Preparing for an Ofsted inspection? Data is a key component for assessing the quality and effectiveness of your apprenticeship and training programmes.
Ofsted will use data to evaluate your performance as a training provider, but it’s not enough for this data to simply exist. Ofsted inspectors will want to see that you’re regularly using this data to make timely and informed decisions, and ultimately improving learner outcomes.
Here’s why it’s important to have a strong grasp of your data, and the steps you can take to prepare your data before your next Ofsted inspection.
Data is already an important asset for training providers. You can use it to build on your strengths and scale up areas of your business, or proactively address concerns before they become bigger problems.
It’s set to become even more powerful over the next few years too. While many providers already use data to identify learners at risk of withdrawal, emerging tools will enable earlier detection of potential issues and faster intervention.
Having a strong grasp of your data is also critical to demonstrate your commitment to continuous improvement. Ofsted and the Department for Education increasingly want to see training providers taking ownership of their own standards and continually working to improve quality. Your data can highlight areas of improvement, so you can address them long before Ofsted arrives.
Here are three ways to start getting to grips with your data and set your organisation up for Ofsted success.
The most common barrier to using data is the lack of access. If you’re working with a combination of different systems and spreadsheets, you’ll find that data becomes siloed. Data silos occur when you’re using systems that can’t ‘talk’ to each other, so you end up with lots of isolated pockets of information.
Data silos make it almost impossible for your team – and Ofsted – to build up a current picture of what’s happening in your business. A better option is to switch to a joined-up solution that stores information in a centralised data warehouse and provides a single source of truth.
Rather than having to manually calculate data from multiple systems, an end-to-end platform can give you clarity and visibility over your business. This was a huge benefit for training provider Solace, who switched to Bud to better comply with Ofsted’s requirements.
To know your data inside out, make sure you set aside the time to interrogate it. Schedule a dedicated meeting with your team each month and prepare custom reports if possible. Being able to build, save and manage bespoke reports will give you all the data you need each time, rather than having to manually compile it.
In these meetings, reflect on the past month and decide which areas you need to focus on over the next month. Remember to look at your strengths as well as any areas of weakness – Ofsted will want to see that you’re continually improving on the things you’re doing well too.
Mock Ofsted inspections are a great way to assess your readiness, identify areas for improvement and prepare your team for the real thing. While Ofsted is implementing changes to make inspections less daunting, it’s still natural for your team to feel anxious about providing the evidence on the spot.
Bud customer and Ofsted Outstanding provider Debut Training prepared for this by running mock presentations and Q&As before their inspection. It helped their team practice finding data to demonstrate high-quality training and identify potential evidence gaps.
Here are five quick takeaways for transforming how you access, understand and apply data before your next Ofsted inspection.
Remove data silos. Use a joined-up learning management platform for complete visibility over your data.
Automate data collection. Manually calculating figures is time consuming and can result in mistakes. Use workflows that automatically collect and store data instead.
Schedule monthly reviews. Book in dedicated time to analyse learner and trainer data, and confirm areas of focus for the next month.
Build bespoke reports. Set up custom data dashboards to give your team an accessible overview of performance.
Run mock inspections. Practice finding evidence on the spot, so you can identify potential gaps before your Ofsted inspection
Bud’s end-to-end platform harnesses the latest technology to help you make data-driven decisions and deliver a high-quality, engaging learning experience.
Our intuitive platform is designed around workflows that drive compliance, with data collected from thousands of points every day. Using dashboard reporting, Bud provides full visibility of your training delivery, pulled from a single source of truth.
Read our case studies to find out why other training providers love using Bud, or book a discovery call to explore how Bud can support your business.