The Retrofit Academy Community Interest Company

Further education and skills inspection report

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Inspection of The Retrofit Academy Community Interest Company

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Adult learning programmes Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not previously inspected

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Information about this provider

The Retrofit Academy Community Interest Company is an independent learning provider located in Staffordshire. It has direct contracts to provide Skills Bootcamps specialising in retrofit building techniques with the West Midlands Combined Authority, the Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority, the West of England Combined Authority, New Anglia LEP, Hampshire County Council, Hertfordshire LEP and Suffolk County Council. To date, 186 adult learners have completed their courses. Learners study for 16 weeks. The provider offers the level 3 certificate in domestic energy assessment, the level 4 award in domestic retrofit assessor combined course and the level 5 diploma in retrofit coordination and risk management. At the time of the visit, 97 learners were in training. 11 to 14 March 2025

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

Learners are enthusiastic about their learning and are motivated to achieve their qualifications. Learners share a common goal to become qualified retrofit assessors or coordinators and progress in the retrofit sector. Most learners achieve their qualifications. Almost all who achieve have a positive outcome such as gaining new employment opportunities, work contracts for those who are self-employed or additional responsibilities in their current role.

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

Learners value the expertly led lessons and high-quality resources. Learners are given access to a retrofit professional learning hub where they benefit from professional resources such as learning modules on the use of heat pumps and when they are most suitable. Through the learning hub, learners can pose technical questions to leading industry experts.

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

Learners learn useful new knowledge and skills. Learners on level 5 retrofit coordinator develop their understanding of the quality framework for retrofit project management. They learn how to calculate moisture content in a property, identifying the difference between rising damp and water ingress to give sound advice and guidance to customers. Learners on domestic energy and retrofit assessor learn how to survey different property types, such as detached houses, flats, properties in specific age bands and those with building extensions.

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

Learners have a good understanding of the risks related to their job roles. They learn to conduct risk assessments effectively. They know how to handle hazardous materials and work in dangerous environments successfully and safely.

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

Most learners build their confidence and character. They develop the right professional behaviours and communicate more confidently with customers when visiting properties to undertake energy assessments.

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better?

Leaders have created curriculums with a clear rationale. The curriculums support the local, national and regional skills need for trained and qualified retrofit professionals. Through the Skills Bootcamps, adult learners can upskill and reskill in this highly sought-after sector. Leaders work closely with employers and subject experts to make sure training is aligned well with the rapidly changing retrofit sector. As a result of their training, learners quickly develop the knowledge and skills they need for entry into retrofit jobs. Employers highly value the knowledge and skills that learners develop.

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better?

Leaders have appointed governors with appropriate expertise in teaching and learning. Governors support and challenge leaders effectively on the quality of education they provide to learners. Leaders and governors rightly recognised that too many learners in previous cohorts withdrew from their course early. They have implemented changes such as introducing mentors to provide learners with 11 to 14 March 2025

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additional support, improving teaching and more closely monitoring learners’ attendance and participation. Consequently, the proportion of learners who successfully complete their course has improved markedly.

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Leaders have selected industry experts to teach their learners. Skills coaches maintain their professional registration and keep up to date with new technologies. Skills coaches benefit from helpful professional development to develop their skills as teachers such as developing teaching strategies to support learners with additional learning needs.

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Skills coaches mostly use effective teaching methods. They use their sector expertise to teach key concepts. They use a range of methods such as case studies and group discussions to help learners explore new concepts and share ideas. Learners find lessons interesting and value learning from others. In domestic energy and retrofit assessor, skills coaches use test properties where learners can apply and practise their new knowledge. Learners carry out property surveys on site. Skills coaches support learners to identify cavity wall insulation. Learners value the opportunity to practise, make mistakes and put them right in a safe space.

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Most skills coaches use assessment well. They use effective questioning to check what learners know and remember from previous lessons. They link new learning to previous learning effectively and ensure learners have grasped new concepts. Most learners make good progress over time.

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In a few instances, skills coaches’ feedback on learners’ work is too brief and too slow. In these cases, learners are not able to improve their work and correct their mistakes.

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In level 5 retrofit coordinator, there are few opportunities for learners to apply their new knowledge practically in context. Consequently, learners are not well prepared for the day-to-day aspects of the retrofit coordinator role after the Skills Bootcamps.

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Leaders ensure learners benefit from useful careers education, information, advice and guidance. Learners have access to a range of resources and tools such as specialist software, business insurance, information on how to register with industry quality schemes and support with applying for jobs. Learners are clear about the job opportunities available to them upon completion of their qualification.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Provide opportunities for level 5 retrofit coordinator learners to practise and apply their new knowledge and skills in practical contexts to prepare them for their roles. 11 to 14 March 2025

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 Provide learners with swift and helpful feedback on their work. 11 to 14 March 2025

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Provider details

Address Barn 4 Dunston Business Village Dunston Stafford ST18 9AB

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Provider details

Principal, CEO or equivalent David Pierpoint

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Provider details

Provider type Independent learning provider

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Provider details

Date of previous inspection Not previously inspected

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Provider details

Main subcontractors Not applicable 11 to 14 March 2025

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the director of training, development and delivery, 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

Rachel Clark, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Maggie Fobister Ofsted Inspector Joel Dalhouse His Majesty’s Inspector Steve Michael Ofsted Inspector 11 to 14 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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