Ofsted has been asked by the government to carry out a
thematic survey of how well providers are developing and delivering
Skills Bootcamps programmes.
The survey will assess the effectiveness and quality of the
education and training students are receiving, identifying
strengths and weaknesses, across a sample of providers.
Skills Bootcamps are
free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks for adults aged 19 or
over who are either in work or recently unemployed. Their aim is
to help people develop skills that are in demand in their local
area, so they can potentially get a new job or a better position
at work. The programmes are being developed in partnership with
employers, training providers and local authorities, as part of
the government’s Plan for Jobs and
Lifetime Skills Guarantee.
Ofsted’s survey will use the inspection methodology set out in
the further education and
skills handbook, focusing on the quality of education and the
curriculum. This approach will help us to understand and evaluate
education and training provision, looking at developments
nationally, and highlighting good practice as well as areas for
improvement.
The results of the survey will help build a national picture of
how well Skills Bootcamps are working. Our findings will inform
the Department for Education, policy makers, providers of Skills
Bootcamps, students and employers about the quality and progress
of Skills Bootcamps.
Inspectors will carry out survey visits between December 2021 and
March 2022, with the aim of publishing a report in September
2022.
The survey visits to providers are not the same as an inspection.
We will only look at the Skills Bootcamp provision and will not
make judgements about individual providers.
