Avant Partnership

Ofsted inspects schools, colleges and other learning providers delivering government funded training making judgements about the achievements and standards, quality of provision and leadership and management.  All Ofsted inspections follow the Common Inspection Framework and inspectors use a four point scale to summarise their judgements, with Grade 4 being inadequate through to Grade 1 being outstanding.

The effectiveness of provision, achievements and standards, quality of provision and leadership and management at Avant Partnership were all awarded Grade 2 and confirmed to be good.

This is a fantastic achievement for the organisation and all delivery partners in such a new and innovative venture. 

The following Key Strengths were identified by the Ofsted Inspection Team:

• Good Train to Gain overall success rates;
• Very good retention rates;
• Good achievement of additional skills for Young Apprentices;
• Good standards of learners work;
• Significant development in learners confidence and self-esteem;
• Flexible and individual learning programmes;
• Good staff development to support improvement;
• Productive and responsive partnership working;
• Good arrangements to develop and improve equality and diversity practices;

The following findings supported the judgements made by inspectors:

“Success rates across the Train to Gain programme are high.  Overall success rates were high at 82% compared with the national rate of 60%”

“Retention rates in the second year of the two year [Young Apprenticeship] programme are high at 89%”

“Avant has developed a flexible and successful approach to support learning.  The partnership members work hard to make learning and assessment interesting and inclusive”

“An innovative range of projects have been developed to make the Young Apprenticeship programmes interesting and stimulating”

Employers recognise the improved skill and productivity levels gained from participating in the Train to Gain programmes”

“Very effective individualised learning programmes meet the needs of learners and employers”

“Employers increasingly rely on the increased skill levels of the Train to Gain employees to run their business”

“A key strength is the significant development in learners’ confidence and self esteem.  The programme quickly helps them to develop their skills and become highly valued members of their employers’ staff”

“The new skills and confidence gained by some employees has led them to more senior and demanding jobs with their employer”

“The programmes have high retention and success rates and good learner and employer satisfaction levels”

“Partnership working is well established and very effective”

“Avant has a good range of proactive network links in the local community and regional area.  It works well in accessing funding for the benefit of the partners and their learners.  Staff from Avant uses these networks effectively to initiate new ideas and share good practice”

“Resources are well used by partners to improve the quality of their provision and improvements in the programmes have been established as a result of Avant’s interventions”

The following comments were made by learners during the inspection on what they liked:

“It isn’t like school”

“They are always there to help”

”The programme has given me more confidence in my own ability”

“Grateful in having the opportunity to achieve personal goals”

“Interesting and enjoyable programme”

”Being able to work at our own pace”

“Having helpful and experienced tutors and assessors”

”The training is really good”

The inspection has confirmed that such a new partnership is already very effective and delivering high quality provision.  The inspection has enabled us to focus on continually improving the training and development delivered through partnership to continue meeting the expectations and needs of employers and learners.