All posts by Hannah Payne

October Insights 2024

The revised Inspection Handbook refers to personal data Ofsted may hold. This includes information about staff employment and performance, staff’s personal opinions relevant to their work, details of previous employment/references from staff files, and other suitability checks. We find the reference to staff’s personal views about their work interesting and wonder how damaging any negative […]

November Insights 2023

Why do many providers find inspection a challenge? Nationally, across the FE sector, the proportion of inspections RI or poor is slowly rising. Why? Is it that Ofsted is becoming more critical, provision is getting weaker or something completely different? Is there a pattern or a trend? The analysis is fascinating. When we ‘run the […]

October Insights 2023

An update on Ofsted inspection outcomes At the end of September, our six-month data analysis indicates providers graded inadequate and requiring improvement are increasing, with over 28% of inspections from April to September appearing in this category. There is a greater focus on retention data and outcomes in more recent inspections. We know there is […]

The Inclusivity Advantage

How can you tell if the inclusivity you have within your organisation’s setting is leading to a positive culture, better safeguarding and stronger learner outcomes? Questions like these are enough to panic any organisation leader. The intangibility of many of the factors of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion makes answering these questions with any substance a […]

Member Spotlight – Sports Structures

We are delighted to share Sports Structures Education Community Interest Company’s recent inspection outcome, achieving Good in all areas of provision. This is a significant achievement for a new provider, and this is their story so far… Sports Structures joined The Fellowship of Inspection Nominees (FIN) in 2019 before enrolling their first apprentices. As active […]

September Insights 2023

An update on Ofsted inspection outcomes over the summer Analysis of inspection outcomes across the sector shows 22% of providers ‘require improvement’. While good and better grades are an improving trend, we can see patterns emerging. Career advice and guidance are common areas for improvement. However, staff skills and CPD are also frequently commented on. […]

August Insights 2023

Are you content with ‘good’? Many providers are quite content, or even relieved to hear final feedback stating ‘over all effectiveness is good’. But why should you be content, Ofsted will return in around four years and the goal posts, or possible the whole pitch will have moved. As soon as inspectors leave begin preparations […]

July Insights 2023

Received the ‘call’ but not sufficiently prepared We frequently hear providers say their inspection experience wasn’t quite what they expected, if you haven’t been inspected recently, or inspected under the EIF, it’s perhaps understandable. Every inspection has a planning call with the lead inspector two days in advance of the actual inspection, use this opportunity […]

Member Spotlight – Hawk Training

Congratulations to our member Hawk Training who achieved outstanding overall in their Ofsted inspection. Hawk Training is an independent training provider based in West London with over 20 years of experience delivering apprenticeships. The company works with over 400 different employers, teaching apprenticeships levels 2 to 5. Apprentices receive outstanding support on their courses from […]

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