When the new chief inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, takes up the reins in the autumn, he will know that it has been a challenging year for Ofsted, and it is not only in schools where the question of it being fit for purpose has been raised.
The complaints about Ofsted’s approach may not have been so loud in the skills sector and in this respect, the inspectorate’s leadership has for several years shown a welcome propensity to listen carefully to what providers have to say. For example, providers are currently being consulted on the complaints system with the aim of it being made faster and more transparent while the introduction a shadow nominee is a positive step forward.
Even independent training provider nominees waiting for the dreaded call are entitled to annual leave and Ofsted now offers providers the opportunity to notify the inspectorate of ‘blackout dates’ when a call won’t come. Hopefully, the tales of abandoning the sun lounger just after a holiday has begun will become something of the past!
For apprenticeship providers, the involvement of employers in inspections adds to the potential stress and the intensity of inspection, with so much at stake, drives a level of pressure that benefits no one.
