By Fashion-Enter Ltd / FTA CEO Jenny Holloway.
When we were first in the country to undertake an Ofsted inspection on the new framework in November 2025 I did think why us! Why did we have to go first when we’re such a small ITP?
Actually, I’m glad we were first and I’m glad that we went through a thorough deep dive audit with three inspectors because we want to be the best we can be for our learners.
We had two points that needed to be addressed in Leadership and Governance:
• Leaders should ensure that governors have a sufficiently thorough oversight of the quality of curriculum, teaching and training so that they can provide a high level of scrutiny, challenge and
educational insight.
I totally agreed with this comment and since then we have an entire new NED board that now includes Kurt Hintz and anyone that knows Kurt knows he absolutely drills on quality assurance and microscopic detail! It’s fantastic to have such a professional educational specialist on our board.
The second comment was:
• Leaders should further strengthen professional development so that tutors further improve their pedagogy and consistently apply expert teaching techniques to teach apprentices and learners of varied abilities.
I didn’t entirely agree with this comment, we have CPPD’s each month and all evidenced on trackers! Feedback forms all available. We have strong differentiated learning strategies and all our tutors are professionally trained with excellent competencies, knowledge and skills, and they REALLY care about every learner’s journey and profession. They are totally empathetic with learner’s needs.
Nevertheless, we took the constructive criticism on board and reviewed CPD, brought in guest experts on the different types of learner including SEND, neurodivergent needs and looked deeper into barriers for learning both internal and external.
This is why I went to Leicester on Thursday 1st October and spent a day undertaking observations with all staff! And I was tough!
I wanted to see how learning is embedded – how do they assess that the learner left with the right knowledge?
What does quality mean to our tutors?
How do they deal with different ability learners in one class and still ensure that each learner leaves that class with the same quality of embedded learning?
Did we create that right environment to Achieve, Belong and Thrive – and absolutely we do!
I also wanted to hear from the learners too and took two videos that were completely unprompted and unscripted. I wanted to hear, good and bad, on how FTA is performing.
You can see those videos via the links below and decide for yourself!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjNs4rMlF3k
https://youtube.com/shorts/8s03OAzpfNc?feature=share
Since November 2025 we have undertaken major structural and administrative upgrades to these areas…
Expected standard
Leadership and governance meet the ‘expected standard’ when all the following apply:
Evidence
1. Leaders understand the provider’s strengths and areas for development. They largely take appropriate action to drive improvement and/or sustain high standards. Where an aspect of the provision falls short of the expected standard, this is dealt with quickly and effectively.
2. Governors and/or those responsible for oversight make sure that leaders have a clear vision and strategy and manage resources well. They support and challenge leaders appropriately, giving due regard to their wellbeing and workload.
3. Leaders, governors and/or those responsible for oversight make decisions that are in the best interests of learners and apprentices, in particular those who are disadvantaged, those with SEND or high needs, those who are known (or previously known) to social care, and those who may face other barriers to their learning and/or wellbeing, including those without level 2 English and/or mathematics.
4. Governors and/or those responsible for oversight have a generally accurate understanding of the quality of the curriculum, teaching and training, including any subcontracted provision. They work with leaders to monitor and refine actions they have taken to make improvements.
5. Leaders ensure that staff feel valued. They consider the wellbeing of staff and make sure workloads are manageable. They avoid creating unnecessary burdens. Leaders protect staff from bullying, unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation.
6. Leaders and staff collaborate with stakeholders to help enhance learners’ and apprentices’ experiences and/or to maintain their wellbeing.
7. Leaders ensure that programmes of professional learning and expertise are generally well planned and implemented and meets the needs of staff.
8. Leaders largely monitor the quality of subcontracted provision carefully to ensure that the courses offered meet the intended curriculum standards. They hold subcontractors to account for any weak performance. The later does not really apply to FEL as we never subcontract but we do bring in enrichment areas.
As we await the return of Ofsted for the two remaining points we wish all training providers success and good fortune going forward and actually we thank Ofsted for providing us with the constructive feedback to keep improving our provision.
FTA Staff Teaching Observations Thursday 1st October
Sanna Bux: Pre IAG and course information with Level 2 enrolling learners
Sanna said: “The observation went well as I was able to tell the students about the next steps and course information that they wanting to enrol on – it created more interest. Great listening and interactive and Q & A session. Jenny made me feel calm through the process and even encouraged me to teach more at our academy.”
Jenny commented: Sanna did great job, as this was first observation with me. She did gave full on information about the course and its content and GLH, units, training plan and what we expect and what learners can achieve on this level. She also mentioned on ESOl, Workers’ Rights course for gaining more knowledge and skills. She also mentioned how we support the learners throughout the journey and stressed on how SEND learners will be supported like Dyslexia cards for support. There were few minor observation which were discussed with Sanna.”
Learner Feedback: “Great informative session, I got more information about the course I enrolled on, my pathway after the course, good to know before hand about the other supports available at academy like workers rights course, sign posting or helping learners with IT and ESOL qualification. Everything is perfect.”
Jo Bean: Level 1 Award in Fashion and Textiles
Jo said: “When I know I am being observed by Jenny I know I’m going to be really tested because she wants the highest standards.
“My take away from the session was really about being prepared before the session started and asking mobile phones to be turned off. I was teaching about the right way to fit and had printed out handouts but when I demonstrated how to fit I was on tip toes. It didn’t really matter and I made a joke out of it but it stopped the flow and I’ll just remember this in future.
“Teaching observations are necessary so we can gain vital feedback to make the learning experience for the student even stronger. I took a lot from all the observations – Jenny really pushes us just to excel in all we do.”
Jenny commented: “Jo used flip learning techniques, she was interacting with all the learners, asking questions, very reassuring and explained measurement techniques very well.”
Learner Feedback: “Great learning on the measurement session, tutor was very clear with information and interactive. She made the course more interesting and interactive and fun.”
Divya Kamath: Level 1 Workers Rights and Labour exploitation
Divya said: “It was a great experience, initially it sacred me that Jenny would be observing. Great advice from Jenny. A few things I learnt included when I set task for learners and gave them 5 minutes. I was required to watch and review what they are doing but I helped them. 5 minutes means 5 minutes and then I need to ask the learner for their answer – but instead of saying yes that’s right I asked another learner if they are correct. Flip learning. Feedback is important as we are alway learning and it helps us to give our best to learners. I learnt a lot from this observation session.”
Jenny commented: “Divya started the session with the learner who is on union unite, well explained the concept of payslips and repeated the context again to non-English learner. She got all to engage, went around and asked questions with all learners taking part.
“A few feedback points that Divya didn’t make – a remark on phone, when can learner use the phone, and if the call is emergency what they need to do. As one of learners phone rang and it disturbed the class. 5 minutes for task was given however saw her helping the learner. Apart from these it was overall a great teaching session.”
Learner Feedback: “This was an informative and interactive session, Payslips is something when we start working, so its content and importance has been explained clearly, activity to work on payslip and peer learning helped a lot. I now know the difference on Basic and Net pay clearly.”