University of Durham

University of Durham Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Jonny Wright, His Majesty's Inspector

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Inspection dates: 14 and 15 November 2023

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Type of provider: Higher education institution

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Address:

Palatine Centre Durham University Stockton Road Durham DH1 3HP Monitoring visit: University of Durham, 14 and 15 November 2023

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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

The University of Durham began to deliver apprenticeships in June 2022. At the time of the monitoring visit, 49 apprentices were on level 7 senior leader standards-based apprenticeships. The university provides training at the Durham University Business School.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have a clear purpose to provide level 7 apprenticeships in senior leadership. They use their extensive experience of providing degree programmes at Durham University Business School to develop the apprenticeship programme. Leaders work closely with employers to identify their requirements, such as upskilling and retaining managers across a range of sectors including engineering and transport. Leaders promote an inclusive apprenticeship programme to enable apprentices who would not normally apply to a Russell Group university to access learning.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers ensure that programmes meet the requirements of an apprenticeship. Tutors accurately identify the prior experiences, knowledge and qualifications of new recruits at the start of the programme to ensure that they are on the right apprenticeship to develop the new knowledge, skills and behaviours that they need at work. All apprentices complete training plans that are agreed with their employers and university staff. Apprentices receive their entitlement to off-the-job training, with dates for study planned well in advance. Off-the-job training is clearly linked to the knowledge, skills and behaviours required within the standard.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have effective processes in place to monitor the quality of apprenticeships. They follow processes set both by the university as a whole and at programme level. They carry out activities such as observations of teaching, taking frequent feedback from apprentices and employers, and checking the standard of apprentices' work for submission for final external scrutiny. Leaders and managers Monitoring visit: University of Durham, 14 and 15 November 2023 use the findings from quality assurance activities to make improvements. These have included enhancing curriculum sequencing and changing the programme to annual entry for apprentices. They rightly recognise that further improvements need to be made to the support that recently recruited apprentices receive in preparation for end-point assessment.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors plan, sequence and evaluate the curriculum effectively to enable apprentices to develop new knowledge and skills that they can use in their employers’ businesses. In response to feedback from apprentices, staff have changed the sequence of the curriculum to start with leadership strategy and leading people modules before moving on to finance and accounting modules. This is to equip apprentices with the skills that they need for managing staff before focusing on operational issues.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors have the necessary skills and experience to provide training of a standard commensurate with level 7. Academic tutors are qualified to doctorate level and have significant academic teaching experience at postgraduate level. Academic and workplace mentors have the appropriate knowledge, skills and experience to guide and support apprentices well.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors provide teaching of a high standard. Tutors use presentations, break out groups and video presentations to help apprentices to develop their knowledge and communication skills. For example, apprentices learn about cash flow, and then apply this learning to their own contexts in different sectors, which promotes discussion and broadens their understanding.

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Reasonable progress

Staff closely monitor the progress that apprentices make and support apprentices to catch up if they fall behind. Apprentices benefit from progress reviews which are thorough and constructive. They involve the academic mentor, apprentice and employer and ensure that apprentices recognise the new occupationally specific knowledge, skills and behaviours that benefit their employers’ business.

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Reasonable progress

Staff provide good support for apprentices with additional learning needs. Apprentices who have dyslexia receive support from staff such as enabling audio recording in class. As a result, these apprentices feel more confident and make progress in line with their peers.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors rightly recognise that they need to improve processes that apprentices use to record the knowledge, skills and behaviours that they develop in their workplaces. Apprentices do not have a good enough understanding of how to build their portfolios in preparation for end-point assessment. Monitoring visit: University of Durham, 14 and 15 November 2023

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have in place appropriate policies and procedures that they use to keep apprentices safe, including a comprehensive safeguarding policy and 'Prevent' duty risk assessment and action plan.

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Reasonable progress

Designated safeguarding leads (DSLs) are highly experienced and qualified in the role that they carry out across the university. They keep up to date with safeguarding themes and local risks through close collaboration with, for example, the local authority and the regional Prevent coordinator. DSLs share information with staff through refresher training.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers recruit staff who are suitable to work with apprentices. They carry out appropriate background checks that include right to work in the United Kingdom and references from most recent employers. Staff undertake frequent training in safeguarding and the 'Prevent' duty.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices feel safe in the university and workplaces. They benefit from training on how to stay safe and how to recognise and protect themselves from radicalisation and extremism. Monitoring visit: University of Durham, 14 and 15 November 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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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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