Academy of Live Technology Ltd

Academy of Live Technology Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Glenise Burrell, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection dates: 26 and 27 February 2025

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Type of provider: Higher education institution

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Address:

Production Park 55 Lidgate Crescent Langthwaite Business Park South Kirkby Wakefield WF9 3NR Monitoring visit: Academy of Live Technology Limited, 26 and 27 February 2025.

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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

The Academy of Live Technology offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, short courses and bespoke training programmes in the live events and production industries. At the time of the monitoring visit, there were seven learners enrolled on a five-week online event management Skills Bootcamp and 11 learners on a two- week Skills Bootcamp in live event production. Courses are offered both face to face and online.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders offer courses that meet skills shortages in the music and events industries. The content of courses covers a range of useful skills and knowledge that learners need to develop a good insight into the creative industries. Learners who study on face-to face courses benefit from the opportunity to work alongside professional musicians and technicians and to gain freelance work on completion of their courses. Learners who study online courses receive useful support to develop their online profiles and to develop industry-relevant CVs with a dedicated careers coach. As a result of their courses, learners develop the skills and knowledge that they need to work in the creative industries.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders sensibly sequence the curriculum so that learners’ knowledge and understanding of key concepts are reinforced through undertaking a range of practical activities and tasks. Learners on the events management course, for example, cover the industry context in the first session. They then study a range of more specific aspects of event planning, such as logistics and transportation, marketing and site management. They apply their new knowledge by planning an event of their choice, which they develop over the duration of the course. As a result, learners quickly develop a good understanding of the key aspects of how to plan and manage a public event successfully.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders are aware of their learners’ needs and accurately monitor their progress. Monitoring visit: Academy of Live Technology Limited, 26 and 27 February 2025. They amended the curriculum delivery plan to meet the needs of their learners more effectively after they had identified instances of low retention. They offer courses located in the community and delivered over a shorter time period to meet identified learner needs.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have in place a council which is made up of experts who provide support and challenge on financial modelling, legal responsibilities and quality assurance. Council members know the provision well and, as a result, offer effective challenge to ensure that their learners receive a good standard of education.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders recruit teaching staff with extensive industry experience as well as relevant vocational qualifications. Most teachers are currently undertaking formal teacher training qualifications to improve their knowledge of current teaching strategies. Teachers successfully use their professional experience to contextualise topics, such as waste management, licensing laws, catering and sanitation to real life scenarios. They ensure that learners fully understand the importance of legislation and detailed planning in order to plan public events successfully.

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Reasonable progress

Teachers very effectively encourage useful discussion in classes by using interesting and relevant topics which fully engage learners. Learners receive useful and encouraging verbal feedback from teaching staff to help them develop their ideas in more depth. They develop teamwork and communication skills through the group activities in which they participate. However, the checks that teachers make on learners’ understanding of key terms are, in a few instances, not thorough enough. Most learners make good progress and learn how to present their ideas clearly and succinctly. As a result, they develop a good insight into and understanding of how to work in the creative industries.

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Reasonable progress

Learners who study face to face are exposed to industry specialists throughout their course, as a number of companies work on the same site as the academy. This enables learners to experience the work of industry professionals first hand, which helps them to develop quickly their understanding of different job roles, how the industry works and the terms and conditions of different companies. Learners quickly receive advice and guidance to support them to apply for employment. They benefit from useful guidance from a progression coach, including presentations from an events company to promote opportunities which are available in the industry. As a result, many learners gain part-time and freelance work at the end of their courses. Monitoring visit: Academy of Live Technology Limited, 26 and 27 February 2025.

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Significant progress

Leaders and managers put a high priority on safeguarding learners and implementing the ‘Prevent’ duty. Managers and teaching staff have had relevant training and receive timely updates, which ensure that their knowledge is up to date. The designated safeguarding leads (DSLs) have appropriate qualifications and have good contacts with other organisations, such as local Prevent coordinators. DSLs and managers handle safeguarding and duty-of-care referrals well and provide appropriate support and advice to learners.

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Significant progress

Learners feel safe. They undertake courses on work at height, rescue plans and staging as well as anti-terrorism. Most learners quickly gain the knowledge and skills needed to work safely in the creative industries. Monitoring visit: Academy of Live Technology Limited, 26 and 27 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 and child protection.

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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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

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