This was back in the CIF days when you had three weeks notification of the inspection.
This was a national training company that when they heard of the inspection put the full weight of the company behind the planning.
Do you remember the days of the list of words that were used in SARs and QIPs to show you were outstanding?
Everyone was told to look at all of the outstanding statements and use them in your reviews, in conversations with learners and employers
The staff were convinced they were outstanding
So, as in all inspections, any interaction with the inspections employers, learners, and staff was examined and these outstanding comments kept coming through.
We were outstanding. Until we got the result, we were not.
But everyone was coached into using these words but not to listen to what was being said
Now we are aware that the Ofsted inspections regime has changed and they can easily get to the heart of the impact of the training provision, but be aware of your assumptions
Most senior staff in training providers put into place an inspection plan, that includes improvements identified and action plans
But what if there was an alternative plan? That involves sustained action and change which gives power to everyone involved in the training to not only be involved but to own the changes