AELP welcomes response to ‘The Big Listen’

AELP welcomes Ofsted’s response to its The Big Listen exercise, published today. While the news, announced yesterday, about the removal of single word judgements may capture the headlines, AELP believes the more important content lies elsewhere in the report.

On single word judgements, while AELP completely understands the need for change, the reality is that there will continue to be trigger points for intervention for providers of all types. This intervention will still have consequences for everyone involved - and these trigger points are necessary features of the system if the accountability that Ofsted is responsible to Parliament for is to remain. AELP is pleased to see, therefore, further commitments in the report to build on already-implemented improvements to make the process of being inspected less stressful and minimise the risk of harm to provider staff.

AELP also argues that the launch of The Ofsted Academy and plans to develop new inspection frameworks and associated 'scorecards' is just as significant. These will be developed in consultation with the FE and Skills sector over the coming year, to enable more productive and constructive interactions through inspection – and will aim to support providers to improve and do even more for their learners and employers. AELP particularly welcomes the emphasis throughout the response to learners who face particular disadvantages, whether those who are care-experienced, with SEN, in youth offending institutions or who live in households and areas of disadvantage.

AELP recognises it can play a large role in helping Ofsted improve its relationship with the skills sector, including encouraging more part-time inspectors to come forward. The organisation is also currently preparing for its A Day With Ofsted, scheduled for early 2025, which will continue to build a robust, mutually challenging and supportive relationship with Ofsted and the skills sector. Bookings will be open for A Day With Ofsted later this autumn.

Ben Rowland, Chief Executive of AELP said:

"It's great to see that FE and skills providers, including many AELP members, were so active in the Big Listen initiative, with 23% of all respondents coming from FE and Skills. There are some really important ideas coming through, and we are pleased that there is such strong commitment to work with the sector to develop a new inspection framework and a new 'scorecard', that will enable us, together with Ofsted, to build on the foundations we already have in place to continuously improve how inspections work in turn so that our learners, our employers and our staff all benefit.
“AELP will continue to keep up the pressure on Ofsted to improve consistency, to improve the experience of being inspected and to ensure inspection teams have the right expertise to be able to truly add value as well as hold providers to account."

Notes to editors:

AELP responded to Ofsted’s Big Listen with its views on how the organisation could become more effective in May, and set out its views in an article for FE Week by Deputy CEO and Director of Policy, Simon Ashworth, earlier this year.

The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) is a national membership body, proudly representing organisations operating in the skills sector. AELP members deliver a range of training and vocational learning – including the majority of apprenticeships as well as Skills Bootcamps, 16-19 Study Programme, Adult Education Budget and more.

For further information or interviews please contact Matt Strong, Communications Manager, AELP, on 07920 161685 or [email protected]