Ofsted Round-Up: Key Reflections from this week's Annual Report

Introduction

With the release of Ofsted's annual report today, and very few published reports last week, the blog has taken a slightly different approach this week. 

The latest Ofsted annual report, alongside sector analysis, sends a clear message: the quality of further education, skills and apprenticeship provision in England is at its strongest point to date.

As of 31 August 2025, 88% of FE and skills providers with an Ofsted grade are now judged good or outstanding, up from 82% the previous year. That six-percentage-point rise in just one year represents a major vote of confidence in the colleges, training providers and adult learning services supporting learners and employers across the country.

Let's take a look at what sits behind that headline.

FE & Skills: A System Delivering High Quality Learning

The inspection data shows that most learners are now accessing high-quality provision. Across the main provider types, the picture is consistently strong:

• General FE colleges - 86% are graded good or outstanding.
• Sixth-form colleges - 97% hold a good or outstanding grade, with none inadequate.
• 16–19 academies - around 97% are good or outstanding.
• Adult community learning providers - roughly 97% are in the top two grades.
• Independent specialist colleges - 89% are now good or outstanding, up nine percentage points in a single year.
• Higher education institutions delivering FE and skills - 95% are good or outstanding.

Taken together, these figures point to a sector that has not only weathered significant reform and funding pressures, but has driven a steady, system-wide improvement in quality.

Apprenticeships: Quality Catching up with Ambition

Apprenticeships have been central to skills policy for many years, but quality has not always matched ambition. The latest Ofsted data suggests that picture is changing.

Of the 1,200+ providers with an apprenticeship judgement, 88% are now either:

• good or outstanding for apprenticeship provision, or
• making at least reasonable progress at their new provider monitoring visit.

This is up from 81% the previous year. For employers and apprentices, it means that the vast majority of apprenticeship training is delivered by providers Ofsted judges to be effective.

For businesses investing in their workforce, that level of quality and stability in the apprenticeship system is a significant step forward.

Adult Education: Quietly High-Performing

Adult education rarely attracts the same attention as schools or universities, but the data shows it to be one of the most consistently high-performing parts of the system.

Among the 500+ providers with an adult education judgement, 93% are judged good or outstanding, or making at least reasonable progress. Local authorities, institutes of adult learning and specialist providers are playing a critical role in supporting adults to:

• retrain for new careers
• update skills in fast-changing sectors
• re-engage with learning after time away from education

In the context of skills shortages, lifelong learning and productivity, this is an important platform for government and employers to build on.

The Post-16 Challenge: From Quality Provision to Quality Outcomes

If quality is strong across FE and skills, where are the challenges?

Ofsted’s report points to a set of issues that sit beyond the classroom, particularly in post-16:

• Disadvantage and NEET risk
  Young people from lower-income backgrounds remain more likely to leave education, employment or training after 16. Strong provision alone does not guarantee equal outcomes, and tackling this progression gap remains a major priority.
• Careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG)
  Where careers guidance is weak or fragmented, learners can struggle to understand their options, especially across technical routes and apprenticeships. Limited access to meaningful work experience further narrows horizons.
• Work experience and employer engagement
  Providers, particularly in disadvantaged areas, still face challenges in securing sufficient high-quality placements and real-world experiences. Yet these opportunities are often crucial for progression into sustained employment.
• Support for vulnerable learners
  Looked-after children, care leavers and other vulnerable young people rely heavily on FE and colleges for their post-16 journeys. Successful transitions into college or apprenticeships depend on well-planned support, joined-up services and clear communication between agencies.

In short, the sector is performing well on delivering high-quality programmes. The next phase is about ensuring those programmes consistently lead to strong, sustained outcomes in further study, skilled employment and long-term progression.

Final Thoughts

This final year of the “overall effectiveness” grading system closes on a pretty positive note for FE, skills and apprenticeships. The data shows a mature, resilient sector that has steadily raised standards and now offers high-quality opportunities for young people and adults alike.

The task now is to:

• protect and sustain that quality in a challenging funding and workforce climate
• close the progression gaps faced by disadvantaged and vulnerable learners
• strengthen careers education and employer engagement in the post-16 phase
• maintain apprenticeships and adult learning as central pillars of any national skills strategy

If the sector can match its headline strengths in quality with equally strong outcomes for progression, employment and life chances, these Ofsted figures will represent far more than a good-news story for providers, they will mark real progress for learners, communities and the wider economy.

You can access the full Annual Report here: Annual report – Education, Children’s Services and Skills 2024/25

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