The Spencer Academies Trust

The Spencer Academies Trust Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Emma Woods, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection dates: 13 and 14 September 2023

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

George Spencer Academy Arthur Mee Road Stapleford Nottingham NG9 7EW Monitoring visit: The Spencer Academies Trust, 13 and 14 September 2023

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Context and focus of the 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 the visit

The Spencer Academies Trust is a multi-academy trust of schools across the East Midlands, with a particular focus on Nottingham and Derby. Spencer Apprenticeships was established in 2021. At the time of the visit, 31 apprentices studied the level 3 teaching assistant apprenticeship standard. Almost all apprentices work for the trust. Leaders plan to recruit more apprentices from outside of the trust in the coming year. Around three-quarters of apprentices are adults.

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Significant progress

Leaders have a clear rationale for their apprenticeship offer. There is a strong alignment to their purpose as a multi-academy trust. They have used their wide- ranging expertise to quickly establish a very effective curriculum to train teaching assistants.

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Significant progress

Leaders take time to understand the needs of individual schools and incorporate them into apprentices’ training. Additionally, leaders ensure that the curriculum is broad enough to prepare apprentices well for a career in education. For example, apprentices learn about primary and secondary education irrespective of the age range of the children they work with.

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Significant progress

Apprentices are fully supported by their headteachers and workplace mentors. Managers provide mentors with comprehensive training. They understand apprentices’ studies and ensure that their on- and off-the-job training time is relevant and productive.

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Significant progress

Leaders and managers ensure that apprentices understand what to expect in their final assessments. Trainers conduct relevant mock activities and revision sessions. Apprentices know how to achieve the grades they aspire to. Monitoring visit: The Spencer Academies Trust, 13 and 14 September 2023 Managers have suitable processes in place to identify if apprentices require additional learning support. In the few instances that this is required, trainers and employers make suitable adjustments to meet apprentices’ needs.

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Significant progress

Leaders and managers undertake appropriate activities to evaluate the quality of apprentices’ studies. They frequently survey apprentices, mentors and headteachers to gather feedback on the impact of training. Managers oversee apprentices’ progress through useful monthly assurance activities and one-to-one sessions with trainers. Leaders and managers quickly resolve any areas for improvement they identify.

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Significant progress

Internal and external governors have relevant experience to undertake their roles. During termly meetings, they receive detailed information from leaders on the apprenticeship programme. They know the curriculum strengths and areas for development well. They provide useful support to leaders to help them continue to drive improvement.

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Significant progress

Managers and trainers plan apprentices’ courses very well. They study a broad range of valuable topics beyond the core curriculum. For example, apprentices learn about a child’s full literacy journey, not just that of the age range they support. As a result, apprentices develop deep knowledge, which they use to support teachers and children. They are rightly highly valued members of staff in their schools.

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Significant progress

Managers and tutors carefully consider apprentices’ starting points. They use the information they gather effectively to plan apprentices’ studies. For example, younger apprentices with less knowledge of work spend more time learning professional standards and workplace behaviours.

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Significant progress

A team of well-qualified tutors are further strengthened by expert facilitators from across the trust. They teach valuable sessions on specialist subjects, such as special educational needs and/or disabilities. Training sessions are well planned. During sessions, tutors use a range of effective techniques, such as on-the-spot tests and peer discussion, to assess apprentices’ learning. This supports apprentices to recall key concepts in detail.

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Significant progress

Tutors provide feedback to apprentices frequently and effectively. They translate this feedback into carefully constructed targets and work-based activities. Mentors provide apprentices with lots of useful guidance and support. This helps apprentices to continually improve their work and develop their knowledge and skills.

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Significant progress

Apprentices who study functional skills in English and mathematics benefit from individual learning plans and one-to-one teaching sessions. Tutors prepare high- Monitoring visit: The Spencer Academies Trust, 13 and 14 September 2023 quality resources and assessments, which they use well. As a result, apprentices’ knowledge of these subjects improves over time.

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Significant progress

Managers acknowledge that the number of apprentices who need to study functional skills is increasing with new cohorts. This means they need to reconsider how they teach these subjects. They have suitable plans in place to make the changes as needed.

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Significant progress

Leaders and managers create a safe environment and culture. Apprentices know how to report safeguarding concerns and are confident they will receive support.

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Significant progress

Leaders carefully adjust trust policies and procedures to accurately reflect the needs of apprentices. A dedicated safeguarding team offers effective support and expertise to apprentices, mentors and staff.

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Significant progress

Younger apprentices know how to keep themselves safe. They gain a good grasp of online safety, relationships and healthy living topics.

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Significant progress

Leaders meet the requirements of the ‘Prevent’ duty. They follow appropriate approaches to safer recruitment. The designated safeguarding lead and all staff complete relevant safeguarding training. Monitoring visit: The Spencer Academies Trust, 13 and 14 September 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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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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

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