Inspire Middlesex College Ltd

Further education and skills inspection report

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Inspection of Inspire Middlesex College Ltd

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Apprenticeships Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Requires improvement

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Information about this provider

Inspire Middlesex College is an independent learning provider which specialises in teaching pharmacy apprenticeships. Most apprentices work in community pharmacies. At the time of the inspection, 25 apprentices were taking the level 2 pharmacy services assistant standard and 101 apprentices were taking the level 3 pharmacy technician standard. Fewer than five apprentices were completing the level 3 business administrator apprenticeship, after which leaders will no longer offer this programme.

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Information about this provider

A small proportion of apprentices on the level 2 pharmacy services assistant standard take functional skills English and/or mathematics alongside their pharmacy training. 8 to 10 July 2025

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

Apprentices enjoy their training sessions, which they approach with enthusiasm. They are very satisfied with their education and proud to be a part of the college. They like applying their new skills at work, where they become valued members of staff.

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

Apprentices gain valuable professional behaviours. They learn how to work with empathy. They take patients’ situations seriously and appreciate why particular vulnerable patients, such as rough sleepers, might urgently require certain medicines.

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

Apprentices attend their lessons well. However, in online lessons, tutors do not encourage apprentices to behave professionally in line with college policy. Occasionally, apprentices are not paying attention or do not put their cameras on. This means that tutors cannot be sure that all apprentices are participating fully.

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

Apprentices feel well prepared for life in modern Britain. Tutors promote equality and diversity well. When discussing person-centred care, tutors use relevant examples such as how to help patients from different religious communities. Apprentices learn to adapt the support they give to customers from a range of social and cultural backgrounds.

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

Staff give apprentices relevant and useful advice about local and online risks and how to keep safe at work. Apprentices feel safe at work, in college and during online lessons.

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better?

Leaders offer a well-designed specialist pharmacy curriculum. Since the previous inspection, leaders have worked well with employers to improve the structure of the level 3 course. At the start of the course, tutors teach apprentices essential knowledge about medications, how they work and potential problems. Apprentices can immediately help patients in community pharmacies, for example informing them about their medication’s side effects. This meets the needs of employers, who rightly speak highly of apprentices’ new knowledge and skills.

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better?

The quality of teaching is good. Tutors introduce and present new topics and information effectively and clearly, using their extensive industry experience well to contextualise new topics. In level 2, tutors use scenarios that require apprentices to give examples of how they would deal with different situations such as patients who have lost their prescriptions. Apprentices understand well how to approach various challenges at work.

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better?

Tutors plan and carry out assessments effectively and frequently. They visit workplaces to assess apprentices’ competencies in a range of tasks such as dispensing skills and how they communicate with patients. In face-to-face lessons, 8 to 10 July 2025

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tutors use targeted and probing questions to make sure that apprentices fully understand and remember content. For example, tutors routinely check that level 2 apprentices know about different medications, asking them about uses, benefits and side effects. Apprentices quickly build useful knowledge and skills. However, tutors do not always check understanding as effectively when apprentices are learning online.

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Apprentices develop their English and mathematics skills well during their apprenticeship. For example, in level 2, they accurately calculate tablet doses and communicate these effectively to patients. For the small proportion of apprentices who need to complete qualifications in English and mathematics, tutors give apprentices helpful one-to-one support and online resources to help them achieve the required level for their apprenticeship.

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Leaders provide apprentices with good careers advice. Tutors use their own experiences to provide examples of career pathways such as working in hospitals, care homes or medication manufacturing. Tutors help apprentices understand the wide range of responsibilities in different pharmacy roles well such as providing vaccinations and emergency contraception. Leaders invite guest speakers to provide information about different career routes to level 3 apprentices. Apprentices have a good understanding of the career and training opportunities available to them when they complete their apprenticeship.

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Leaders have implemented thorough quality assurance and improvement plans that have had a positive impact on apprentices’ experience. For example, leaders have improved staff recruitment, teacher development and assessment, which have together contributed to improved achievement rates. A large majority of apprentices now achieve their qualifications, including the very small proportion with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Leaders are keenly aware of the remaining areas for development. They are taking sensible action to improve these areas, such as helping level 2 apprentices to gain distinction grades and sustaining the level 3 achievement rate.

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Since the previous inspection, leaders have established an executive board which fulfils a governance function. Members have suitable experience in pharmacy and quality assurance. They provide valuable strategic guidance to leaders. For example, employer members supported leaders in improving the level 3 curriculum. However, the board lacks expertise in education and apprenticeship management, which limits the extent of leaders’ improvement work. Leaders acknowledge that they would benefit from a greater breadth of expertise in their governance arrangements.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Make sure that those responsible for governance have a range of relevant 8 to 10 July 2025

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expertise, enabling them to challenge leaders effectively on the quality of teaching.  Make sure that apprentices are aware of and abide by the clear expectations for behaviour in off-the-job training such as punctuality and active participation in online lessons.  Provide effective training for teachers to improve their online teaching and assessment skills, ensuring apprentices receive the same high-quality experience online as they do in face-to-face lessons. 8 to 10 July 2025

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Provider details

Address Suites 4 & 5 2 Bath Road Hounslow Middlesex TW3 3HJ

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Provider details

Website www.inspiremiddlesexcollege.co.uk

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Provider details

Principal, CEO or equivalent Avinash Malhi

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Provider details

Provider type Independent learning provider

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Provider details

Date of previous inspection 7 to 9 March 2023

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Provider details

Main subcontractors None 8 to 10 July 2025

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the managing director, 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

Claudia Harrison, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Paul Manning His Majesty’s Inspector Jane Hughes His Majesty’s Inspector 8 to 10 July 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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