Ofsted 2023/24 Report: Apprenticeship Quality Rises as New Reforms Take Shape

The number of apprenticeships starting each year in England has fallen in recent years, but the quality of apprentice schemes appears to be improving, according to Ofsted's 2023/24 annual report. 

That's good news for everyone; high-quality apprenticeships are essential for delivering real benefits to both employers and learners, creating opportunities that truly matter. 

Apprenticeship training remains a popular choice for young people exploring alternative career paths after school. Apprenticeships are also integral to the new Labour' government to boost the nation's skills and drive growth. 

Ofsted inspections have been part of the adult learning landscape since 2007, and over the years have been extended to include higher education as well as schools, colleges and other training providers and assessors. 2023/24's report reflects a period of change and reform.  

Driving Change Through Consultation 

In September 2024, the government published its response to the Big Listen, the largest consultation in Ofsted's 32-year history! It set out the changes Ofsted is making to improve inspection and reduce pressure on staff, the first being the immediate removal of Ofsted single headline grades, also known as single word judgements, in state-funded schools in England.  

In 2025, Ofsted will formally consult on a renewed inspection framework for schools, early years, further education (FE) and skills providers, and initial teacher education. This will propose the introduction of report cards to follow all education inspections, giving more detail about a provider's strengths and weaknesses.  

Dive deeper into Ofsted's 2023/24 annual report to explore detailed inspection results, trends across provider types, and the upcoming changes to the inspection framework. Understand what these reforms mean for you and how you can stay ahead in delivering top-quality apprenticeships.

[wm_button url="https://info.onefile.co.uk/ofsted-annual-report" size="0/l/m/s/xl" icon=""]Learn More[/wm_button]