Crown Vocational Training Limited

Further education and skills inspection report

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Inspection of Crown Vocational Training Limited

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Apprenticeships Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Requires improvement

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Information about this provider

Crown Vocational Training LTD (CVTL) is an independent learning provider based in Essex. CVTL offers apprenticeships across England, with most apprentices in the east of England, London and the south east.

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Information about this provider

CVTL provides level 2 apprenticeships in junior estate agent, customer service and housing and property management assistant. Level 3 apprenticeships are offered in housing and property management, business administration, human resources and management. Level 4 apprenticeships are offered in senior housing and property management. Level 2 junior estate agent and level 3 housing and property management apprentices account for two thirds of the apprentices in learning.

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Information about this provider

At the time of the visit, 108 apprentices were on programme. Of these, 45 were aged 16 to 18. A very small minority of apprentices were studying for level 2 functional skills qualifications in English and mathematics. There were no apprentices in receipt of high needs funding. The provider has no subcontractors. 13 to 16 June 2023

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

Apprentices gain new knowledge and skills swiftly, which prepares them well for their future careers. Apprentices are confident and ambitious for what they can achieve. They demonstrate high levels of self-motivation and are resilient when faced with new challenges. Their training enables them to undertake increasingly complex work. Apprentices are able to embrace more challenging tasks within the workplace. They make substantial contributions to their businesses.

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

Apprentices’ attendance in training workshops is good. They arrive on time and are prepared to work. These behaviours are well reflected in the workplace. Junior estate agent apprentices understand the importance of arriving for house viewings early so that they can prepare for clients and ensure that the property is ready for inspection.

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

Apprentices feel safe and are safe. Apprentices adopt safe working practices. Junior estate agents understand the importance and implications of the Suzy Lamplugh disappearance and therefore inform managers where they are going. Apprentices work with employers to put strategies in place to ensure their safety. Apprentices know how to alert their manager if they are in danger by using prearranged code words or phrases. In addition, apprentices learn the importance of ensuring public safety when placing property boards so that they do not become loose or obstruct the view of motorists.

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

Apprentices are highly motivated and are rightly proud of their achievements. They are keen to increase their broader knowledge of the sector so that they understand the variety of work they can become involved in. However, apprentices do not have a sufficiently good understanding of how to recognise the potential threats of radicalisation and extremism. They often have a superficial understanding of healthy personal relationships beyond recognising sexual harassment and what constitutes inappropriate relationships in the workplace.

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better?

Leaders and managers have good oversight of the quality of provision. Leaders’ actions have had a positive impact on the proportion of apprentices who now stay on programme and achieve. Leaders have been successful in improving apprentices’ English and mathematics skills. However, too few apprentices on the property related standards remain in employment and complete their apprenticeship. Leaders are taking appropriate action to ensure that more apprentices complete within planned timeframes.

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better?

Leaders work closely with employers to carefully select a curriculum that provides clear progression routes into work within the business, property and lettings industries. Leaders work with employers to ensure that apprenticeships meet employers’ needs. Apprentices learn early on about how to stay safe during house 13 to 16 June 2023

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viewings, and they develop the essential customer service skills they need to succeed.

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Teachers use their extensive subject-sector knowledge effectively to enrich apprentices’ learning experiences. Teachers readily introduce contextual examples that are relevant to apprentices’ work. Teachers ensure that junior estate agents and property management apprentices learn the importance of effective customer service. In addition, they learn about construction essentials, such as the importance of damp proofing membranes in properties with cellars. Staff maintain their sector knowledge through links to professional organisations. As a result, apprentices benefit from the knowledge staff acquire through the good training staff receive.

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Apprentices learn valuable new knowledge and skills and can apply their new learning to their work settings appropriately. Business administration apprentices learn effective communication and the problem-solving skills required to support customers who are struggling to pay their bills. Junior estate agent apprentices learn about housing and property law so that they can advise clients correctly. Human resource apprentices learn about employment law and how it impacts on writing company policies.

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Teachers present information clearly, enabling apprentices to understand and apply new knowledge to their work setting. Teachers support learning using resources that are suitable for online delivery. Apprentices and employers recognise the high quality of teaching and accessibility of learning. As a result, apprentices succeed in the workplace and are highly valued by their employers.

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Most apprentices are working to the academic standard expected of them. Many achieve distinction grades. Most teachers use assessment effectively to provide apprentices with the feedback they need to improve their work. However, too few teachers use assessment to help apprentices on higher level apprenticeships develop their analytical and higher thinking skills. As a result, these apprentices are not well prepared to progress to higher levels on completion of their apprenticeship.

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Leaders and managers ensure that apprentices, including those with additional learning and social needs, make good progress and achieve. Teachers hold detailed discussions with apprentices and review documentation such as dyslexia referrals. Teachers use this information to develop support plans that enable apprentices to manage their workload and to keep up to date with their studies. Where appropriate, support plans are reviewed monthly to ensure that the actions taken by teachers have the desired impact. As a result, apprentices with additional learning and social needs achieve in line with their peers.

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Most apprentices develop English and mathematics skills as part of their apprenticeship. Most apprentices who take English and mathematics examinations pass first time. In addition, apprentices develop their technical and professional vocabulary through on- and off-the-job learning. Junior estate agent apprentices use terminology such as ‘hogging’ and ‘rising damp’ to discuss typical defects in 13 to 16 June 2023

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properties. This gives them confidence to hold discussions with clients in the workplace.

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Apprentices benefit from sector-specific, impartial careers advice as part of their apprenticeship. On completion of the programme, tutors and assessors work with apprentices to discuss their next steps and career progression opportunities. Tutors ensure that apprentices maximise their opportunity for progression by focusing on the transferable skills they have developed and how their specific learning leads them into new areas of the retail and letting industries.

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Leaders utilise effectively the skills of governors to set the strategic direction of the company and to critically challenge the quality of training. Governors carry out detailed reviews on key aspects of apprenticeships. Governors make detailed recommendations on how staff can improve their performance and challenge leaders to ensure that improvements are made. The feedback that governors provide on teachers’ performance is highly detailed, clear and concise. It informs teachers effectively on how they can improve.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders and governors responsible for safeguarding ensure that they review the effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements frequently. Leaders ensure that staff have Disclosure and Barring Service checks and receive routine training to update their skills in safeguarding and ‘Prevent’ duty.

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Safeguarding

Teachers reinforce apprentices’ understanding of how to keep themselves safe during the tripartite reviews. Apprentices receive regular mental health and safeguarding updates. Apprentices know who to talk to if they have a concern and feel confident it will be dealt with effectively.

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Support apprentices to develop their analytical and academic skills consistent with the requirements of qualifications at level 3 and above in preparation for their next stage in learning.  Ensure that apprentices on property related standards are retained and complete their apprenticeship in the timeframe expected.  Implement a coherent personal development curriculum that provides opportunities for all apprentices to develop beyond the apprenticeship. Specifically, leaders must ensure that apprentices gain a broader understanding of radicalisation, extremism and healthy relationships. 13 to 16 June 2023

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Provider details

Address The View Unit 1 845-849 London Road Westcliff on Sea Essex SS0 9SZ

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Provider details

Website www.crownvocationaltraining.co.uk

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Provider details

Principal, CEO or equivalent Karen Sallows

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Provider details

Provider type Independent learning provider

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Provider details

Date of previous inspection 29 June to 2 July 2021

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Provider details

Main subcontractors None 13 to 16 June 2023

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the assessor team leader and quality assurance manager, as nominee. Inspectors took account of the provider’s most recent self- assessment report and development plans, and the previous inspection 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

Shane Langthorne, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Caroline Williams Ofsted Inspector Ginny Bradwell Ofsted Inspector Alison Davies Ofsted Inspector 13 to 16 June 2023

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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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