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24
Jul
Harrogate apprentice training company maintains ‘good’ Ofsted rating
A Harrogate vocational training company that works with employers including Jet2, Channel 4 and the NHS has been rated 'good' by Ofsted, maintaining the rating it achieved at its last inspection five years ago.
VQ Solutions Limited, on Victoria Avenue, offers training and services to apprentices across various sectors and was visited by government inspectors in June.
At the time of inspection, it had 205 apprentices aged 16 or older.
Inspectors gave the organisation ‘good’ ratings in four of the five graded categories: quality of education, personal development, leadership and management, and apprenticeships.
It was rated ‘outstanding’ for its students’ behaviour and attitudes.
Most of the school’s teaching is done online, with some face-to-face training for specific apprenticeships.
The report praised students’ attitudes:
Apprentices are highly motivated and committed to their training. They are studious with their online studies and make swift progress in their training. Apprentices’ attendance to lessons is very high.
[They] develop their confidence significantly during their apprenticeship. Many need less supervision at work as their skills deepen.
Tutors were praised for implementing a strong curriculum, using “high-quality resources” to develop students’ learning.
The report identified that tutors work closely with students’ employers to tailor their mentoring towards company needs. They also ensure apprentices are given “helpful career advice and guidance”.
Annabel Gilmour, director at VQ Solutions, said:
We are thrilled to have been recognised as a good Ofsted provider, attributing this to our close-knit, dedicated team, our supportive employers with whom we partner, and our engaged and diligent apprentices. We were especially pleased that, according to the Ofsted survey, 100% of employers we work with would recommend us.
In addition to a wide range of local businesses in Harrogate and the surrounding areas, we also collaborate with numerous national employers, including Bosch, Channel 4, Siemens, Jet2, the NHS, Superdrug, and National Grid.
We take pride in our consistently high achievement rates, which have remained at 75-80% for over a decade. We have typically been more than 20% over the national average.
We have currently achieved 100% distinction rates in marketing, HR, management, and network engineering, which is only possible through regular monthly reviews that exceed the expected amount, excellent teaching, and close one-to-one support.
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