The Pioneer Sailing Trust

The Pioneer Sailing Trust Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Penny Fawcus, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection dates: 18 and 19 September 2024

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: Harkers Yard Shipyard Estate Copperas Road Brightlingsea Colchester CO7 0AR Monitoring visit: The Pioneer Sailing Trust, 18 and 19 September 2024

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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 Pioneer Sailing Trust (PST) is a small independent learning provider specialising in the marine sector. The trust was established in 1999 to recover the wreck of the Pioneer boat. PST works with the local community and charities to introduce young people to the marine industry.

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Context and focus of visit

PST is located on the Colchester coastline in Brightlingsea, Essex. PST specialises in restoring and operating historic sailing vessels. It has previously trained apprentices as a subcontractor for local further education colleges. PST began offering its own apprenticeship training in October 2023.

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Context and focus of visit

At the time of the monitoring visit, there were fewer than five apprentices in training. All apprentices are over the age of 19. Apprentices study the level 3 heritage engineering marine technician programme. Apprentices work with employers across the country. They attend residential training in Brightlingsea for one week, every month.

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Context and focus of visit

PST has no subcontracted provision and no apprentices in receipt of high-needs funding.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have a strong rationale for offering the heritage engineering marine technician apprenticeship. They are ambitious to introduce and inspire young people to pursue careers in the marine sector. Leaders have planned a specialist programme to develop apprentices’ restoration and boat-building skills. Employers highly value the skills and knowledge that the apprentices gain. Apprentices make valuable contributions to the restoration projects at work. They take part in problem-solving with their employer. Apprentices make useful suggestions on how to restore boats because of the skills and knowledge they have gained. Monitoring visit: The Pioneer Sailing Trust, 18 and 19 September 2024 Trustees have a diverse range of relevant expertise to support and challenge managers effectively. Trustees have experience in sailing and the heritage marine sector as well as finance, education and safeguarding. They are very involved in the

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Reasonable progress

operational oversight of education and training. Leaders and trustees have an accurate understanding of the strengths and areas for improvement for the apprenticeship programme. They have invested in resources, such as staff and technology, to support apprentices in their learning. Trustees have a measured approach to growing apprenticeship numbers alongside developing a good-quality training programme. Trustees support managers very effectively to make improvements.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have not yet implemented comprehensive quality monitoring arrangements for the apprenticeship programme. They do not yet have clear enough oversight of whether apprentices are on track to be ready for their final assessments by their planned end dates. Leaders and managers do not work closely enough with employers to ensure that they know how to support apprentices effectively in the workplace.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have not ensured that apprentices continue to develop their written English skills. Apprentices have not yet completed any written work as part of their course. They do not receive feedback on how to improve the written skills they will need in their job roles.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have ensured that apprentices work with high-quality facilities. Teachers are highly experienced in restoration and boat building. Apprentices learn and develop their skills effectively by working on heritage boats and live projects. They go sailing on the historic Pioneer boat to deepen their understanding of sailing.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers plan and sequence the curriculum in a logical order. Apprentices first learn about using hand tools and how to maintain these, such as keeping tools sharpened. Apprentices then learn basic joints before moving on to more complex projects that use these skills. They practice by producing models of boats using soft wood, before moving on to more expensive woods such as mahogany. They learn how to construct the model boats’ hull using clinker and carvel construction. Apprentices become valued employees.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers are skilful in demonstrating and explaining practical skills and techniques. They use images and artefacts effectively to provide clear explanations. Trainers show apprentices gratings from heritage boats to help them know what these look like and understand how they aid the ventilation on board and the range of gratings Monitoring visit: The Pioneer Sailing Trust, 18 and 19 September 2024 used. Trainers use photographs from their own professional work to explain the construction of different kinds of gratings apprentices may encounter.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers mostly check apprentices’ understanding well. They use open questioning during demonstrations to check understanding. Furthermore, trainers check apprentices’ understanding of theory and recall of knowledge using progress tests throughout the course.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices receive ongoing helpful feedback on the quality of their practical work. They can explain what they need to do to make further improvements. Apprentices know how precisely they have followed a mock plan and the measurements on a plan drawing. As a result, apprentices produce practical work of a high standard.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices routinely use their mathematics skills in the workshops, such as fractions. They frequently convert imperial measurements found on heritage documents to decimal measurements accurately.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and trustees have established an open and inclusive culture at PST. They place a high priority on safeguarding. They reflect and learn from safeguarding concerns raised. They use these referrals effectively to inform future training, such as mental health awareness and suicide prevention training.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices learn in a safe environment. They have a good understanding of the health and safety requirements required in the workplace. They know about the personal protective equipment required for using hand tools and machinery. They know about safe lifting of equipment.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices know who to report any safeguarding concerns to. They have learned about online safety, and they know about the risks of radicalisation. Leaders have not yet identified external agencies or the local risks for those apprentices who live and work in other areas of the country. Monitoring visit: The Pioneer Sailing Trust, 18 and 19 September 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

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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