Jet2.com Limited

Further education and skills inspection report

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Requires improvement Apprenticeships Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not previously inspected

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Information about this provider

Jet2.com Limited (Jet2) is part of Jet2 PLC. It provides training for apprentices to become aviation engineers. The vast majority of the apprenticeship training is based at the Manchester Airport maintenance facility. At the time of the visit, there were 17 apprentices following a level 3 engineering technician aircraft maintenance fitter/technician (fixed and rotary wing) standards-based programme. The provider has no subcontracted provision.

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Information about this provider

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, apprentices have only recently returned to their apprenticeship programme. All apprentices were placed on furlough and had breaks in their learning. This has hindered their progress in the final two years of the programme. 10–12 November 2021

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices talk enthusiastically about their apprenticeship and say they enjoy their studies. They particularly like how they are treated as a valued member of the team and are made to feel welcome.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices improve their confidence and communication skills as a result of their apprenticeship. They swiftly develop their skills to enable them to work using their own initiative when carrying out tasks in the maintenance hangar.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices are highly motivated to achieve, and they demonstrate a positive attitude to learning. They talk about their ‘drive to learn’. Most apprentices are motivated to progress from the apprenticeship to obtain their ‘b licence’, which allows them to release aircraft back to service following maintenance. A few apprentices will complete this while on programme. As a result, they will be able to carry out more responsible tasks within the workplace.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices value highly the support they receive from mentors in the workplace. They appreciate the opportunities to work with colleagues who are highly skilled with significant experience of aviation engineering. This supports them to develop their knowledge and apply what they learn to their own tasks in the workplace.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices feel safe. They appreciate the support they receive from instructors and the safeguarding officers. New apprentices living away from home are ‘buddied up’ with year two and year three apprentices to guide them around the local area.

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better?

Leaders have a clear vision and strategy to deliver high-quality training for apprentices. Leaders identify that they have an ageing engineering workforce. They use the apprenticeship to recruit and train new engineers from local communities to meet future skills needs at Jet2. Apprentices who complete their programme successfully are offered employment at one of their national sites.

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better?

Senior leaders have been slow to rectify the weaknesses identified at the previous monitoring visit. Although a new leadership team was appointed in June 2021, they are not sufficiently aware of all the areas of weakness that remain. Leaders have not been swift enough to improve the quality of training that apprentices receive.

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better?

Apprentices gain substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours as a result of their apprenticeship. They learn how to interpret diagrams and instructions effectively. For example, they use aircraft manufacturers’ manuals and procedures when removing struts and wheels to replace rubber seals on landing gear. Apprentices follow correct procedures when carrying out maintenance tasks. 10–12 November 2021

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Despite apprentices developing substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours, instructors do not use assessments effectively to provide further challenge. As a result, a few apprentices do not make the progress of which they are capable.

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Apprentices do not receive timely feedback on their work. They do not know what they are doing well or what they need to improve. This results in apprentices continuing to make the same errors in their job write ups and written work.

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Leaders ensure that learning is sequenced logically. Apprentices incrementally develop substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours throughout their apprenticeship. They learn about basic tool control, such as how to drill and file, before learning about advanced tooling such as electric hand tools. This supports apprentices to swiftly develop the skills required to complete maintenance tasks on aircraft such as repairing dents and identifying electrical faults.

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Apprentices use their new mathematical skills effectively in the workplace. They use fractions competently to identify the appropriate tools to use when carrying out measurements on aircraft. Apprentices apply this knowledge in the workplace. They identify the appropriate thickness of metal to use when repairing holes on aircraft wings.

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Instructors ensure that apprentices exhibit the behaviours and attitudes expected by Jet2. They learn about behaving appropriately when carrying out tasks at the airside. For example, when awaiting delivery of parts, apprentices are aware they should be engaged with other tasks if passengers are experiencing delays.

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Instructors do not provide ongoing careers advice and guidance to apprentices. Apprentices receive information on engineering pathways during induction and are aware of the immediate opportunities such as obtaining a ‘b licence’, which allows them to provide certificates to release aircraft back to service following maintenance. However, apprentices are unaware of future career opportunities or further study.

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Governance arrangements are not yet effective. Leaders have recently reviewed governance arrangements and created a governance board. At the time of the inspection, one meeting of the new board had taken place. There had not yet been sufficient time for meaningful challenge of senior leaders to take place.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders and managers ensure that safeguarding and the safety of apprentices is a high priority. The designated safeguarding leads receive appropriate training to carry out their roles successfully. All staff complete mandatory safeguarding training, which enables them to support apprentices well. 10–12 November 2021

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Apprentices feel safe and know how to report any concerns. They understand the importance of adhering strictly to health and safety regulations and safe working practices when working on aircraft. They wear appropriate personal protective equipment, and they ensure that their work does not endanger themselves or colleagues.

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Apprentices benefit from regular training on the dangers of radicalisation and extremism. They learn about threats to airport security, such as insider threats and tailgating.

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Leaders should quickly establish robust quality assurance processes so that they make swift progress against the areas for improvement.  Leaders should improve the use of assessments and feedback to ensure that all apprentices know how to improve their work and achieve their potential.  Leaders should improve the careers information, advice and guidance that apprentices receive so that they are aware of all career opportunities and further study.  Leaders should continue to improve the governance arrangements to ensure that they are held to account for the quality of apprentices’ education. 10–12 November 2021

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Provider details

Address Hangar 5 Western Maintenance Area Manchester Airport Manchester M90 5AE

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Provider details

Date of previous inspection Not previously inspected

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Provider details

Main subcontractors None 10–12 November 2021

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the maintenance and training manager, as nominee. Inspectors took account of the provider’s most recent self-assessment report and development plans, and the previous inspection report. The inspection was carried out using the further education and skills inspection handbook and took into account all relevant provision at the provider. Inspectors collected a wide range of evidence to inform judgements, including visiting learning sessions, scrutinising learners’ work, seeking the views of learners, staff and other stakeholders, and examining the provider’s documentation and records.

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Inspection team

Alison Humphreys, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector Bob Busby Ofsted Inspector 10–12 November 2021

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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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