• Find an adult learning and skills inspection report
• Understanding an adult learning and skills inspection report
• Types of adult learning and skills Ofsted inspects
• Inspecting adult learning and skills
  • Inspecting further education and skills
  • Inspecting residential provision in colleges
  • Inspecting initial teacher education
• About our survey reports
• Statistics for adult learning and skills
• How to complain

Inspecting further education and skills

We inspect further education and skills providers to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the provision of education and training in meeting the needs of learners. We gather evidence which shows how well providers and employers are performing. The inspection report identifies strengths and areas for improvement, highlights good practice, and details what steps need to be taken to improve.

When we inspect, inspectors use a framework to guide them through the inspection.

• Different inspectors may look at one or more aspects that relate to areas covered in Common Inspection Framework for Further Education and Skills 2009

Inspections may involve, for example, an inspector looking at the type of provision for learners aged 16 to 18 and 19+, which may be apprenticeships, Train to Gain or programmes to help people get into work. Other inspectors will look at the various subject areas, visiting classes and inspecting learning in the workplace. They will talk to learners, seek their views, and if necessary, visit or telephone them. 

Providers judged to be satisfactory at a previous inspection are likely to be inspected at least every four years. Those who are considered high-performing providers, judged to be good or outstanding at the previous inspection, may have up to six years between inspections. Those graded inadequate can expect a full reinspection visit 12 to 15 months after the first one.

General further education and sixth-form colleges which are outstanding are exempt from inspection providing they maintain high standards of performance. A new provider will not normally be inspected until at least 12 months of performance information is available to inspectors.