Musically Ltd

Musically Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Jane Hughes, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection dates: 17 July and 18 July 2024

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Type of provider: Independent Learning Provider

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Address: Holborn Studios 49-50 Eagle Wharf Road London N1 7ED Monitoring visit: Musically Limited, 17 July and 18 July 2024

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Context and focus of visit

Ofsted undertakes to carry out monitoring visits to all newly directly funded providers of adult learning provision where the provision offered is in scope for inspection. 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

Musically Limited is an independent learning provider based in central London. They are the lead partner in consortium with Clock Your Skills. The consortium offers a music Skills Bootcamp based at Collage Arts in Wood Green, London. The consortium gained a contract to teach adult learning in December 2022 and started the first Skills Bootcamp course in January 2023. At the time of this visit, there were 12 learners. Learners are taught through a mix of online sessions and practical workshops at Collage Arts.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders are clear about the purpose of their Skills Bootcamp. They have designed a very practical course to help aspiring musicians and those who want to work in the creative industry to hone their practical skills, identify their transferrable skills and open their eyes to other opportunities. They have used their effective partnerships with employers and their experience in the sector successfully to adapt their established courses to the Skills Bootcamp requirements.

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Reasonable progress

Sector experts who teach the course are highly knowledgeable and qualified in music, events and the creative industry. Most work in the industry which means they have very up-to-date experience to share with learners. They use their knowledge and experience to inform learners about the opportunities available to them. They also teach learners how to navigate the complexities of working freelance, such as how to understand taxation. As a result, learners are well informed about the range of career pathways they can take if they do not succeed as music performers.

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Reasonable progress

Learners have access to a good range of industry-specific resources. This includes professional live music recording studios, sound booths and podcast studios. They use up-to-date musical instruments. As a result, learners are exposed to realistic work environments. Monitoring visit: Musically Limited, 17 July and 18 July 2024 Leaders and managers keep track of the progress learners make on their course and once they complete their training. They ensure employers offer most learners a job interview. However, they do not have complete information about how many learners gain meaningful and sustained employment.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders in the consortium work closely to ensure the course runs smoothly. However, they do not have clearly defined roles and responsibilities. As a result, they have not established who has full responsibility to evaluate the quality of the provision. They do collect and evaluate learners’ feedback at the end of each course and make necessary changes. However, they do not evaluate sufficiently all elements of the course, such as the quality of teaching. As a result, they have not identified areas for improvement in teaching or put in place improvement action plans.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers ensure that the content of the course helps learners gain new knowledge and skills. They use an effective assessment of learners’ prior skills to adjust the course as required. For example, learners complete a skills assessment workshop which includes a music performance session. Managers check learners’ practical skills, such as in singing, songwriting and recording, and their wider transferrable skills, such as their time management and organisation skills. They use this information effectively to change the level of taught content to meet learners’ individual needs.

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Reasonable progress

Managers plan assessment throughout the curriculum through a range of interesting employment-related assignments and scenarios. These build in complexity over time and challenge learners to think creatively. However, during online sessions, sector experts are not always competent enough to use the online platform to assess the music learners have composed.

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Reasonable progress

Learners benefit from the strong partnerships leaders have with employers. Employers offer learners work experience during the course. This includes working on large music festivals and carnivals. As a result, learners gain invaluable experience in event management and in producing event resources such as carnival masks.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers ensure learners enjoy a stimulating learning environment. Learners appreciate the skills and knowledge they gain. For example, learners who work self-employed as disc jockeys or freelance singers understand how to use social media to promote themselves and increase their bookings. Learners say the course has helped them increase their confidence and recognise the importance of personal attributes such as self-motivation. Monitoring visit: Musically Limited, 17 July and 18 July 2024 Most learners complete the course. A high proportion achieve a level 4 advanced trainee or level 5 competent music practitioner qualification. Most learners attend the guaranteed job interview, and employers offer many work opportunities. However, not all learners accept the work.

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Insufficient Progress

Leaders have not focused sufficiently on the safeguarding requirements for adult learners. They have not ensured that staff working with learners and the designated safeguarding leads (DSL) have completed appropriate training. They have not allocated a senior leader with overall responsibility for safeguarding. As a result, DSLs and sector experts are not fully aware of their responsibilities for reporting and monitoring potential safeguarding concerns.

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Insufficient Progress

Leaders and staff are not fully aware of their responsibilities under the ‘Prevent’ duty. They have recently put together a ‘Prevent’ duty policy but have not carried out an appropriate risk assessment. They have not given learners appropriate information and training about the risks associated with extremism and radicalisation. Nor have they included online safety in the curriculum or learners’ induction. As a result, learners have limited understanding of these topics.

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Insufficient Progress

Leaders have recently updated their safeguarding policy to cover the requirements for adult learners. However, they do not have a clear process in place to identify vulnerable learners or to keep track of them or other learners of concern.

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Insufficient Progress

Learners feel safe and know how to report concerns. The DSLs have recently enrolled on specific training to help them support learners if they do raise concerns. Monitoring visit: Musically Limited, 17 July and 18 July 2024 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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Insufficient Progress

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Insufficient Progress

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Insufficient Progress

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Insufficient Progress

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

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