The document discusses the key characteristics of high-quality apprenticeship programs according to education inspectors. It identifies several essential features, including developing curricula that are ambitious, employer-focused, and link on-the-job and classroom learning. Successful providers implement feedback to continually improve apprentices' skills, carefully evaluate their own performance, and work flexibly with employers. Inspectors will focus on whether providers are meeting apprentices' needs and supporting their progress.

1. What do good apprenticeships look
like?
Richard Pemble, Her Majesty’s Inspector
Specialist Adviser, inspection policy and quality
AELP National Conference June 2021 - Good Apprenticeships Workshop Slide 1

2. Introduction
 Characteristics of high-quality
apprenticeships
 The key features that inspectors
found in providers
 Education inspection framework –
September 2019 to March 2020
 Curriculum at its heart – what does
this mean for apprenticeships?
AELP National Conference June 2021 - Good Apprenticeships Workshop Slide 2

3. The apprenticeship curriculum
AELP National Conference June 2021 - Good Apprenticeships Workshop Slide 3
Framework
or Standard
Provider
Employer
Statutory duties:
- HASAWA
- Equalities Act
- Prevent
Employer specific:
- Contextual learning
- Machine training
- Quality circle
Statutory duties:
- Safeguarding inc. H&S
- Prevent
- Equalities Act
Extra-curricular:
- Charity work
- Competitions

4. Curricular domains
Apprenticeship
Awarding
Organisation
Additional
requirements
Employer needs
Personal and
Social
Enhancements
AELP National Conference June 2021 - Good Apprenticeships Workshop Slide 4

5. Developing your offer
 Why do you offer the apprenticeships you do?
 Links to local/regional/national skills needs?
 Links to local/regional employer demand?
 The best providers have a strong rationale for why
they do what they do and are supported by employers
to do so.
AELP National Conference June 2021 - Good Apprenticeships Workshop
Slide 5

6. Developing your curriculum
AELP National Conference June 2021 - Good Apprenticeships Workshop Slide 6

7. Developing your curriculum
 Ambitious, challenging and well-considered.
 Meets the needs of employers very closely.
 Coherence that links theory to the workplace.
 Involvement of employers is integral.
 Linked to career goals.
 Unrelenting focus on substantial new knowledge, skills and
behaviours.
 Those responsible for governance support and challenge
leaders and managers to improve.
AELP National Conference June 2021 - Good Apprenticeships Workshop Slide 7

8. Implementing your curriculum
 Takes apprentices’ starting points into account.
 On- and off-the job training are linked and support each other.
 English, mathematics and IT skills are not just about
qualifications.
 Training has a logic to it and flows – building skills over time.
 Preparation for end-point assessment.
 Understanding of the performance needed to achieve pass,
merit and distinction grades – where available.
 Wider curriculum opportunities – not just the standard.
AELP National Conference June 2021 - Good Apprenticeships Workshop Slide 8

9. Feedback
 Must help apprentices improve their knowledge, skills and
behaviours.
 Not just on written work – what about practical work and work
done as part of the apprentice’s job role?
 Supports progress over time and challenges the apprentice to
improve.
 Reviewed by the assessor and employer/supervisor – making
sure the workplace supervisor has the skills and time to support
the apprentice.
AELP National Conference June 2021 - Good Apprenticeships Workshop Slide 9

10. Evaluate what you do
 Not just self-
assessment.
 Know your strengths.
 Know your areas for
improvement.
 Involve your teams.
AELP National Conference June 2021 - Good Apprenticeships Workshop Slide 10

11. Improving what you do
 Leaders and managers identify weaknesses very quickly and
improve them promptly.
 Maintaining assessors' vocational/subject knowledge and skills.
 Improving assessors' training and assessment skills.
 Relentless focus on quality and improvement.
 High-quality resources that reflect industry.
 Supporting apprentices who do not make at least expected
progress.
 Be bold – stop doing it if it is not working or improving.
AELP National Conference June 2021 - Good Apprenticeships Workshop Slide 11

12. Getting back to training
 As apprentices are able to return fully to work and training and
we resume inspections, what do you need to think about?
 Doing the right thing for your apprentices is key.
 That is what inspectors will be looking for.
 Revisiting and revising training plans.
 Talking to apprentices’ employers about what is possible and
when it is possible.
 Checking what learning has been missed or needs revising.
 Preparing for end-point assessments.
AELP National Conference June 2021 - Good Apprenticeships Workshop Slide 12

13. AELP National Conference June 2021 - Good Apprenticeships Workshop Slide 13
Any questions?

14. Ofsted on the web and on social media
www.gov.uk/ofsted
http://reports.ofsted.gov.uk
www.linkedin.com/company/ofsted
www.youtube.com/ofstednews
www.slideshare.net/ofstednews
www.twitter.com/ofstednews
AELP National Conference June 2021 - Good Apprenticeships Workshop Slide 14