors also share links and signpost apprentices to appropriate agencies that provide support for mental health and well-being.

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Significant progress

Tutors assess if apprentices have any additional learning needs at the start of their apprenticeship. Support is swiftly put in place if needed. For example, apprentices with dyslexia have extra time to complete work and take exams, and have been able to complete their final assessments using video rather than written reports.

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Significant progress

Tutors provide apprentices with detailed and supportive feedback to help them improve their work. Apprentices value and act on the feedback they receive. Consequently, they attain high grades in their final assessments.

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Significant progress

Leaders have appropriate procedures in place to manage safeguarding concerns. They train staff annually to ensure that they keep up to date. Leaders have introduced additional learning modules for all apprentices in subjects such as e- safety and remote education. Apprentices have a secure understanding of online safety and safeguarding. However, they are not always able to articulate how radicalisation or extremism relate to their job role.

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Significant progress

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

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Significant progress

 engage all employers in reviews of their apprentices’ learning  ensure that apprentices understand and can articulate how radicalisation and extremism relate to their job roles. Monitoring visit: JGW Training Limited, 10–11 March 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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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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

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