Quality Assurance in Technical and Vocational Education and Skills.

1. Quality Assurance in Technical and Vocational Education and Skills. Karen Adriaanse HMI Principal Officer, Learning and Skills, Ofsted February 2013

2. Raising standards, improving lives Ofsted’s reach 6

3. The scope of Ofsted’s remit Ofsted Inspection and Regulation of Early Years Inspection and Regulation of Children’s social care Inspection of all maintained and some independent schools Inspection of learning and training for young people and some adults

4. Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) Ofsted is a non-ministerial government department Headed by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector (HMCI), Sir Michael Wilshaw Independent of the Department for Education (DfE) and Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Ofsted reports ‘without fear or favour’ HMCI reports directly to a Parliamentary Select Committee, made up of Members of Parliament from different political parties, and must ‘lay before Parliament’ an Annual Report

5. The public website Over 1 million unique visits a month Over 12.5 million visits in 2010-11 In September 2011 over 8 million page views including over 400000 page views for schools and almost 13000 for learning and skills 24500 registered subscribers – the alert Our good practice database is also available Our websites – access for many

6. Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) Head of State: the Queen Parliament Government Education Select Committee Funding Department for Education Department for Business, Innovation & Skills Non-executive Board Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector

7. Session outline An overview of the sector Providers and inspection Policy and social recognition

8. Overview of the sector

9. Key facts and figures (1) Higher education • ~2.5 million learners • 131 higher education institutions (average 16,000 learners) • £6-7 billion a year Further education • ~5 million learners • 3,900 further education institutions (average 1,300 learners) • £8 billion a year

10. Decision making, oversight andfunding DfE BIS Govt Dept. Minister for FE, Skills and Lifelong Learning SFA EFA Funding bodies Ages Pre-19 Post-19 Inspection Ofsted

11. Apprenticeship starts since1996/97 (thousands)

12. Achievement 73% success rate for apprenticeships 11% progress into higher education with a vocational qualification (increase from 4.9% 10 years ago) 37% progress into higher education with A levels Current government policy is focused on this area (Wolf review) Insufficient attention on progress in to jobs

13. Providers and inspection

14. Key facts and figures (2) Post 16 education and training in England • 3,300 secondary schools • 243 FE colleges • 94 Sixth form colleges • 51 Independent specialist colleges • 513 independent learning providers • 268 community and skills providers • 16 Higher education institutions • 131 prisons

15. Inspection of vocational education One example of learning and skills is the inspection of work-based learning: Government funds providers and companies (e.g. BMW, Rolls-Royce) to train young people mainly 16-25 Learning is a mix of on- and off-the-job training. Off-the-job training may be at college or with employer Young people take apprenticeship course for 1-4 years at different levels Ofsted looks at the quality of the learners’ experience

16. Purpose of inspection:Raising standards, improving lives Our purpose is simple: to raise standards and improve lives. Inspection allows us to report candidly on the quality of services so that informed choices can be made about them, both by those who use them and by those who fund them. Our inspections are based on the first-hand evidence and professional judgements of our inspectors. The core of their work is directly observing the quality of provision and evaluating the outcomes for children and learners. Independent inspection helps services to improve by highlighting honestly both where things are going well and where improvements are most needed.

17. Principles of inspection andregulation Further education and skills inspections: support and promote improvement are proportionate focus on the needs of users focus on the needs of providers are transparent and consistent are accountable demonstrate value for money.

18. How does inspection promoteimprovement? The inspection of a provider promotes improvement by: setting expectations; the criteria and characteristics set out in the inspection framework and guidance illustrate the quality and effectiveness of provision expected of providers increasing the provider’s confidence by endorsing its own view of its effectiveness when that is accurate, and offering a professional challenge (and the impetus to act) where improvement is needed recommending priorities for future action by the provider and, when appropriate, checking subsequent progress

19. How does inspection promoteimprovement? (2) The inspection of a provider promotes improvement by: fostering constructive dialogue between inspectors and the senior leaders and staff of the provider complementing the provider’s self-assessment and promoting its rigour, thereby enhancing the provider’s capacity to improve its provision identifying best practice, both in inspection and survey reports, which can be shared with the sector.

20. Common Inspection Framework 2012

21. The common grading scale for all inspection judgements A common grading scale is used in making judgements for organisational inspections: Grade 1 outstanding Grade 2 good Grade 3 requires improvement Grade 4 inadequate.

22. Inspectorscarrying out Ofsted inspections Her Majesty’s Inspectors (HMI): are recruited and employed by Ofsted directly and make up a minority of the total number of inspectors working on behalf of Ofsted have substantial and senior experience in education, social care, childcare or adult skills take part in inspections across Ofsted’s remit, as well as in specialist areas undertake a range of work within Ofsted, for example, as managers, quality assurance specialists, specialist advisers for subjects or aspects of education, care or skills.

23. Inspectorscarrying out Ofsted inspections Additional Inspectors (AI): are recruited, managed and employed by Inspection Service Providers can be part-time, full-time or freelance take part as team members on L&S inspections normally have experience at a senior level in the further education sector are required to have up-to-date professional knowledge of curriculum, recent developments and statutory requirements Must follow current Ofsted guidance and protocols Can be de-registered

24. Sector subject areas selected for inspection Inspection team selected Pre-inspection briefing produced Planning meeting held with the provider Lead inspector plans the inspection The views of learners, employers and other partners about the provider’s work are sought before and during inspection Pre-inspection activity

25. Observation of teaching, training and assessment Discussions with teachers and trainers following observation Meetings with staff Meetings with learners Inspection follows an outline timetable – start and end times Inspection team meetings which include the ‘nominee’ Final feedback the provider On site activity

26. Writing the report Quality assurance mechanisms Provider comments and response Moderation where required Publication process – the public website After leaving the provider

27. Inspection report format The front page of the inspection report includes a short section called ‘Summary of key findings’ The inspection report explains in straightforward language what the provider is doing well and what it needs to improve. The report is published on Ofsted’s website approximately 25 working days after the inspection has finished.

28. Inspectors make recommendations that are: tailored specifically to the needs and context of the provider; refer to the weakest areas of performance that are hindering the provider’s improvement; include satisfactory areas that could be further improved; help outstanding providers maintain and develop their performance; and provide precise, specific areas for improvement. Provider inspection reports: recommendations

29. Other outputs: The Annual Reportof Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector Contents • Introduction • What does the sector look like? • Inspection outcomes in 2011/12 • The state of learning and skills provision in England • Are things getting better or worse? • Challenges

30. Policy and social recognition

31. Overall policy agenda Quality and flexibility of vocational education is to be improved More apprenticeship, college and work-based training places are to be encouraged Colleges are to be set free from bureaucracy Public funding is to follow the choices of students Emphasis on English and Maths through to age 19

32. Thank youwww.ofsted.gov.uk