Quality assurance of prescribed higher level 4 and 5 apprenticeships - Webinar

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1 Quality assurance of prescribed higher level 4 and 5 apprenticeships - Webinar

2 Is this for me? What will I learn? The webinar summarises two workshops we held in September with Providers of Higher Education. There are four sections: 1. Overview of apprenticeships and quality Nicola Turner, Head of Skills HEFCE 2. Summary of quality assessment in Higher Education Jess Wood, HEFCE 3. Which body is responsible for quality? Ofsted or HEFCE? Quality Settlement, Accountability Statement and arrangements for the pilot of joint working 4. Summary of feedback from the workshop participants and optional homework! Is it for me? If you are responsible for the delivery of apprenticeships at level 4/5, yes. Useful for those working in either delivery or quality roles This is not a training session on how things will work, we don t know yet

3 Apprenticeships and quality Apprenticeship Reforms puts Quality front and centre New mix of providers delivering Apprenticeships - governed by different regulations and statutory duties for quality If you deliver Prescribed HE your organisation is subject to quality assessment by HEFCE If you deliver Apprenticeships you are subject to inspection by Ofsted IfA remit as Quality watchdog - Accountability Statement Sensible Questions How can Government ensure high quality is consistent? How can regulators avoid placing double burden/unnecessary burden on providers?

4 HEFCE s approach to quality assessment Key features: Proportionate and risked based Grounded in the mission and context of an individual university or college. Focuses meaningful external scrutiny on those areas that matter to students. Aims to reduce the bureaucracy, cost and burden placed on providers.

5 Annual Provider Review (APR) Analysis of data and other intelligence Governing body body assurances Annual Accountability Return Annual Provider Review New assurances on quality Risk and quality letter to provider Outcomes published on Register

6 Judgements from the APR (16-17) The outcome of the APR will be one of the following: Meets requirements the provider will continue to undergo Annual Provider Review in subsequent years Meets requirements with an action plan the provider will continue to undergo Annual Provider Review in subsequent years, but with an action plan to address areas of immediate concern Pending the outcome for this provider is not yet available Does not meet requirements the provider will return to developmental enhanced scrutiny, with a peer review visit as appropriate and an ongoing schedule of fouryearly visits, with an action plan to address areas of immediate concern

7 Example dashboard elements

8 Consultation The Department for Education is consulting on behalf of Office for Students regarding the new regulatory framework. More information found here:

9 Statutory Duties HEFCE and Ofsted each hold a statutory duty for quality assessment Both statutory duties predate the latest apprenticeship reforms and the introduction of degree apprenticeships in Ofsted has a duty to inspect apprenticeships Using the Common Inspection Framework and the Handbook for inspecting further education and skills providers. HEFCE s duty ensures the quality of provision for all prescribed higher education. Quality in HE is assessed by HEFCE through the Annual Provider Review process UK Higher Education and Research Act will transfer HEFCE s current quality assessment duty and regulatory responsibilities to Office for Students in March 2018

10 The role of the QAA Currently HEFCE can trigger the QAA to investigate a Provider if there are areas of concern We commission the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) to conduct a number of activities supporting the fulfilment of our stat duty, and this relationship will continue under OfS. Quality assessment in HE is risk based, in which context work-based and innovative models such as degree apprenticeships gain particular attention. HEFCE/QAA project on UK Quality Code reviewing Ch B10 in context on degree apprenticeships provision QAA to publish position statement and character statement on degree apprenticeships.

11 Who is responsible for Quality Assuring your apprenticeship? Level 2-3 Ofsted are responsible for inspecting the quality of apprenticeship training provision at level 2-3 Level 4-5 Ofsted are responsible for inspecting the quality of apprenticeship training provision at level 4-5, unless the apprenticeship standard contains a Prescribed HE qualification. In the case of apprenticeship providers delivering prescribed HE as part of an apprenticeship standard HEFCE and Ofsted will reach a judgement, informed by joint working, and this will be published.. Level 6-7 HEFCE HEFCE conducts risk assessment through the Annual Provider Review Areas of concern may trigger investigation by the QAA If the standard does not contain a prescribed HE qualification these bullets still apply There are two bodies with statutory duties for Quality Assurance: Ofsted and HEFCE. Most apprenticeships follow a simple path. For a small section of apprenticeships the statutory duties overlap. For these, Ofsted and HEFCE have agreed a joint approach. This diagram lets you check which system applies to you

12 Implementing the quality settlement Collaboration Agreement Provider workshops What next? Yr 1 Pilot Apprenticeship dashboard in APR

13 Pilot September 2017 March HE Providers volunteered HEFCE, Ofsted, QAA undertake mock assessment and test possible approaches. Aim: learn as much as possible With approval of our Boards, put a proposal to DfE for how the joint working should operate Depending on response, begin sharing that with sector from early summer 2018

14 Questions we asked delegates to work on Question 1 Theme - APR for apprenticeships What key information would you expect to return to HEFCE so we can assess whether the apprenticeship provision is high quality? Is there any information you d suggest that we ve not captured? Question 3 Theme - Good practice Imagine you are peer reviewers examining another institution s apprenticeship provision, what would good practice in L4/5 apprenticeships look like? Question 2 Theme - APR for apprenticeships What aspects particular to apprenticeship provision should be measured when assessing quality? Question 4 Theme Risk Imagine you are peer reviewers examining another institution s apprenticeship provision; what should be considered a cause for concern or risk to the quality of provision, and how can it be accurately reflected in QA assessment processes?

15 Summary of Feedback from Providers what good practice looks like for L4/5 (and degree) apprenticeships what the risks are around delivery of those apprenticeships what key information could be utilised both by providers and QA agents to review and assure the quality of those apprenticeships

16 Available resources Quality assessment webpages Revised operating model APR detailed guidance Consultation on the new higher education regulatory framework

17 Thank you for listening, any questions?