Shears Academy Limited

Further education and skills inspection report

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Overall effectiveness Good

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

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Information about this provider

Shears Academy Limited (Shears) is a private training provider based in the London Borough of Lewisham. Shears received direct funding in January 2020 to teach apprenticeships. Shears works with employers across south-east London.

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Information about this provider

At the time of the inspection, there were 10 apprentices completing the level 2 hairdressing professional standard-based apprenticeship. A small number were on a break in learning, including apprentices on the level 3 advanced and creative hair professional standard-based apprenticeship. 26 to 28 April 2022

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

Apprentices study in a small and supportive training environment. Relationships between apprentices and staff reflect the positive and respectful culture. Apprentices feel valued and well supported by staff. As a result, apprentices are confident to ask for help when needed. Apprentices benefit from the good-quality teaching they receive.

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

Apprentices demonstrate a high level of commitment to their studies. Assessors set professional standards that motivate apprentices. As a result, apprentices’ attitudes to learning are positive.

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

Apprentices are taught by well-qualified and highly experienced assessors who are current hairdressing stylists. Apprentices participate in well-organised practical sessions in the training salon. This helps apprentices to develop the skills and knowledge to work on clients in a salon environment. As a result, apprentices achieve well. A high proportion of apprentices gain promotions when they complete their training.

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

At the start of the programme, apprentices receive helpful generic information about possible career opportunities within the hairdressing sector. However, individual advice and guidance given by assessors at the end of their programme is too late to help apprentices decide the next steps in their hairdressing careers.

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better?

Leaders and managers have tackled the areas of weakness identified during the new provider monitoring visit in May 2021 effectively. For example, they introduced an effective process to calculate and monitor accurately apprentices’ off-the-job training. As a result, leaders and managers now meet the requirements of the apprenticeship provision and apprentices receive their full entitlement to off-the-job training.

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better?

Leaders and managers have good oversight of the quality of provision. They use a range of information to identify and monitor the strengths and areas for development. For example, leaders have strengthened their relationships with employers, who are now aware of their roles and responsibilities to apprentices’ development. As a result, apprentices benefit from a good quality of education in the training salon and in their workplace. However, leaders do not have any formal governance arrangements in place so are not supported, challenged or held to account for the quality of provision.

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better?

Assessors use their expert knowledge to sequence the curriculum carefully in a logical order. For example, assessors teach colour and cutting techniques simultaneously and early on in their training. As a result, apprentices develop the skills and knowledge early on in their programme to provide both services to clients during their appointment. 26 to 28 April 2022 Assessors set high expectations from the start of the programme. They ensure that apprentices develop their behaviours to meet professional industry standards. For example, apprentices are punctual, dress appropriately and have respectful attitudes to clients. Assessors use frequent assessments that challenge learners to develop self-discipline and learn how to work under time constraints. As a result, apprentices are well prepared for work within the hairdressing industry.

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better?

Assessors use quizzes effectively to identify if apprentices have gaps in their knowledge. Assessors put in place extra support sessions for apprentices to relearn topics. As a result, apprentices remember what they have learned. For example, they can recall the science of how the components in shampoo react to water to cleanse hair.

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better?

Assessors complete frequent reviews with apprentices to identify the progress that apprentices make and plan their next steps for development. However, the quality of the feedback from assessors in progress reviews is not always sufficiently evaluative. For example, assessors quite often highlight the units that apprentices need to complete and not the specific skills, knowledge and behaviours apprentices need to develop next. As a result, apprentices are not always clear about what they need to learn.

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better?

Leaders do not plan a sufficient range of opportunities for apprentices to develop their interests or talents. For example, the only offers apprentices can choose from are trips to a hairdressing exhibition and a museum. As a result, apprentices have limited opportunities and do not develop their individual interests outside of the hairdressing curriculum.

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better?

Assessors prepare apprentices well for life in modern Britain. In training salon sessions, assessors teach apprentices well on how to conduct themselves in a respectful manner, support their colleagues and celebrate their differences. Apprentices are confident in how to keep themselves safe online. As a result, apprentices understand the value of diversity and how British values relate to their day-to-day salon experience.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders and managers have suitable policies and processes in place to safeguard apprentices. These outline to staff their role and responsibility to protect apprentices from abuse, neglect or harm. Designated safeguarding leads are suitably trained. They manage safeguarding concerns effectively, so apprentices receive support and guidance when in need.

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Safeguarding

Apprentices feel valued and well supported by staff. As a result, apprentices feel confident to ask for help when needed. Apprentices feel safe and know how to recognise the potential signs of peer-on-peer abuse, domestic violence and radicalisation. 26 to 28 April 2022

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Leaders and managers must provide opportunities for apprentices to take part in activities that help them develop further their talents and interests.  Leaders and managers should ensure that apprentices receive unbiased careers advice and guidance in a timely manner.  Assessors should ensure that during progress reviews they identify and record the skills, knowledge and behaviours that apprentices need to develop. 26 to 28 April 2022

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Provider details

Address 2 Eros House Shops Brownhill Road London SE6 2EF

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Provider details

Provider type Independent learning provider

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Provider details

Date of previous inspection Not previously inspected 26 to 28 April 2022

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the managing director, as nominee. Inspectors took account of the provider’s most recent self-assessment report and development plans, and the previous new provider monitoring visit 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

Joanna Walters, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector Carolyn Langford Ofsted Inspector 26 to 28 April 2022 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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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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