A college’s apprenticeship programme has been branded ‘inadequate’ by the education watchdog.
Ofsted says the ‘large majority’ of apprentices at Cheadle and Marple Sixth Form College have not received ‘high-quality training’ on the scheme.
The finding is in stark contrast to the college’s overall performance – with officials finding the quality of teaching, outcomes for learners, and high needs provision to be ‘good’.
The college’s adult learning and 16-19 study programmes also received this rating, and there was praise for the ‘broad and balanced curriculum’ on offer.
Lessons were also said to ‘engross and inspire’ students.
But this has been overshadowed by a scathing verdict on its apprenticeships and strong criticism of leaders – resulting in an overall rating of ‘requires improvement’.
The report says achievement rates for apprentices have ‘declined significantly’ since the previous inspection and are ‘very low’.
It adds: “Just over a quarter of apprentices completed their programme on time in 2017/18. Leaders and managers have presided over a significant decline in the standard of training for apprentices since the previous inspection.
“Leaders and managers have presided over a significant decline in the standard of training for apprentices since the previous inspection. This has resulted in most apprentices in the current year not making the progress of which they are capable.”
In further criticism college bosses were said to be unaware of apprentices making slow progress until it is too late – at which point ‘very little can be done’ to help them catch up.
The report adds: “The large majority of apprentices do not receive enough high-quality training on their programme.”
However the college – which is dropping its apprenticeship programme at the end of the academic year – has submitted a formal legal complaint against Ofsted.
Principal Jenny Singleton believes the rating of requires improvement is ‘completely disproportionate to the proportion of provision which has been graded good or better’.
A statement says the college is ‘very disappointed’ with the apprenticeship assessment, which it says was affected by a former sub-contract arrangement.
The college will not be offering apprenticeships when the next academic year begins in September.
And it adds that staff are ‘very proud’ of the many areas of strength highlighted in the report, including the finding that “Students develop high levels of employment related skills through a broad and balanced curriculum which incorporates well-planned work experience and extra-curricular activities”.
Ofsted also found that students felt ‘very safe’ at the college and demonstrated ‘a good work ethic and develop independent learning skills’.
