Handing Ofsted powers to inspect degree apprenticeships is “worrying and unnecessary”, a university membership organisation has said.

MillionPlus, which represents 24 “modern” universities, has expressed concern at the watchdog’s expertise to inspect the provision and called for inspectors to have mandatory HE academic employment experience in order to review university-based provision.

It comes after FE Week revealed government plans for Ofsted to take on responsibility for overseeing all apprenticeships, including those at the degree levels of 6 and 7 from the Office for Students, for the first time.

Writing for FE Week, chief executive Greg Walker said that degree apprenticeships, which launched in 2015, have “such exciting potential” but it is “extremely disappointing to see the government clipping the wings of this policy before it has a chance to really fly”.

He said that while Ofsted has a “great deal” of experience in its field of school and college inspections, that “does not mean it is suitable to regulate the complex, diverse educational provision in higher education”.

Walker claims his members have “already seen some issues with Ofsted oversight of university provision” at levels 4 and 5.

He said: “A tricky compromise between Ofsted and the OfS meant the former reviews some elements of level 4 and 5 apprenticeships offered by universities. This has been a challenging experience for universities, dealing with a significant lack of understanding and a desire by Ofsted to simply overlay a wider inspection framework on to university learning.

“This has led to worrying assumptions that did not match reality – including seeing drastically different judgements about teaching excellence from the OfS’s TEF [Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework] evaluation and from Ofsted inspectors, despite both organisations reviewing the same provision.”

Walker recommends that if the proposal for Ofsted to inspect all apprenticeships becomes policy, the watchdog’s criteria to become an inspector for degree apprenticeships should be amended so that it is “obligatory to have had HE academic employment experience in order to review university-based provision”.

Adrian Anderson, chief executive of the University Vocational Awards Council, has also questioned Ofsted’s HE experience, saying the inspectorate should urgently outline “what plans it has to recruit senior managers with higher education experience and expertise”.

Ofsted declined to comment.

Last week, the Russell Group, which represents the 24 “leading” universities in the UK including Cambridge, did not pour cold water over the plan for Ofsted to inspect their members.

A spokesperson said the group will continue to work with government on delivery and expansion of the apprenticeship route, including how to avoid “overburdensome or disproportionate regulation”.

The Department for Education said it will “provide further updates in due course” about the future regulation of level 6 and 7 apprenticeships.

Making Ofsted the sole regulator for all apprenticeships was a recommendation in Philip Augar’s review of post-18 education.

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3 Comments

  1. Just Saying

    Come on guys don’t be spoil sports !
    The rest of the FE world cant wait for these inspections to start !
    FE Week will already have cleared its front pages in anticipation of the results!

  2. Barry Scott

    Okay, let’s get serious for a moment. For many years I believed in Ofsted – that they were a necessary function of a responsibly managed education system. However, having had intimate involvement with them over the past five years I can tell you this: your inspection result is almost entirely down to the personal views of the lead inspector, who will direct the team down the road they expect them to follow. Upset them, and they can be vicious. Complain about them, and they investigate themselves and find themselves innocent! Now I firmly believe that Ofsted should be disbanded, it’s team of HMIs should all be removed and replaced with a whole new system that isn’t quite so sure it’s always right before it’s even visited you.
    And as for them moving on to inspect HE level work? Most of them haven’t been involved in a classroom for so long they can’t even effectively review FE work.
    Shambles!

    • richard moore

      Inspections are influenced more by the thoroughness and views/preferences of the lead inspector than ought to be the case and much more so than Ofsted would ever, understandbly, admit Barry. However, I would rarely describe them as vicious and I have worked with hundreds of them over the years and managed them as well. And the vast majority do not arrive onsite having already made their mind up about the provider. You have clearly had some bad experiences though which is a real shame!.