Oxford Professional Education Group Limited

Oxford Professional Education Group Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Sambit Sen, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection dates: 21 and 22 December 2022

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

Summertown Pavilion 18-24 Middle Way Oxford OX2 7LG Monitoring visit: Oxford Professional Education Group Limited, 21 and 22 December 2022

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Context and focus of visit

Ofsted undertakes to carry out monitoring visits to all newly directly funded providers of apprenticeship training provision funded 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

Oxford Professional Education Group Limited (OPEG) is an independent learning provider that provides procurement and marketing apprenticeships across England. At the time of the monitoring visit, 85 apprentices were in learning. OPEG offers several qualifications, including level 4 commercial procurement and supply, marketing executive and level 6 marketing manager apprenticeships. Nearly two- thirds of apprentices study marketing and the remaining third study procurement qualifications. Currently, staff provide all training online. Most of the apprentices are aged 19 years and over. There are no apprentices in receipt of high needs funding.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers ensure that they assess and understand the individual needs of the apprentices and the businesses they work with effectively. They complete effective initial skills analysis to personalise the curriculum. Furthermore, they have one-to-one or very small group teaching sessions for apprentices. This helps apprentices to link the knowledge they gain from their teaching sessions to their workplace duties rapidly.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders recruit specialist staff to teach on the apprenticeships. They ensure that staff have current industry knowledge of the subjects they teach. Most trainers continue to practice in the sector. Apprentices value the latest knowledge and techniques they learn, which help them to quickly become confident in carrying out their roles effectively.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have good oversight of the quality of education and training. For example, leaders and managers take effective actions to ensure that apprentices quickly progress through their course. As a result, they make timely interventions to Monitoring visit: Oxford Professional Education Group Limited, 21 and 22 December 2022 improve the quality of education that apprentices receive. However, they recognise that they need to improve the wider curriculum, which helps apprentices develop their interests beyond the technical qualification.

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Reasonable progress

Governance arrangements are new but effective. Governors have the right industry experience and knowledge to support and challenge effectively. Governors have secure knowledge of the strengths and areas of development that leaders need to focus on. However, they are new to the organisation, and the impact of their actions is not fully realised.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers ensure that they fully meet the requirements of the apprenticeship curriculum. Apprentices have appropriate time to complete their off- the-job training. Some apprentices, particularly those in large organisations, use their time to shadow managers and other teams. This helps apprentices to improve their skills and help decide which departments they would ultimately like to work in.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers do not ensure that staff have appropriate training to support their teaching practice. They do not ensure that staff are sufficiently trained to identify, report and support those with learning needs or disabilities. This would allow trainers to be confident to provide personalised support to their apprentices and help them progress through their qualifications.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and trainers have designed an appropriate apprenticeship curriculum. Trainers sequence the curriculum effectively to help apprentices apply the appropriate knowledge to their workplace. Where relevant, leaders and trainers include additional professional qualifications, such as the Certificate in Professional Marketing, within the level 4 marketing executive apprenticeship. This helps apprentices to quickly progress through their qualification and become highly sought-after professionals within the sector.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and trainers liaise effectively with employers to plan the apprenticeship. For example, leaders plan work rotation in different departments for apprentices who work in large multinational organisations. This helps apprentices improve their in- depth understanding of the businesses they work for. However, leaders do not ensure that there is effective communication with employers, to help them understand their roles and support apprentices’ progress.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices develop new and substantial knowledge and skills on their apprenticeships. For example, marketing manager apprentices learn to plan and design effective marketing strategies, using social media platforms to meet the needs of different external customers, such as residents and businesses. Furthermore, they devise strategies to promote a ‘one-stop-shop’ of services to Monitoring visit: Oxford Professional Education Group Limited, 21 and 22 December 2022 residents and businesses. This enables businesses to quickly trust apprentices with higher level and additional responsibilities.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers thoroughly assess the English and mathematics skills of apprentices at the start of the course. They help apprentices to improve their English skills through analysing information and writing reports. Apprentices learn to vary their writing style for different media content, such as websites, writing formal and informal communications for internal and external customers. Trainers routinely correct apprentices’ grammar and spelling in their written work. This helps apprentices to swiftly improve and apply their English and mathematics employability skills in their work roles.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices feel safe and know who to report any concerns to. Leaders and managers take effective actions to deal with welfare and well-being concerns that apprentices report. They use effective metrics to spot welfare triggers for apprentices. They closely monitor attendance in learning sessions and the timely completion of workplace training. Leaders and managers liaise effectively with employers to adjust study commitments, helping apprentices to manage their work-life balance appropriately.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices have a broad understanding of fundamental British values. They have a good understanding of the importance of respect and professional behaviours in the workplace. Those working in marketing understand the importance of protecting client data and complying with regulation, including general data protection regulations.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices have limited knowledge of the local risks of where they live and work. Trainers and managers do not frequently discuss and remind apprentices of these risks. As a result, apprentices are unable to deepen their understanding and link it to their personal and professional lives. Monitoring visit: Oxford Professional Education Group Limited, 21 and 22 December 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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Reasonable progress

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

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