CVQO Ltd

Further education and skills inspection report

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Outcome

CVQO Ltd continues to be a good provider.

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Information about this provider

CVQO Limited is a registered charity based in Frimley, Surrey. It offers a range of vocational qualifications from level 1 to level 3. All learners are aged 16 to 18 years. Most learners are in the Army Cadet Force or the Air Training Corps. The remainder are in the Sea Cadets, the Combined Cadet Force or other youth organisations such as St John’s Ambulance. Most learners take a level 2 qualification in teamwork and personal development in the community. They study their qualifications on a part- time basis, usually one evening a week after school or college and at the weekends. There is an opportunity for learners to attend some sessions online.

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Information about this provider

At the time of inspection, of the 2,105 learners, 1,794 are studying the level 2 diploma in teamwork and personal development in the community. Another 238 are enrolled on the level 2 extended certificate in teamwork and personal development in the community. A further 73 take the level 3 award in leadership and management at the 2,146 cadet delivery centres throughout England.

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

Learners value their studies on the cadet programme. They gain recognition for the personal, social, team working and leadership skills and behaviours they develop through their participation in voluntary activities in uniformed youth organisations.

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

Learners value the opportunity to complete assessments in a variety of ways that best support their individual needs. Learners can type their response to assessments into electronic workbooks, dictate them onto the virtual learning environment (VLE) or hand write them into hard copy workbooks, which staff scan and upload to the VLE.

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

Learners benefit from developing skills that employers value. For example, they become more resilient. They can communicate clearly with team members and officers alike. Most learners move on to further or higher education because of the confidence, skills and qualifications that they have gained. The remainder go on to careers in the armed forces or to an apprenticeship. 5 and 6 November 2024

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Learners feel safe in the places they study, including in online classrooms. Tutors provide useful safeguarding information to learners at induction and continue to reinforce the key points throughout their course. Consequently, learners know how and to whom they can report concerns.

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better?

Leaders have planned and implemented an ambitious curriculum to teach the skills required in uniformed youth services. Teachers instil the professional standards, behaviours and core values of courage, discipline, integrity, loyalty and selfless commitment, which are expected of members of the armed forces. As a result, learners are well prepared for further studies at college, university or sixth form and military careers.

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better?

Leaders and managers collaborate with volunteers from the cadet forces to develop the curriculum content logically. They plan the courses they offer to enable learners to make progress and undertake more complex tasks and responsibilities. All learners complete common learning such as preparing for employment. Learners then choose specific specialist units such as fundamental seamanship skills, working as a musical ensemble or catering and stewardship. As a result, learners undertake highly tailored courses that meet their needs and circumstances well.

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better?

Staff are highly experienced at assessing what learners know and can do at the start of the programme. For example, they identify where learners already have skills and experiences and identify gaps they need to close to gain accreditation. This contributes to learners developing new skills and behaviours, while gaining qualifications. This is particularly motivating for learners who have previously been disengaged from education.

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better?

Leaders provide effective support to help learners enter competitions to develop their skills and showcase their achievements, for example through the Westminster Award. The award is one of the highest honours for cadets, recognising exceptional dedication to service, leadership, and community involvement.

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better?

Most teaching is effective. Teachers explain concepts clearly and concisely, often using examples from their own experiences as former cadets to enhance learning. For example, when discussing communication with learners studying bakery and patisserie, staff help learners to understand the importance of effective communication in coordinating activities in busy kitchens.

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better?

Teachers use assessment well to check learners’ understanding, including their development of technical terminology and its application in their service. For example, teachers check learners’ use of the phonetic alphabet to aid communication in the emergency and armed services. They provide useful feedback and opportunities for learners to reflect on what they know and how to improve. 5 and 6 November 2024

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Teachers carefully and skilfully meet the needs of those learners with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff undertake specialist training to understand the diverse range of support needs of their learners. They provide discreet support that enables learners to participate in and succeed in the same activities as their peers.

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While leaders provide learners with access to information, advice and guidance on employability and careers, this is not yet sufficiently well-structured to ensure all learners can access the support they need to make well-informed choices for their future learning or work. Leaders have plans to further improve the provision of careers advice and guidance to learners. This includes embedding employability skills and careers more consistently across the curriculum. These plans are still at an early stage, and it is too early to assess their impact.

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Trustees are highly effective in using their experience and expertise to support and challenge leaders. They play an active role in supporting leaders to ensure that courses are available to learners from diverse backgrounds. As a result, many learners who have been disengaged from learning or affected by social and economic issues are able to make progress and go on to positive destinations.

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Leaders have taken sensible and effective steps to improve the retention of learners on courses. However, they have not planned carefully enough to make sure that cadets approaching their eighteenth birthday complete their practical assessments before leaving the cadet service. This small group of learners miss out on achieving their qualifications.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Increase learners’ access to impartial careers advice and guidance throughout their programme.  Plan learners’ courses to make sure they complete practical assessments before they leave the cadet service. 5 and 6 November 2024

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Provider details

Address 3 Archipelago Lyon Way, Frimley Camberley Surrey GU16 7ER

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Provider details

Principal, CEO or equivalent Guy Horridge

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Provider details

Provider type Independent learning provider

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Provider details

Date of previous inspection 5 to 8 February 2019 5 and 6 November 2024

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Information about this inspection

The inspection was the first short inspection carried out since CVQO Ltd was judged to be good in February 2019.

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the deputy 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

Carolyn Brownsea, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Roland White His Majesty’s Inspector Jo-Ann Henderson His Majesty’s Inspector Mark Hillman His Majesty’s Inspector Viki Faulkner His Majesty’s Inspector 5 and 6 November 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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