Career Group Courses Limited

Career Group Courses Limited Monitoring visit report

p.1

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

p.1

Inspection dates: 19 and 20 February 2025

p.1

Type of provider: Independent learning provider

p.1

Address: Lancaster House 70 Newington Causeway London SE1 6DF Monitoring visit: Career Group Courses Limited, 19 and 20 February 2025

p.1

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.

p.2

Context and focus of visit

Career Group Courses Limited (trading as Career Tree) is an independent learning provider based in the London Borough of Southwark. Career Tree offers short courses for adult learners through a combination of online and face-to-face teaching. Since January 2024, Career Tree has provided level 2 courses for adults in understanding autism and preparing to work in adult social care. Since September 2024, Career Tree has offered Skills Bootcamps in project management. At the time of the visit, Career Tree was working with 12 adult learners who had recently completed the taught element of the Skills Bootcamp.

p.2

Context and focus of visit

Career Tree is part of a wider partnership with a higher education provider. This partnership provides support and access to facilities and staff training. In addition, learners can access financial, technological and welfare support.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders have developed a carefully considered, ambitious curriculum for socially disadvantaged adult learners. Leaders plan to support learners to progress into employment and higher levels of learning. Leaders have worked effectively with employers to understand the local skills gaps. Leaders listen and act on stakeholder feedback. They ensure learners develop the personal, workplace and academic skills they need to support their next steps. Leaders have redesigned the Skills Bootcamp in response to learner and employer feedback. They adapted the course to run over a shorter duration to meet the recruitment needs of local employers. Leaders have introduced more face-to-face teaching to meet learners’ academic and support needs.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders have recruited tutors, managers and governors with expertise in further education, adult learning and safeguarding. Tutors are well qualified and have relevant industry experience. Leaders are supported and challenged effectively by governors to improve the quality of their courses. Monitoring visit: Career Group Courses Limited, 19 and 20 February 2025 Leaders do not have clear oversight of the progress learners make. They cannot easily identify which learners are at risk of falling behind or need additional support. Leaders do not have clear oversight of the destination of learners. While the majority of adult learners secure positive outcomes in employment, the proportion for whom leaders do not know the outcome is too high.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders do not track and monitor the professional development activities tutors complete. Leaders have implemented appropriate quality management for teaching and learning. Tutors receive helpful feedback on how to improve their classroom practice. Tutors keep up-to-date training records of their own professional development. However, much of the training tutors complete is with other providers. Leaders do not have a clear plan for staff training and development.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Staff have designed and implemented a very ambitious curriculum. On the project management Skills Bootcamp, learners gain a globally recognised technical certificate. Leaders have ensured the course includes additional methodology used within industry. Leaders ensure learners develop professional employment skills based on employer feedback. Learners feel they are well prepared for project management roles across different sectors.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Staff accurately assess learners’ suitability for the Skills Bootcamp and adult health courses. They conduct initial advice and guidance activities to identify accurately learners’ existing skills and knowledge. Classroom tutors conduct reviews and hold discussions with learners during their induction to identify individual needs. Tutors use this information well to provide individualised feedback. Learners develop substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours rapidly because of their course.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Tutors have planned and sequenced the courses logically. On the adult social care course, tutors start with communication skills. Learners understand this is a fundamental element when working with service users. They appreciate that communication may be affected for those patients who are in pain. Learners progress onto more complex topics such as safeguarding and its application to healthcare roles. Learners acquire the knowledge and skills they need to enter the healthcare sector.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Tutors do not plan training so that learners can improve their English language and mathematics. Learners develop digital skills naturally through the online learning model. Learners on the Skills Bootcamp use a variety of digital learning and work platforms. They use conferencing and project management tools to enhance their Monitoring visit: Career Group Courses Limited, 19 and 20 February 2025 digital skills and abilities. However, tutors do not routinely identify the progress learners make in improving their English and mathematical skills.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Tutors monitor learners’ progress on programme effectively. They provide learners with helpful formative feedback. For the few learners who begin to fall behind, tutors provide additional support and sessions. As a result, most learners stay on the course and achieve.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Leaders have developed a positive culture for safeguarding learners. Learners receive essential safeguarding training as part of their induction. Learners have a good understanding of safeguarding and know to whom they should report any concerns. Learners feel safe attending their courses. They are confident that should they need to raise any concerns, staff will deal with them swiftly and appropriately.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Learners are aware of the risks associated with radicalisation and extremism. They have a good understanding of the behaviours to be aware of when working with others. Learners understand how this relates to their daily lives. Learners have a superficial understanding of how to stay safe online. Monitoring visit: Career Group Courses Limited, 19 and 20 February 2025 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

p.4

Reasonable progress

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email , You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Reasonable progress

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.5

Reasonable progress

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

p.5