Cambridge Professional Academy Limited

Further education and skills inspection report

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Inspection of Cambridge Professional Academy Limited

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Inspection dates: 24 to 27 September 2024

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Apprenticeships Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Requires improvement

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Information about this provider

Cambridge Professional Academy Limited (CPA) has been providing training nationally to the sales, management and marketing sectors since November 2018. Apprentices attend training remotely.

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Information about this provider

At the time of inspection, 63 apprentices were in training, and most were over 19 years of age. The largest proportion of apprentices were training on the level 4 marketing executive apprenticeship. Thirty apprentices were studying on a range of apprenticeships, including level 6 marketing manager, level 3 marketing assistant and level 3 multi-channel marketer.

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Information about this provider

Fewer than 12 apprentices were working towards level 4 sales executive, level 3 team leader/supervisor, level 5 operations manager and level 3 business administrator apprenticeship. 24 to 27 September 2024

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices learn valuable sales and marketing knowledge and skills. They use this at work to understand marketing strategies, budgeting and branding. Apprentices approach their jobs in a structured and planned manner because of their training. Staff prepare apprentices comprehensively for successful careers in the industry. Apprentices frequently gain promotions and more responsibility because of their learning.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices understand the importance of marketing in an ethical manner. They quickly learn how to create inclusive marketing campaigns that do not use stereotypes. Apprentices show respect to others in their communications and workplace activities. They ably demonstrate how equality legislation applies to their everyday work.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices show great confidence and fluency when presenting their work. They practise and hone this integral marketing skill frequently during their apprenticeship. In lessons, they relish discussing their workplace experiences with peers and mentors. This enhances their learning further. Apprentices are punctual, have high attendance in lessons and arrive fully prepared for their learning.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices know how to manage their own physical and mental wellness effectively. They recognise that marketing and sales are highly competitive, challenging jobs. Apprentices understand how to manage their time and prioritise their work in a focused, strategic manner.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Mentors effectively promote fundamental British values at the start of the apprenticeship and revisit these frequently in lessons and review meetings. Apprentices understand these topics and know how to keep themselves safe, including the dangers associated with radicalisation and extremism.

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better?

Since the previous inspection, leaders have worked diligently to bring about sustained improvements. Two-thirds of apprentices now complete their apprenticeship and achieve their qualification. Most achieve with a distinction grade. The few apprentices with learning difficulties and/or special educational needs succeed as well as their peers at CPA. The proportion of apprentices who have not completed in the planned time has reduced significantly and is now low.

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better?

Leaders work highly effectively with employers in the marketing sector. Leaders understand fully employers’ training requirements for confident, articulate sales and marketing executives. Consequently, leaders offer suitable apprenticeships to meet these skills requirements using teaching staff who are marketing experts. Employers, including large national companies, value greatly the skills and professional behaviours apprentices develop during their apprenticeship. 24 to 27 September 2024

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Leaders and staff have planned training appropriately to build on apprentices’ understanding of the marketing sector. They first learn about the role of marketing managers in a broad range of different organisations. Apprentices move on to branding and strategic and tactical marketing before learning to create a marketing plan. This enables them to have a thorough understanding of their sector, identify an organisation's values and objectives and know how to fulfil their job role competently.

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Staff plan interesting lessons and use questioning effectively. They ensure that apprentices can relate their learning to their workplace practice. In mathematics lessons, tutors discuss how apprentices calculate their answers and why they took that approach. This enables apprentices to understand accurately core mathematical concepts and self-correct as required. Apprentices learn tips and strategies for simplifying calculations. Staff teach useful ‘memory joggers’ to help apprentices recall how to do their calculations.

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Too few staff challenge apprentices to improve their study skills and academic writing. Their work includes accurate subject content but is frequently too descriptive, lacking in-depth research and analysis. At times staff feedback is overly complimentary and does not help apprentices to improve. Leaders recognise this but have not acted to remedy it. Apprentices on level 4 marketing executives receive very accurate and precise feedback that helps them improve their work over time.

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Mentors prepare apprentices thoroughly for examinations. Employers understand the training and practice opportunities they must provide in the workplace. Apprentices show their mastery of the skills and professional requirements of their apprenticeship at work. Level 4 marketing executive apprentices can research and analyse information to understand the behaviour of their target audience. They use this information to define the marketing strategy for key clients. Level 4 sales executive apprentices know their products and benefits fully. They learn how to keep key clients and generate new business for their employers.

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Mentors prepare apprentices effectively for their next steps and career progression. Apprentices know how to improve their career prospects and promotional opportunities. Mentors encourage apprentices to continue professional development and become members of industry-recognised organisations.

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Leaders have not ensured that staff receive a comprehensive range of training to improve their teaching knowledge and skills further. Leaders’ monitoring of staff training does not inform their quality improvement actions. Leaders have recognised staff need to identify and correct English, grammar and formatting errors in assignments but have not yet remedied this.

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Governors provide good strategic support to leaders. Governors work effectively with leaders to identify the skills requirements of the marketing sector nationally. Governors know accurately the strengths and weaknesses of the provision. They help leaders shape their performance review mechanisms effectively. Governors 24 to 27 September 2024

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work collaboratively with leaders. Using their contacts in education and training, governors share sector good practice leading to improvement.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Ensure that staff provide feedback to apprentices that enables them to improve their study skills and the quality, in-depth research and analysis of their academic work.  Ensure that leaders’ monitoring of staff training informs their quality improvement actions, enabling staff to further improve the quality of their teaching and training. 24 to 27 September 2024

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Provider details

Address 3-5 Francis Court High Ditch Road Fen Ditton Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB5 8TE

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Provider details

Provider type Independent learning provider

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Provider details

Date of previous inspection 26 to 29 July 2022

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Provider details

Main subcontractors None 24 to 27 September 2024

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the chief executive, as nominee. Inspectors took account of the provider’s most recent self-assessment report and development plans, and the previous inspection report. The inspection was carried out using the further education and skills inspection handbook and took into account all relevant provision at the provider. Inspectors collected a wide range of evidence to inform judgements, including visiting learning sessions, scrutinising learners’ work, seeking the views of learners, staff and other stakeholders, and examining the provider’s documentation and records.

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Inspection team

Jules Steele, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Ann Monaghan His Majesty’s Inspector Joel Dalhouse His Majesty’s Inspector Penny Fawcus His Majesty’s Inspector 24 to 27 September 2024

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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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