Ofsted rates training providers 'outstanding'

Its Chief Inspector’s Annual Report released today shows continued improvement in the delivery of skills programmes by independent training providers (ITPs).

According to the report, almost two in three of inspected Apprenticeship training providers were rated good or outstanding and 65% of ITPs overall in 2013-14 achieved Ofsted grades 1 or 2.

Ofsted has reported continued improvement in teaching and learning.

Independent providers offering 16 to 19 study programmes were also found to be developing employability skills well.

Ofsted reports that 88% of ITPs are now good or outstanding based on their most recent inspection.

“We are pleased that Ofsted has recognised that attendance and retention on Traineeships was much better than on previous pre-apprenticeship programmes," said Stewart Segal, chief executive of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers( AELP).

"We would argue that a major reason for this was that providers had a much greater input into the new programme’s design.”

Segal added:

"Given the staff capacity of many Local Enterprise Partnerships, especially in relation to employment and skills, we feel that Ofsted’s level of expectation on LEP influence in local provision is probably unrealistic at this juncture.

"The central government’s contracting system means that training providers only deliver what local employers want anyway and the vast majority of ITP learners are employed or moving towards it."