Ofsted round-up – This week: Satisfactory results from our selection of providers

Omnibus Training Limited, Croydon

 

Summary of grades awarded:

Effectiveness of provision Satisfactory: Grade 3

Capacity to improve Satisfactory: Grade 3

Achievement and standards Satisfactory: Grade 3

Quality of provision Satisfactory: Grade 3

Leadership and management Satisfactory: Grade 3

Equality of opportunity Contributory grade: Inadequate: Grade 4

Sector subject areas:

Engineering and manufacturing technologies Satisfactory: Grade 3

Preparation for life and work Inadequate: Grade 4

 

Established in 1999, Omnibus Training Limited (Omnibus) began as a provider of government-funded training for NVQs in passenger carrying vehicles. In 2005, it started providing skills for life programmes. Omnibus, which is based in Croydon, offers training for small and medium size passenger transport companies in London and the South-east. At the time of the inspection there were 119 learners, with 62 working towards and NVQ in passenger carrying vehicles at Level 2, and 57 towards an adult literacy qualification.

Omnibus, which holds the Investors in People Award, saw the majority of its judgements rated at satisfactory. However, where as its provision in engineering and manufacturing technologies is satisfactory, its provision in preparation for life and work was deemed by inspectors as inadequate. Ofsted noted that this was Omnibus’ first inspection, and that since the introduction of the Train to Gain programmes in 2006, its provision has grown considerable. It noted Omnibus has a satisfactory capacity to improve.

Ofsted found that the group has made good links with the public transport sector, notably with Transport for London, which has provided training on disability within public transportation to key Omnibus staff. Omnibus has recently made a number of management and staff changes, and was said to have recruited an operations manager and additional assessors promptly and efficiently. Although some aspects of quality improvement were found to be weak, overall its self-assessment process is satisfactory.

Out of the 57 learners on the skills for life programme, 40 were working towards an adult literacy qualification at Level 1 and 17 were working towards an adult literacy qualification at Level 2 in addition to their NVQ in passenger carrying vehicles. Although success rates were high in 2006/07, Ofsted said: "they declined to 71% in 2007/08 and have continued to do so to date. Learners make slow progress and take too long to achieve their qualification." Areas for improvement included its insufficient staff development, and inadequate planning of learning.

 

Adult Education in Gloucestershire (AdEd), Gloucestershire

 

Summary of grades awarded:

Effectiveness of provision Satisfactory: Grade 3

Capacity to improve Satisfactory: Grade 3

Achievement and standards Satisfactory: Grade 3

Quality of provision Satisfactory: Grade 3

Leadership and management Satisfactory: Grade 3

Equality of opportunity Contributory grade: Satisfactory: Grade 3

Sector subject areas:

Visual and performing arts Satisfactory: Grade 3

Community learning Satisfactory: Grade 3

Preparation for life and work Satisfactory: Grade 3

 

Adult Education in Gloucestershire (AdEd) is part of the Community and Adult Care Directorate of Gloucestershire County Council’s Lifelong Learning section. AdEd mostly delivers personal development or community learning from contracts with Gloucestershire and Wiltshire LSC. According to the Office for National Statistics, Gloucestershire has a higher than average level of educational qualifications. However, there are pockets of deprivation where the take up of adult learning has been historically low.

Ofsted revealed the overall effectiveness of AdEd’s provision was satisfactory, and said it made significant improvements to its collection and use of management information to set and monitor targets with providers. The provider was praised for its high retention rates, and particularly "effective partnerships to increase learner participation". Inspectors said its planning and recording of individual learning and advice and guidance for progression were among key areas for it to improve.

According to provisional AdEd data, the learner success rate at level 2 was high, at 93% in 2007/08. The success rate for short courses of longer than five weeks duration in 2007/08 was also high at 83%. Level 1 long course success rates, however, were low in 2007/07, and these programmes have since been discontinued. Ofsted’s report said: "The standard of learners’ work is good in most areas, and notable in the visual and performing arts. Learners develop particularly good personal and social skills in many areas, leading to increased confidence and self-esteem."

Leadership and management was also found to be satisfactory, as recognised in its self-assessment. AdEd successfully uses local information to develop the curriculum and to target specific groups, for example, travellers. It has established a wide range of partners that meet the diverse requirements of the areas they work in. Satisfactory leadership and management also saw AdEd contributing appropriately towards Gloucestershire County Council’s local area agreement targets and council plans.

 

Skills & Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA), London

Summary of grades awarded:

Effectiveness of provision Satisfactory: Grade 3

Capacity to improve Satisfactory: Grade 3

Achievement and standards Satisfactory: Grade 3

Quality of provision Satisfactory: Grade 3

Leadership and management Satisfactory: Grade 3

Equality of opportunity Contributory grade: Satisfactory: Grade 3

Sector subject area:

Business, administration and law Satisfactory: Grade 3

 

Set up as a voluntary sector not for profit training provider, SEDA focuses on small and medium enterprises within minority ethnic communities. The group works in areas of deprivation across Camden Tower Hamlets, City and Newham, with all learners coming from Bangladeshi communities. It holds a contact with London Central LSC for the delivery of Train to Gain, in response to local employer demand, and this makes up 100% of the provider’s current provision.

Overall, the effectiveness of this provision was judged as satisfactory. Inspectors observed SEDA provides particularly good individual support for learners and is highly responsive to employers needs. However, the report also noted that it does not plan for personalised learning and skills for life sufficiently. Although strategic leadership of the company is focused and change is managed well, some aspects of the quality improvement arrangements were found to be incomplete.

Equality of opportunity was also found to be satisfactory. The report says: "SEDA provides a strong ethos and culture of respect for learners and staff, but is insufficiently aware of requirements in recent equality legislation". The provider was found to be very responsive to external and internal feedback, and responds fast to any areas for improvements raised through team meetings and external verifiers’ reports. This helped it gain a satisfactory grade for its capacity to improve.

Out of the 116 who started in 2007/08, 58 gained the NVQ at Level 2 in customer service, and a further 10 are still on programme. The remaining learners left in the first three months with former staff following a change in company direction. SEDA gained a satisfactory grade for its achievement and standards. The development of learners’ customer service skills was judged as good, and inspectors said "they know how to deal more effectively with difficult situations, including complaints".

The report commended SEDA’s focused vision and purpose, which it found all staff to clearly understand. Staff were well motivated, and had a strong commitment to the provider. However, its arrangements for quality improvement remain incomplete, and quality activities have not yet formalised into an annual cycle of activity. SEDA was also found to make insufficient use of data to set targets and to monitor improvements in learner performance. This meant it achieved a satisfactory grade for its leadership and management.