Outstanding PCET ITE

One Provider’s Perspective

1. Self Evaluation

Keep the SED brief – 10 pages max

Only present headline data – not complicated data inspectors have to navigate through.

If you want to cross reference, do so to key documents inspectors are likely to see in the course of the inspection.

• You may want to keep a cross reference file of questions to evidence separately

• Be clear and explicit about what the data is measuring eg what do ‘completion rates’ mean? Including deferrals, interruptees? Are they success rates (% of those who started who gain the award in a timely way?)

In your commentary, follow the key questions

OUTCOMES

• How well do trainees teach?Although attainment data (historical) partly answer the question, inspectors are interested in current trainees and NQTs. Explain how you know and indicate significant points:

• ‘Trainees’ progress on the PGCE is good and a significant number of trainees improve by at least one grade over the period of their training’

• Employment dataThis is relatively straightforward for pre-service trainees. For in-service trainees/NQTs, the challenge is to measure enhancement in employment as a result of training. Some providers ask employers in relation to key aspects of teaching and learning. We .mailed 1500 ex trainees. We had a good return ‘Win a mini iPad’

QUALITY OF TRAINING• Highlight any USPs eg CCCU teaches

25% of each group at each centre alongside centre staff

• Be clear about how QA mechanisms work; inspectors are interested in not so much that you have them but what impact they have on the quality of training

• What subject specialist input is there?• How well are trainees supported in

embedding English and Maths in their teaching?

• How effectively are placements QAd and will inspectors agree about the impact of this at inspection?

• How effective is mentor training?• How is mentor input QAd?• How familiar are trainees with this

year’s themes?(13-14) Implications of RPA Changes to qualifications 16-19 Study Programmes

Aspects of training related to ‘Unseen children: access and achievement 20 years on’ chapter 6, ‘Getting the best leaders and teachers to where they are needed most.’ (as relevant for ITE in FE and skills)

• How accurate is your assessment of

trainees? How is it QAd?• In the new inspection structure, an

emphasis on how you monitor NQTs

LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT

• Is collaborative working truly partnership working – is it 2 way, for example?

• How do you ensure recruitment and selection are rigorous?

• Monitoring and evaluation – is this joined up – are centre and university processes synergistic

• What do trainees know about the new ETF standards? (Ofsted have committed to using these) How are they related to their experience of the programme?

• How is improvement monitored and how does this relate to other aspects of monitoring and evaluation?

2. Preparation• Have an action plan showing: Key

Questions – Evidence, Issues, Immediate actions, Medium term actions, Lead, RAG

• Ofsted Action timeline from Thursday – Monday and Monday - Thursday of inspection week – Tasks, Who, Deadline, Completed

• Bring in external team for Mocksted• Carry out mini-inspections of own

centres

3. Organisation

• We sent the phase lead an electronic pack on the Thursday (hard copies of this in the base room for Monday) which comprised:

a. SED plus basic supporting documentation for the SED including attainment, completion and equalities data and improvement plans and EE reportsb. Partners, programmes, venues and

traineenumbers, link tutor details, module leads, centre staff, role definitions, staff-student liaison details

c. NQT and alumni informationd. Placement detailse. Programme information – handbooks (NB vital to enable inspectors to understand programme structure), recruitment and selection information – interview guidance, sample material from centres, mentor handbooksf. Details of support interventions – tracking of coaching interventions, completed coaching intervention pro-formasg. Details of department and partnership conferences and research and development projects

• Try to manage the selection of trainees. With the new short lead time, phase leads seem more happy for providers to select the sample. We prepared a long list of 10 trainees/NQTs per centre. Make it representative - so, if you are claiming 9 out of 10 trainees/NQTs are G or O, select 9 G or O trainees/NQTs

• Make sure pen portraits don’t merely describe trainee backgrounds but also the story of their journey so far in the programme and even predictions of attainment

• We offered Saturday workshops to selected trainees to support them. Where attendance was difficult, we rang them.

• Make sure you monitor and are available to advise centres on the organisation of inspectors’ timetables. A major source of frustration for inspectors is where ineffective organisation has limited the evidence they are able to gather.

4. Inspection• Provider phase lead will either attend

meeting or hear feedback given Mon Tue. Use this access to triangulate with the centres that night or early the next day.

• This way, feedback can help centres address negative issues with further evidence of success