Ofsted to carry out inspections on Armed Forces training

Ofsted and the Ministry of Defence have forged a new partnership to ensure recruits and trainees experience a high quality of training, welfare and care in the UK's Armed Services.

Melanie Hunt, Director of Learning and Skills, Ofsted, and Bob Ainsworth, the Minister for Armed Forces signed a pledge to work more closely together.

The memorandum of understanding marks a new collaboration between the two departments. The agreement sees Ofsted taking over responsibility for carrying out independent inspections for 2008/09 in education and training. This builds on the work previously undertaken by the Adult Learning Inspectorate between 2004 and 2007.

The focus of the inspections will be on the recruitment and selection of potential recruits, newly recruited entrants and those in training. These are Phase One trainees, normally aged between 16 and 24, and Phase Two trainees, who have moved on to study a particular trade, such as engineering or catering.
Melanie Hunt, Director of Learning and Skills at Ofsted, said:

"Our inspections place the interests and experiences of recruits and trainees at the heart of our work, and consequently we aim to provide insights for the Armed Services to enable their training and support consistently to be of the highest quality.

"This agreement highlights the breadth of Ofsted's remit, having taken on responsibility for adult training in April 2007. It reflects our values and priorities, and enables the impact of inspection to have a wider reach and benefit more people in a range of learning and training environments."

Armed Forces Minister, Bob Ainsworth, said:

"The MOD attaches the highest priority to the welfare of it's people. We are fully committed to developing the most supportive environment for our recruits and trainees. Independent external scrutiny is a key factor in achieving constant improvements in this area. That is why I welcome our new partnership with Ofsted. I am confident it will provide robust oversight and ensure we continue to strive for the highest standards."