Aspire-Igen to shut some centres after Inadequate Ofsted

The Aspire-Igen Group Ltd, located on Cheapside, will now focus on its "well-equipped" Bradford centres.

The group received the lowest rating in five of the eight categories when the watchdog conducted its investigation on December 12-15.

Aspire-Igen provides education programmes for 575 young people across West Yorkshire and Humberside, including learners who have high needs.

The group said that, despite the serious challenges presented by Covid, achievement and progression rates remain among the strongest for this type of provision thanks to the dedication of its teaching staff.

Most of the provision is based in Bradford but there are other centres in Leeds, Wakefield, Dewsbury, Hull, and York.

Aspire-Igen provides education programmes for 575 young people across West Yorkshire and Humberside (Image: PA)

The report says: "Too many learners do not attend their classes frequently enough, and those who do attend often arrive late to lessons".

Leaders have put in place measures to drive up attendance since the last inspection the previous month. Although there has been some recent improvement, this has been slow, and attendance is still too low. 

The report adds: "A few learners demonstrate poor social awareness and consideration of others in public areas. Too often, learners do not behave well enough in lessons, causing disruption to others".

It also says: "Learners often experience poor teaching and make slow progress in gaining new skills and knowledge. Teachers do not adequately support learners to improve their English skills or ensure that learners complete the written work that is set for them". 

One example given was feedback to learners from the teaching staff including incorrect spelling.

Leaders and staff have appropriate arrangements to identify young people who may need early help and are at risk of harm or being harmed, including neglect. 

However, many learners "do not fully understand the risks posed when living in large cities with complex social challenges".

The report reveals leaders have taken appropriate action in response to a serious safeguarding concern at one of their subcontractors.

They have instigated a full investigation and identified appropriate actions in response to the concerns, that they are currently implementing.

A spokesperson from the centre said: "At Aspire-igen, we are committed to helping people improve their lives through learning and work. Our vision is a Yorkshire & Humber region where everyone has the opportunity to acquire the skills they need to live a better, more fulfilled life.

"When we say everyone – we mean absolutely everyone in the communities we serve, irrespective of their prior attainment and the challenges they face in life. For many young people, our services offer the hope of a brighter future and we do everything we can to support them to achieve their aims.

"In our Learning Division, almost half of our cohort of young people arrive with absolutely no qualifications, and multiple barriers to learning.

"We are acutely aware of the impact that Covid has had on our learners, and of the challenges, they face to succeed in their daily lives. It should come as a surprise to no one that some have struggled to re-engage with formal, face-to-face education or that they do not always conform to accepted social norms – particularly in their first few weeks with us.

"In common with other educational settings, we have also struggled to recruit suitably qualified teaching staff over the past year, and have, at times, been forced to rely on temporary staff from employment agencies to maintain face-to-face lessons. This has, of course, also brought additional challenges."

They added: "All that said, although we do not agree with some of Ofsted’s comments, we have taken them on board and reshaped our provision, closing some of our centres and transferring provision to one of our other centres where the achievement of learners’ aims can be better supported. In future, we aim to focus our delivery in West Yorkshire around our well-equipped Bradford centres, alongside smaller centres in North and East Yorkshire.

"Every summer, at the end of their Study Programmes, we are extremely proud of our learners and their incredible achievements.

"In spite of Covid, achievement and progression rates remain amongst the strongest for this type of provision – and this is down to the commitment and dedication of our teaching staff.

"Aspire-igen will now request an Internal Review. Our Careers, Employment & Skills Division continues to operate as normal."