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| Ofsted to publish critical report on training provider | Ofsted to publish critical report on training provider |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A damning report on the adult training and apprenticeship provider Learndirect Ltd will be published on Thursday, the watchdog Ofsted has confirmed. | |
| An injunction obtained by Learndirect against the publication of the critical report was lifted on Monday. | An injunction obtained by Learndirect against the publication of the critical report was lifted on Monday. |
| The Ofsted report relates to an inspection of the provider, based in Sheffield, in March by 17 inspectors over a four-day period. | The Ofsted report relates to an inspection of the provider, based in Sheffield, in March by 17 inspectors over a four-day period. |
| The company said it was "extremely disappointed" with the verdict. | The company said it was "extremely disappointed" with the verdict. |
| It is understood the company was awarded the lowest possible grade - grade 4 - by inspectors. | It is understood the company was awarded the lowest possible grade - grade 4 - by inspectors. |
| 'Ineffective' management | 'Ineffective' management |
| According to reports passed to the BBC by the trade newspaper FE Week, which was in court, the Ofsted report says the "management of apprenticeships is ineffective". | According to reports passed to the BBC by the trade newspaper FE Week, which was in court, the Ofsted report says the "management of apprenticeships is ineffective". |
| It says about one in every three of the apprentices did not receive their entitlement to off-the-job learning, failing to develop the skills required to progress to the next step in their career. | It says about one in every three of the apprentices did not receive their entitlement to off-the-job learning, failing to develop the skills required to progress to the next step in their career. |
| The court also heard concerns about the proportion of apprentices who did not complete their apprenticeship on time, which has been increasing "steadily over the past three years". | The court also heard concerns about the proportion of apprentices who did not complete their apprenticeship on time, which has been increasing "steadily over the past three years". |
| In a statement, Learndirect said: "Learndirect Limited's underlying business remains stable, and we continue to be focused on supporting our learners as usual." | In a statement, Learndirect said: "Learndirect Limited's underlying business remains stable, and we continue to be focused on supporting our learners as usual." |
| Learndirect, which was privatised in 2011, has over 70,000 trainees on its apprenticeships and training programmes and employs over 1,600 staff members. | Learndirect, which was privatised in 2011, has over 70,000 trainees on its apprenticeships and training programmes and employs over 1,600 staff members. |
| It said it had challenged Ofsted's inspection over concerns that the process did not give a "true reflection" of the company's training quality and performance. | It said it had challenged Ofsted's inspection over concerns that the process did not give a "true reflection" of the company's training quality and performance. |
| FE Week editor Nick Linford said an Ofsted grade four was extremely serious for a private training provider. | |
| "In these cases, public funding is nearly always withdrawn, and Learndirect indicated in court that they had been told this would happen to them. | |
| "As nearly all of their income would be withdrawn, they said they would likely go bust and over 1,600 people would lose their jobs." | |
| But Mr Linford said learners should try not to panic, as it was not uncommon for a training provider to go bust. | |
| "The government are resourced to support them and find an alternative provider to ensure they complete their course," he said. | |
| "Given Learndirect's published performance figures were so poor and that they were heavily criticised by Ofsted for delivering limited training or skills development, I would actually expect a switching of provider to be a positive outcome for current Learndirect learners." | |
| Report delayed | |
| A spokesman for Ofsted said the inspection had been in the spring, but publication of the report had been delayed initially because of the general election and then because of the court injunction. | A spokesman for Ofsted said the inspection had been in the spring, but publication of the report had been delayed initially because of the general election and then because of the court injunction. |
| He said: "Seventeen inspectors took part in this inspection over four days when they spoke to learners and apprentices. | He said: "Seventeen inspectors took part in this inspection over four days when they spoke to learners and apprentices. |
| "Inspectors interviewed employers, apprentices and learners in person and over the phone, reviewed portfolios of work, and looked at progress reviews when they gathered evidence. | "Inspectors interviewed employers, apprentices and learners in person and over the phone, reviewed portfolios of work, and looked at progress reviews when they gathered evidence. |
| "As well as visiting apprentices in their workplace, inspectors also reviewed a wide range of evidence to ensure that both the judgements and inspection grades were secure. | "As well as visiting apprentices in their workplace, inspectors also reviewed a wide range of evidence to ensure that both the judgements and inspection grades were secure. |
| "Ofsted will publish the inspection report about this learning provider on Thursday." | "Ofsted will publish the inspection report about this learning provider on Thursday." |
| What were your experiences of studying with Learndirect? Did you get the workplace training you needed and did you finish your qualification? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. | What were your experiences of studying with Learndirect? Did you get the workplace training you needed and did you finish your qualification? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |