Memorandum from the Adult Learning Inspectorate
(ALI)
Over the last three years the Adult Learning
Inspectorate (ALI) has inspected over 2,500 training providers
reporting on the quality of education and training. Inspection
is carried out against the Common Inspection Framework (CIF) and
focuses primarily on the experiences and expectations of learners
through the evaluation of:
— the initial assessment of the suitability
of programmes of learning;
— the standards reached and learners'
achievements;
— the quality of teaching and learning;
— the planning and resourcing of programmes;
— how well the programmes are managed;
and
— the extent to which provision is
educationally and socially inclusive and promotes equality of
access including learners with learning difficulties and disabilities.
The work of the ALI includes education and training
provision funded by the Department of Education and Skills (DfES),
the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the Home Office and
overseas governments. With the aim of raising standards the ALI
works jointlywith other inspectorates including Her Majesty's
Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) with whom we are currently
inspecting police service training, including probationary training.
The ALI also contributed to Diversity Matters—HMIC's thematic
report on Race and Diversity, Training for the Police Service.
ALI inspectors also inspect with Her Majesty's Inspectorate of
Prisons (HMIP), inspecting in adult, young offender and, with
Ofsted, in juvenile establishments.
The ALI and its predecessor inspectorate, the
Training Standards Council, have considerable experience of inspecting
military installations during the last six years. Standards have
been generally high, with HMS Raleigh being among the best providers
inspected in 2001-02 and the Royal Artillery VQ Training Cell
having been awarded Learning & Skills Beacon status by the
Secretary for State for Education & Skills. A summary of grades
is attached.
In some complex areas, for example the promotion
of equality of opportunities, many installations have either achieved
high initial grades from the ALI or have rapidly improved performance
as a consequence of poor first inspection grades followed by reinspection.
In addition to the inspection of training funded
by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) the ALI has also an established
relationship with, the Director of Educational & Training
Services (DETS (A)) and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
in 1999. This MoU has recently been updated to include the training
division of the Army. In 2004 the ALI trained five army inspectors
and is now working jointly with DETS (A) inspecting Army Education
Centres worldwide.
Since February 2003 the ALI has been working
in partnership with the Director General Training and Education
(DGT&E), on behalf of all three services and the Civil Service,
to secure "a regular independent review process" (paragraph
103, Appraisal of Initial Training). The ALI has carried
out three pilot inspections to develop inspection instruments
and methods which would deliver inspection by technical experts
on a partnership basis with the Services, ensuring comparability
between military and civilian learning provision. These inspections
were of the Army School of Physical Training (ASPT), the Defence
Medical Services Training Centre (DMSTC), part of the Defence
Medical Education and Training Agency (DMETA) and dblearning,
the main provider of core training to the MoD Civil Service.
I believe inspection by the ALI of the education
and training provision provided by the MoD demonstrated the value
of:
— an independent and confidential channel
for learners' views;
— clear identification at unit and
service levels of the issues that need to be addressed to enable
continuous improvement; and
— recognition of the strengths of Service
provision and identification of good practice.
The pilot inspections resulted in inspection
grades ranging from good to unsatisfactory and a report was produced
for each establishment inspected. It was agreed that these reports
would not be published, as the inspections were conducted as trials,
but would be shared with the unit inspected and with DGT&E.
The findings of these reports could be produced as evidence for
the committee if required.
|
| Key for Areas of Learning |
|
| 1 | Sciences and Mathematics
|
| 2 | Land-Based Provision |
| 3 | Construction |
| 4 | Engineering, Technology and Manufacturing
|
| 5 | Business Administration
|
| 6 | Information and Communication Technology
|
| 7 | Retailing and Customer Service and Transportation
|
| 8 | Hospitality, Sport's, Leisure and Travel
|
| 9 | Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy
|
| 10 | Health, Social Care and Public Services
|
| 11 | Visual and Performing Arts and Media
|
| 12 | Humanities |
| 13 | English, Languages and Communications
|
| 14 | Foundation Programmes |
| Grade Profiles | |
| Grade 1 | Outstanding |
| Grade 2 | Good |
| Grade 3 | Satisfactory |
| Grade 4 | Unsatisfactory |
| Grade 5 | Very weak |
|
| April 2004 | |
|
