TTE Technical (UK) Ltd

TTE Technical (UK) Ltd Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Hayley Lomas, Her Majesty's Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

Edison House Middlesbrough Road East South Bank Middlesbrough TS6 6TZ Monitoring visit: TTE Technical (UK) Ltd, 9–10 June 2021

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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 the Education and Skills Funding Agency 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 'Monitoring visits' and 'Monitoring visits to providers that are newly directly publicly funded'. The focus of these visits is on the themes set out below.

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Context and focus of visit

TTE Technical (UK) Ltd (TTE) was acquired by Middlesbrough College in December 2019. At the time of the visit, 179 apprentices were on a mixture of framework and standards programmes. There were 51 apprentices on level 3 maintenance and operations engineering technician, 38 apprentices on level 3 manufacturing technician, 31 apprentices on the level 3 science industry maintenance technician, 30 apprentices on level 3 engineering fitter, 12 apprentices on level 3 engineering technician, 10 apprentices on level 3 metal fabricator, and seven apprentices on level 3 laboratory technician.

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Context and focus of visit

The impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) has been taken into account in the findings and progress judgements below.

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Significant progress

Leaders and managers successfully respond to the engineering training requirements to meet the needs of regional regeneration projects and skills shortages. For example, leaders have started to train apprentices to work in a local mine which is currently under construction.

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Significant progress

Leaders and managers have developed an extensive range of high-quality engineering apprenticeships. They work closely with prestigious, multinational employers to provide a bespoke specialist curriculum which prepares apprentices to work in those companies. Employers and apprentices respect and value the high-quality training that TTE provides.

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Significant progress

Leaders and governors have a strong understanding of the strengths and areas for improvement in the apprenticeships that they provide. They have developed thorough quality assurance systems which encourage staff to improve their practice. Staff have Monitoring visit: TTE Technical (UK) Ltd, 9–10 June 2021 access to helpful support and coaching to advance their teaching skills.

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Significant progress

Leaders and managers recruit highly trained staff who are experts in the subjects that they teach. Tutors work closely with industry professionals to ensure that they are familiar with current engineering developments. They use their knowledge wisely to plan, and sequence training activities that very effectively meet the needs of apprentices and their employers. Apprentices learn up-to-date ways of working on modern industrial equipment.

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Significant progress

Leaders and managers ensure that employers are committed to meeting their obligations to the apprenticeship programme. They work closely to ensure that the off-the-job training that apprentices experience aligns closely with the expectations that employers have of them in the workplace. Line managers participate proactively in reviewing apprentices' progress and have a comprehensive understanding of the new knowledge and skills that apprentices develop.

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Significant progress

Tutors and assessors teach the curriculum in a logical sequence, starting with basic techniques, and then building on apprentices' understanding to enable them to complete more complex tasks. For example, apprentices on level 3 engineering manufacturing have learned about the polymerase chain reaction process, the purpose of it, and how it works. Apprentices can explain the process with confidence and are able to identify how it has been useful in creating COVID-19 samples for scientists to use.

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Significant progress

Leaders and managers have established a culture of high standards and expectations. Tutors ensure that apprentices take pride in their work, behave well, and have good attitudes to their learning. Apprentices are respectful of their peers and work collaboratively to solve engineering problems.

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Significant progress

Tutors and assessors ensure that apprentices receive extensive health and safety training to prepare them thoroughly for the potentially hazardous environments in which they work. Apprentices receive specific training to understand how to manage risks and know how to take immediate action should incidents occur. They benefit from useful additional courses in occupational health and safety and first aid.

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Significant progress

Tutors use a range of assessment activities very effectively to check apprentices' understanding. Tutors and workplace mentors provide helpful feedback to apprentices which enables them to improve their knowledge and the quality of their work. Apprentices give oral presentations and complete written assignments to a high standard. They are aware of the progress that they are making in developing Monitoring visit: TTE Technical (UK) Ltd, 9–10 June 2021 their underpinning knowledge, practical skills, and work-related behaviours, and they know what they need to do to improve.

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Significant progress

Tutors and assessors ensure that apprentices have a good understanding of the requirements of end-point-assessment (EPA). Tutors support them well to prepare for the EPA by completing mock case studies and interviews under examination conditions. Apprentices achieve well when they complete their assessment.

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Significant progress

Tutors and employers provide apprentices with well-considered advice and guidance about career progression within the engineering industry. A few employers provide apprentices with opportunities to progress to higher-level qualifications. Apprentices rightly welcome these opportunities.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have implemented a comprehensive set of policies and procedures to ensure that apprentices are kept safe. They have established effective reporting arrangements for safeguarding concerns which enables them to provide appropriate additional support to apprentices who need it.

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Reasonable progress

The increase in online activity as a result of COVID-19 led to tutors providing additional training for apprentices to enable them to recognise fake news and to be alert to those promoting extremist views.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have established strong working partnerships with external agencies. They use these effectively to keep abreast of local developments and provide relevant information to support apprentices. For example, staff work closely with local crisis teams to support apprentices with their mental health needs.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers provide staff with helpful information about risks in the local area. Tutors pass on this information appropriately to apprentices who can recall the topics and know the actions that they need to take keep themselves safe. Monitoring visit: TTE Technical (UK) Ltd, 9–10 June 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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Reasonable progress

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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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