Royal Navy Apprenticeship Training Receives Glowing Report

Ofsted inspectors impressed by RN/VT Flagship delivered programme

A four-day Ofsted inspection in February 2009 has seen ‘Good’ and ‘Outstanding’ grades for the Royal Navy apprenticeship programme provided for Royal Navy and Royal Marines trainees. 

VT Flagship partners the Royal Navy in delivering apprentice training at HMS Raleigh, HMS Sultan and at the Maritime Warfare School (MWS) at HMS Collingwood. This includes Engineering Apprenticeships and Logistics Awards (Housing, Warehousing, Hospitality and Catering). VT Flagship also provides the training support for these programmes from documentation through to course accreditation.

The key strengths of the RN apprenticeship programmes identified within the Ofsted Report were; outstanding provision of engineering training and resources, very good development of vocational skills, management of the training programmes, personal development of staff and apprentices, and actions to improve quality of provision.

Speaking of the report, Flag Officer Sea Training, Rear Admiral Chris Snow, said: “Ofsted’s report is nothing short of a ringing endorsement of the excellence of apprenticeship training across the Naval Service…and demonstrates to young recruits and their parents that the Service offers first-class career prospects and training that provides them with the sort of skills that will equip them for life.”

During the extremely thorough inspection, nine Ofsted inspectors visited 11 centres and interviewed 183 trainees and 125 military and VT Flagship staff.  The inspection also included the Hospitality and Catering Training carried out at the Defence Maritime Logistics School within HMS Raleigh, public services training and the health and social care sector.

A four-day Ofsted inspection in February 2009 has seen ‘Good’ and ‘Outstanding’ grades for the Royal Navy apprenticeship programme provided for Royal Navy and Royal Marines trainees. 

VT Flagship partners the Royal Navy in delivering apprentice training at HMS Raleigh, HMS Sultan and at the Maritime Warfare School (MWS) at HMS Collingwood. This includes Engineering Apprenticeships and Logistics Awards (Housing, Warehousing, Hospitality and Catering). VT Flagship also provides the training support for these programmes from documentation through to course accreditation.

The key strengths of the RN apprenticeship programmes identified within the Ofsted Report were; outstanding provision of engineering training and resources, very good development of vocational skills, management of the training programmes, personal development of staff and apprentices, and actions to improve quality of provision.

Speaking of the report, Flag Officer Sea Training, Rear Admiral Chris Snow, said: “Ofsted’s report is nothing short of a ringing endorsement of the excellence of apprenticeship training across the Naval Service…and demonstrates to young recruits and their parents that the Service offers first-class career prospects and training that provides them with the sort of skills that will equip them for life.”

During the extremely thorough inspection, nine Ofsted inspectors visited 11 centres and interviewed 183 trainees and 125 military and VT Flagship staff.  The inspection also included the Hospitality and Catering Training carried out at the Defence Maritime Logistics School within HMS Raleigh, public services training and the health and social care sector.

Overall, ‘Good’ grades were awarded for leadership and management, effectiveness, capacity to improve, achievements and standards, quality of provision and equality of opportunity.

Commander Trevor Price, LSC Desk Officer in Navy Command HQ and lead for the Ofsted Inspection said: “As the Naval Ofsted nominee managing this inspection, I am delighted with the outcome. I particularly want to thank all the VT staff involved in the  Naval Apprenticeship programme for their enthusiasm and dedication to maintain a superb level of output, justifiably recognised by Ofsted.  Delivering 11 Apprenticeships is not easy and gaining an Outstanding Grade 1 in our core specialisation of Engineering is remarkable and something we should be very proud of.”