Ministry of Defence Police

Ministry of Defence Police Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Roger Pilgrim, Ofsted Inspector

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Address: Ministry of Defence Police Palmer Pavilion RAF Wyton Huntington Cambridgeshire PE28 2EA Monitoring visit: Ministry of Defence Police, 27 and 28 July 2023

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Monitoring visit: main findings

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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Monitoring visit: main findings

The Ministry of Defence Police began as an employer to provide apprenticeships in September 2022. Currently, 94 apprentices are following the non-Home Office police office apprenticeship standard at level 4. Apprentices are over the age of 18. Once apprentices have completed their initial recruit and firearms training, they are deployed to protect sites, people and assets essential to defence and the national infrastructure around England and Scotland.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have a clear strategic direction and purpose for their apprenticeship programme. Leaders and managers have planned an ambitious curriculum that develops the knowledge, skills and behaviours that apprentices need to be successful Ministry of Defence police officers.

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Reasonable progress

The apprenticeship programme satisfies the requirements of an apprenticeship and features substantial off-the-job training. Apprentices have an initial intensive 12- week recruitment training programme followed by a firearms training course for eight weeks before deployment at stations. This ensures that apprentices are appropriately trained and can use the firearms that they are equipped with safely before deployment.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have ensured that the curriculum has been designed so that apprentices, early in their programme, complete knowledge tests, practical assessments and a professional discussion to prepare them well for their end-point assessments.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers recruit highly competent trainers. Trainers have the operational experience of being Ministry of Defence officers before they become qualified trainers. Where trainers have specialist vocational skills, managers plan for Monitoring visit: Ministry of Defence Police, 27 and 28 July 2023 them to provide training to meet their specialisms and share this knowledge with the apprentices. For example, the trainer teaching the search skills is a ‘licensed search officer’ and is a subject matter expert. As a result, apprentices benefit from the skills of their tutors. Apprentices have the appropriate role models to aspire to and achieve.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders implement appropriate quality processes to ensure that they constantly review the quality of their training. Each week, apprentices complete an evaluation form that gives useful feedback to trainers and managers on apprentices’ experience on the programme. However, leaders have not yet implemented plans to assess the quality of teaching. As a result, trainers do not know the areas in which they need to improve their teaching practice.

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Reasonable progress

The chief operating group (COG) of the Ministry of Defence police provides appropriate governance oversight of the training. The COG sets the strategic priorities of the Ministry of Defence police and ensures that the training provided meets its priorities.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers ensure that the apprenticeship programme meets the occupational needs of the stations where apprentices are deployed. Line managers value the skills that apprentices develop in their recruitment training programme and play an active part in apprentices’ ongoing progress in the stations. As a result, apprentices can fulfil their security roles effectively.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers assess the starting points of apprentices effectively. Apprentices are required to have achieved a level 2 in English and mathematics prior to starting the course. Leaders screen apprentices on entry, and where needs are identified, apprentices are appropriately supported while on their programme.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers plan the apprenticeship curriculum effectively so that apprentices incrementally develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need to be successful police officers. Early on, apprentices learn about the responsibilities and ethics of their profession. They learn about legislation around the stop and search powers they have as officers. They later apply this to practical role-play activities, which builds their knowledge and confidence effectively over time.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers frequently use a range of highly effective teaching activities to explain challenging topics to apprentices. When teaching apprentices the method of searching an individual, trainers give detailed demonstrations and instructions. As a result, apprentices benefit from these activities and can apply their learning effectively to their own practice. Monitoring visit: Ministry of Defence Police, 27 and 28 July 2023 Trainers assess apprentices’ knowledge appropriately to check their understanding and correct any uncertainties they may have. Trainers routinely ask open questions to check apprentices’ understanding and use role play and simulated situations to check apprentices’ knowledge and application. Trainers provide apprentices with effective feedback on the development of their English and mathematical skills.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers do not review the knowledge, skills and behaviours that apprentices develop once deployed to stations early enough. As a result, apprentices are unaware of the progress they are making and the areas in which they need to develop. Leaders have already recognised this weakness in their design of the apprenticeship programme and have taken appropriate steps to remedy a solution. However, it is too soon to judge the impact.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that a culture of safeguarding pervades the Military of Defence Police. Detailed risk assessments are undertaken to ensure the safety of apprentices and staff.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders promote the safety of apprentices in training and when they become qualified officers. For example, trainers provide detailed explanations and helpful demonstrations of how to carry out safely the search process of a detained person.

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Reasonable progress

Staff receive training on the ‘Prevent’ duty annually, and the ‘Prevent’ duty is built into the training programme and the role of the Ministry of Defence police. Apprentices are trained to protect people and buildings from potential terrorist threats and have a good understanding of radicalisation and extremism.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders apply robust processes to ensure the safe recruitment of staff. They act on the information arising from these processes appropriately. Extensive vetting of staff takes place to ensure that they are suitable. Monitoring visit: Ministry of Defence Police, 27 and 28 July 2023 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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