Network Rail Infrastructure Limited

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Martin Ward, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Address:

320 Westwood Heath Road Coventry CV4 8GP Monitoring visit: Network Rail Infrastructure Limited, 15 and 16 June 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

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited was formed in March 2002. The provider has been delivering apprenticeships as a main contractor since May 2021, having previously been a subcontractor. The offer consists of the level 2 rail infrastructure operator standard. Most training is at the York Training Centre. Apprentices are all employed by Network Rail and work at various sites nationally. At the time of the inspection, there were 29 apprentices, and all but one aged 19 or above. All funding is through the levy.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have developed a curriculum which reflects one of the skill shortages within the railway sector. As part of the trailblazer group, they used their extensive experience to help develop the occupational standard for the rail operative apprenticeship at level 2. Leaders actively encourage trainers to extend apprentices’ skills beyond those needed to operate signals by offering additional training in areas such as personal track safety. Managers have skilfully included activities in the course which develop an awareness of the roles of other colleagues in Network Rail.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders work closely with the recruitment team to make sure that apprentices have the right attitudes and qualifications. As a result, nearly all apprentices remain on the course.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have ensured that there are suitably qualified and experienced staff in place to deliver high-quality off-the-job training. Instructors undertake training to improve their teaching skills.

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Reasonable progress

Managers have not ensured that all apprentices can promptly apply their recently learned skills in the workplace, and to practise these skills on appropriate Monitoring visit: Network Rail Infrastructure Limited, 15 and 16 June 2022 placements. Managers of the apprenticeship do not communicate well enough with line managers so that they are clear about their responsibilities regarding supporting apprentices in the workplace. Some apprentices have made slower progress as a result. Managers are aware of this weakness and have started to address it.

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Reasonable progress

Managers of this provision are supported and challenged well through meetings and reviews with senior managers. Managers assure the quality of education, including subcontracting, through learning walks, observations, contract and external reviews. They have produced an accurate self-assessment report and have a clear plan for improvement to address any areas for improvement.

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Reasonable progress

Senior leaders routinely review apprentices’ progress. However, reports concentrate on the completion of activities rather than on the quality of learning. This means that management interventions do not focus sufficiently on improving the quality of the apprentices’ portfolios.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that apprentices understand the job opportunities within the rail industry on completion of their programme.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have developed an apprenticeship programme which prepares apprentices well to become rail signal operators.

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Reasonable progress

Managers conduct a thorough initial assessment, including in mathematics and English, which ensures that apprentices are on the right course.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers and assessors are highly experienced and knowledgeable. Trainers organise the course in a logical way and add complexity systematically. Through the modular scheme, they start by teaching apprentices how to stop a train in an emergency and how to hand over to more senior colleagues. In module two, trainers explain how to protect people on the track and deal with a range of temporary blockages. In the final module, trainers teach apprentices how to deal with serious emergencies. In between theoretical modules, apprentices put theory into practice, although managers implement this too slowly at times.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices enjoy working in small groups and in the well-resourced training centre in York. When demonstrating practical skills, the trainers break down learning into small steps. The apprentices improve their technical skills gradually in the context of realistic simulations and role plays. They develop confidence and competence. The trainers willingly provide additional individual support for apprentices who find certain theories or practices difficult to grasp. Monitoring visit: Network Rail Infrastructure Limited, 15 and 16 June 2022 Leaders have developed portfolios, which apprentices use to record and reflect on their learning. Trainers do not always provide written feedback which explains in sufficient detail what the apprentices need to do to improve. Apprentices have opportunities to develop their mathematical and English skills, although these are not formally recorded.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices receive regular reviews with their line manager. Apprentices appreciate the regular communication and opportunity to discuss their progress. Where apprentices miss activities or placements, managers will promptly find them the opportunity to catch up. Apprentices are clear about the topics they will cover to complete their programme, but they do not know the components of the end-point assessment.

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Reasonable progress

Managers have planned a personal development curriculum, which includes an outward-bound activity, and weekly well-being sessions on topics, such as resilience. Apprentices learn to work in groups and to evaluate their own personal strengths and areas for improvement.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have embedded a culture of safeguarding across the organisation, which extends well to the teaching of apprenticeships. They have appointed a suitably qualified designated safeguarding lead, who manages assistant safeguarding officers, and works closely with the training team to ensure that apprentices know how to keep themselves safe. Leaders ensure the safe recruitment of new staff and deployment of subcontractors.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices have undertaken training on the risks associated with radicalisation and extremism during their induction. They can apply it to their work situation. They know how to identify and report concerns about others. Managers discuss safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty in the regular reviews with apprentices.

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Reasonable progress

Managers record welfare and well-being concerns about apprentices. They monitor the concerns closely and make appropriate decisions on how to provide apprentices with the right level of support. Managers report serious safeguarding concerns to the safeguarding board. However, where there are no such concerns, managers do not provide any report. This has been the case with the level 2 apprenticeships. As a result, there is no formal reporting about safeguarding to those who provide the governance function.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices are acutely aware of how to keep themselves and colleagues physically safe at work. Monitoring visit: Network Rail Infrastructure Limited, 15 and 16 June 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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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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