ISSUE 1
News Bulletin St Helens College Employer News
Launch of the new Business Development Unit The College is pleased to let you know that a new Business Development Unit called Business Skills will be launched shortly. Business Skills will enhance and expand the services the College currently offer employers and businesses. These will include, but not be restricted to, training needs analysis, up-skilling or reskilling of the workforce, apprenticeships, government subsidised training for employees, maths and English in the workforce, full-cost training and much more. Business Skills will be happy to discuss any service or training that you may need. For more information see the College website www.sthelens.ac.uk/employer or call a Business Advisor on 01744 623342 or email: Businessunit@sthelens.ac.uk
Inspection Scheduling The College could be inspected at any time with just two days notice. In order to achieve the best outcome possible we are asking our partners to prepare to help us during an inspection. This news bulletin aims to raise awareness and provide information that will be required during an Ofsted inspection. From September, the 2012 revised Common Inspection Framework will bring a number of critical changes to the inspection process. With future inspections occurring on more or less a ‘surprise’ basis, we need to prepare our staff, partners and students.
Inspecting further education and skills When Ofsted visit employers to inspect, they gather evidence on how well the College is performing and they will produce an independent assessment of the College’s quality and standards. The inspection may take place in the work place and the classroom. Ofsted evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of the education and training provided and looks at how it meets students’ needs. Ofsted value the feedback received from employers. Inspectors look at the quality of teaching, learning and assessment, the effectiveness of the care, guidance and support students receive, and how well the provision meets their individual needs. They talk to students to ascertain their views.
A full inspection normally lasts between three and five days. However, it is unlikely that the inspectors would make more than one visit to an employer to look at apprenticeships or other work based courses. Inspectors will talk to employers and students, visiting classes and observe learning activities. As an employer, partner or sub-contractor with the College you need to know the following information: • What advice and guidance was offered to the student • How and what information was provided at the students’ induction • Results of the students’ initial assessments and any support required • Course details of the students including curriculum specifications/scheme of work • Mode of study, attendance details of the students • Knowledge of the students’ assessment, homework or assignment requirements • Support requirements of the students including expected input from the employer/supervisor • Student review information, action planning, short and long term targets.
Key Inspection Documents The Inspectors use a range of evidence documents to enable them to form judgments on the quality and standard of the provision being inspected, key documents that employers should have ready include: • Employee rights and responsibility statement • Health and Safety policy including safeguarding policy • Equality and Diversity Policy • Student Individual Learning Plans • Complaints Procedure • Results of student survey • Insurance policy Your College link manager/person will provide you with any College key documents that you may need and will discuss the key relevant points with you.
September 2012
Welcome to the first St Helens College News Bulletin. The aim of the News Bulletin is to enable our partners to keep up to date with major changes. The focus of the first few issues is on Ofsted Inspection. The College could be inspected anytime from September 2012 and will only get 48 Hours notice. We hope this bulletin is of use and interest to you and if you require further information or clarification on anything that you have read here please email: pcassell@sthelens.ac.uk Paul Cassell Assistant Principal, Standards and Performance
What Do You Need To Do? We would like you to have all the information you need if you are visited as part of the inspection. We therefore ask that you meet with your College link manager who will clarify the key documents and will discuss the types of questions that inspectors will ask during a visit. The next bulletin will provide you with the types of frequently asked questions.
Useful Websites / Resources www.ofsted.gov.uk www.sthelens.ac.uk www.education.gov.uk The common Inspection Framework The Inspection Handbook College and Curriculum Area SAR Curriculum Quality Improvement Plans