Focus Fitness UK Limited

Further education and skills inspection report

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Short inspection of Focus Fitness UK Limited

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Outcome

Focus Fitness UK Limited continues to be a good provider.

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Information about this provider

Focus Fitness UK Limited is an independent learning provider based in Vauxhall, London. Staff specialise in teaching courses for the health and fitness industry. Staff run courses during the week and at weekends. Learners study online and complete their practical work in a gymnasium in Vauxhall.

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Information about this provider

At the time of the inspection, there were 114 adult learners, the majority of whom were enrolled on level 3 diploma courses. Of these, 93 learners were studying the gym instructing and personal training course, and 18 learners were studying the sports massage therapy course. There were fewer than five learners studying the level 4 certificate in sports massage therapy.

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

Learners are highly motivated and enthusiastic. They hold their trainers in high esteem and recognise how their expertise helps them to learn. They appreciate the clear links that trainers make between theory and practice, for example, when trainers show them the different cardiovascular exercises that they may use with their clients.

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

Learners gain a good range of new knowledge and skills swiftly. For example, sports massage learners study the differences between effleurage and petrissage massages. They learn how to apply the appropriate amount of pressure to treat muscle pain and improve muscular function. As a result, they use the correct techniques suited to the clients with whom they work.

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

Learners develop high-quality professional skills and behaviours that prepare them effectively for work in the health and fitness industry. They study topics such as consent, protected characteristics and discrimination. They understand clearly non- disclosure rules and the need to keep information confidential when completing 19 and 20 March 2025

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client consultations. As a result, they plan appropriate exercise routines for clients from diverse backgrounds.

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Learners feel safe. They know to whom they should report any concerns. They are confident that staff would listen to them and act upon any concerns.

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better?

Leaders and managers have maintained the good quality education and training that they provide to learners. This is because they have effective processes in place to assure the quality of their teaching and training. They track learners’ progress closely and put actions in place to support those who are not making expected progress. Staff monitor the standard and quality of learners’ written and practical work carefully. They work closely with their governors who provide effective challenge to help leaders improve their provision. As a result, leaders, managers and governors have an effective understanding of their curriculum and their improvement actions.

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better?

Leaders and managers work closely with employers to plan a relevant curriculum that meets skills shortages in the health and fitness industry. They recognise the benefits that personal trainers bring to help support health and medical needs such as diabetes and obesity. Staff adapt their curriculum because of feedback from their employer partners. For example, they included teaching on creating a weight loss induction programme in response to employer feedback. As a result, learners now learn how to create training plans to meet the health needs of their clients.

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better?

Managers and trainers have designed their curriculums effectively to enhance learners’ understanding of key concepts. Learners study anatomy and physiology early on in their programmes. This enables them to understand the impact of different exercises on the human body. As a result, learners plan appropriate exercise routines for their clients that suit their body structure.

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better?

Trainers are highly skilled and have extensive experience of the health and fitness industry. They bring their teaching sessions alive by drawing on their professional experience to teach learners using real-world health and fitness scenarios. They teach learners about the importance of adapting exercise routines to suit clients’ needs. This helps learners to plan gym sessions for clients who are fasting or who have specific dietary or medical needs.

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better?

Trainers use a range of teaching approaches effectively. For example, they use clear explanations to teach learners about producing personal training plans, demonstrations of how to use gym equipment safely and they provide precise feedback when they assess learners’ practical training activities. As a result, most learners make good progress and pass their qualifications well. 19 and 20 March 2025

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Staff do not use the information they gather about learners’ literacy and numeracy skills to help them to develop their knowledge of these subjects. Trainers are not fully aware of how to support learners to improve their English and mathematics during training sessions.

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Trainers make suitable adaptions to their teaching to meet the needs of learners with additional learning needs. They offer learners with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder fidget toys to help them to concentrate. Trainers use different strategies such as visual aids and step-by-step instructions to explain concepts in different ways. As a result, learners with additional learning needs make the same progress as their peers.

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Staff give learners effective careers advice and guidance. They hold helpful careers fairs at which employers from well-recognised health clubs and gyms give learners guidance on working in industry. Staff run open days with industry experts and employers. Learners also learn how to enhance their CVs through the business unit they complete and have access to an online job site. At the end of their course, most learners progress to working in gyms as personal trainers or working with private clients.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Use the information about learners’ English and mathematics knowledge to create a curriculum tailored to learners’ needs that helps them to improve their skills. 19 and 20 March 2025

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Provider details

Address North London Business Park Oakleigh Road South London N11 1GN

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Provider details

Principal, CEO or equivalent Dana Gunputh

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Provider details

Provider type Independent Learning Provider

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Provider details

Date of previous inspection 6 to 8 August 2019 19 and 20 March 2025

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Information about this inspection

The inspection was the first short inspection carried out since Focus Fitness UK Limited was judged to be good in August 2019.

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the CEO, 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

Andrea McMahon, lead inspector His Majesty's Inspector Kanwaljit Dhillon Ofsted Inspector Anne Moynihan Ofsted Inspector 19 and 20 March 2025

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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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