Cancer Research UK

Cancer Research UK Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Jon Bowman, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Address:

2 Redman Place London E20 1JQ Monitoring visit: Cancer Research UK, 17 and 18 May 2022

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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

Cancer Research UK (CRUK) began training apprentices in October 2020. Apprentices are employed as charity shop managers. In January 2021, when national restrictions were put in place, charity shops closed. This disrupted apprentices’ training as they and the apprenticeship training team were put on furlough for four months. In addition, a charity-wide restructure has resulted in new staff at all levels of the apprenticeship training team. At the time of the visit, there were seven apprentices studying on the standards-based level 3 retail team leader apprenticeship.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have a clear rationale for the curriculum they offer. They aim to build the leadership abilities of new shop managers so that they can add value to the charity’s work. They ensure that staff who enrol as apprentices will benefit from the training and learn new knowledge and skills as required for the roles.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers ensure that the training meets the principles and requirements of an apprenticeship programme. Line managers understand their responsibilities towards apprentices. They ensure that apprentices have time at work to complete their studies.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have good experience in the charity retail sector. They have limited experience of apprenticeships. As a result, they have rightly taken a cautious approach to expanding the training to a larger number of shop managers. As the expertise grows within the team, they plan to expand the apprenticeship offer further.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers receive effective scrutiny and guidance from external advisors to support them in their governance role. Consequently, leaders and managers take Monitoring visit: Cancer Research UK, 17 and 18 May 2022 a range of suitable actions to improve the quality of education that apprentices receive.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have recently put in place arrangements for senior managers to scrutinise the provision. They meet frequently and managers provide them with suitable information so that they understand the strengths and weaknesses of the training. As a result, senior leaders and managers have an overview of the areas where improvements are needed. However, these arrangements are new and have not yet had a significant impact on the quality of education that apprentices receive.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have been slow to put in place support for those apprentices who need to improve their English and mathematics. Arrangements are now in place, but this has delayed the progress of apprentices in developing their skills and achieving their apprenticeship.

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Reasonable progress

Managers ensure that the curriculum is logically sequenced so that apprentices gradually build their knowledge, skills and behaviours over time. Apprentices first learn about different customer types, their shopping habits and customer service. They then move on to more technical topics such as business, finance and the principles of stock control.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers use a range of methods to check that apprentices remember what they have learned. For example, they use questioning and reflective tasks well to test apprentices’ knowledge. Apprentices complete workbooks at the end of the workshop training which helps them consolidate their learning. As a result, apprentices develop essential knowledge and skills that they apply well at work.

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Reasonable progress

Line managers value the contribution that apprentices make at work. Apprentices become increasingly effective shop managers. For example, they maximise the use of store space to increase sales and profit. They learn to manage and recognise volunteers’ contribution to the running of shops through, for example introducing a volunteer of the month award.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers have good retail experience. They understand well CRUK shop management systems and processes. Trainers use this knowledge skilfully to support apprentices to make good progress by providing specific examples from their own experience. For example, they use their experience to explain how good health and safety standards reflect the legal and moral duties of the company to protect employees and customers.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers adapt the curriculum well to address gaps in apprentices’ knowledge and skills. They are aware of the current work priorities apprentices have and bring forward topics that help apprentices apply what they learn at work. For example, Monitoring visit: Cancer Research UK, 17 and 18 May 2022 they introduced topics on legal and governance requirements which apprentices apply at work when doing shop audits.

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Reasonable progress

Too many apprentices have withdrawn from their training. When shops reopened after national restrictions, there was a significant reduction in volunteers who staff the shops. In turn, this led to increased pressure at work for apprentices. Many struggled to manage the pressures at work and their training. Leaders and managers have made sure that there is now sufficient support in place for apprentices to progress through their training.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers are committed to safeguarding their staff and apprentices. Staff are suitably trained to safeguard the apprentices. Apprentices feel safe and know they can report any concerns around their well-being to a safeguarding champion or their area manager.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have suitable safeguarding policies in place. There are clear procedures for staff to report safeguarding concerns. A ‘Prevent’ risk assessment is in place. Leaders and managers ensure that prospective employees undergo the essential pre-employment checks to ensure they are suitable for their role.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers recognise that current arrangements to ensure that apprentices understand the dangers of radicalisation and extremism are not effective. They have now built this into the overall curriculum plan. However, this is a new development and, as a result, has not had an impact on current apprentices. Monitoring visit: Cancer Research UK, 17 and 18 May 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

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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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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