Severn Trent PLC

Severn Trent Plc Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Victor Reid, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Address: Severn Trent Academy Hawksley Park St Martin’s Road Stoneleigh Coventry CV3 6PR Monitoring visit: Severn Trent Plc, 18 and 19 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

Seven Trent Plc is one of the largest of the 11 regulated water and sewerage companies that operate in England and Wales. The company provides a wide range of water-related services to residential and commercial customers across central England and from the outskirts of Bristol to the Sheffield City Region.

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Context and focus of visit

The company has held a contract as a levy-funded employer provider to run standards-based apprenticeships since January 2021.

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Context and focus of visit

At the time of the visit, 39 apprentices were in learning. Of these, 20 were studying standards for level 2 water process operatives and a further 19 were completing their training with the company towards a level 3 standard for water process technicians.

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Reasonable progress

Senior leaders and managers have established a clear vision for the apprenticeship programme so that it meets industry needs for trained personnel to reduce water wastage caused by leakages. Leaders, with the support of external partners, have developed an ambitious curriculum, underpinned by a highly supportive ethos, to support the upskilling of existing and new entrants into the water leakage and water treatment sectors.

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Reasonable progress

Since gaining a directly funded contract, leaders have invested in purpose-built learning facilities so that apprentices are taught in well-equipped classrooms and practical skills training areas. In addition, leaders have established an appropriate management structure and recruited sufficient trainers/assessors to support the delivery of the apprenticeship programmes. Monitoring visit: Severn Trent Plc, 18 and 19 May 2022 Leaders and managers ensure that trainers/assessors benefit from access to a range of professional development and support that enables them to provide apprentices with impactful learning. Managers ensure that apprentices benefit from routine time away from the workplace to undertake training at the academy. As a result, apprentices develop valuable knowledge and industry skills that enhance their effectiveness in the workplace and improve their self-confidence.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that apprentices benefit from access to a positive learning culture and an ethos of inclusion, tolerance and respect. Managers place a high priority on supporting all members of their diverse organisational community to feel valued and their differences openly welcomed and celebrated.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have established an appropriate governance structure. Board members are suitably experienced and clear about their role to support and challenge leaders regarding the operational effectiveness of the provision to meet the needs of apprentices.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have a secure understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the apprenticeship programme. However, a few of the targets and performance indicators in the improvement plan are not always measurable and/or time-constrained. As a result, leaders are not able to evaluate fully whether some actions have been achieved or what the impact has been for apprentices. In addition, quality assurance arrangements do not extend to include routine oversight of the subcontractor.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers/assessors undertake a vocational skills scan with apprentices when they start their apprenticeship to find out what they already know and can do. Trainers use the information gathered through the initial assessment to plan and sequence the curriculum so that it builds on apprentices’ knowledge, skills and behaviours in a logical way over time.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices benefit from effective guidance and support provided by trainers/assessors, who use their extensive industry knowledge well to facilitate the development of new knowledge, skills and behaviours related to the provision of water-related services. For example, apprentices on the level 2 water process operative standard develop their confidence and vocational skills in how to treat water using ferric to remove phosphates and harmful bacteria and then test its quality to ensure it is safe to drink. Apprentices receive clear guidance and instruction from workplace mentors and supervisors on the protocols to be followed for the delivery and storage of such chemicals used to treat the water. Monitoring visit: Severn Trent Plc, 18 and 19 May 2022 Trainers/assessors provide frequent opportunities for apprentices to revisit and recall their learning. Apprentices receive routine challenge from trainers/assessors and

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Reasonable progress

workplace mentors to demonstrate their understanding of key concepts before moving on to more complex and challenging topics, such as the transportation of water waste, system fault-finding and water leakage detection. For example, apprentices on the level 2 standard learn how to thicken up sludge to support its transportation to another site. Apprentices on the level 3 water process technician standard develop their knowledge of how to identify and trace localised water losses within a zoned distribution system, enabling localised repairs to be undertaken.

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Reasonable progress

Managers and trainers/assessors do not routinely track or report on the progress that all apprentices are making in extending their skills and knowledge in English and/or mathematics or the extent to which apprentices are making the vocational progress expected of them from their individual starting points.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that the safety of and support for apprentices is at the heart of the provision. For example, managers ensure that apprentices complete training in waste safety, manual handling and working at height early on in their programme, in order for them to be able to access sites.

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Reasonable progress

A team of two trained designated safeguarding leads maintain appropriate records of any safeguarding concerns, with a focus on the provision of help and protection for apprentices. In addition, two designated governors maintain a watchful level of vigilance regarding the effectiveness of the company’s safeguarding arrangements.

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Reasonable progress

Managers ensure that risk assessments relating to apprentices who require transport and/or overnight accommodation to attend planned training at the academy are appropriately detailed and thorough.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that appropriate employment and suitability checks are carried out on all staff in the academy who directly work with or support apprentices. All academy staff and governors complete relevant and regular online safeguarding and ‘Prevent’ duty training to ensure their knowledge is up to date. Trainers/assessors provide apprentices with useful information about the dangers of radicalisation and extremism and how to stay safe online, including when using social media both at work and in their personal lives. However, leaders’ and managers’ understanding of local risks is not sufficiently evaluative or detailed, as they have yet to establish effective relationships with local safeguarding partners and regional ‘Prevent’ duty coordinators. Monitoring visit: Severn Trent Plc, 18 and 19 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

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Reasonable progress

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

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