An Oldham training centre has been ordered to improve by the education watchdog.

Oldham Engineering Group Training Association, based at the Mount Pleasant Industrial Estate, has been given the rating of "requires improvement" by regulator Ofsted after its latest inspection on August 23.

The service provider offers apprenticeships throughout Greater Manchester, including engineering technician apprenticeships and business administration apprenticeships and runs courses including first aid courses.

The training centre was ranked "requires improvement" in the categories of quality of education, leadership and management and apprenticeships.

At the time of the inspection, there were 129 apprentices.

For the areas of behaviour and attitudes, personal development, the centre was ranked as "good" though.

At its previous inspection back in January 2016 the centre was rated "good" overall by Ofsted.

The report said: “Leaders and managers have not ensured that all apprentices receive a consistently high-quality education.”

There are “too many inconsistencies within the different engineering pathways, such as electrical and manufacturing” and “the non-engineering curriculum is not ambitious enough to enable apprentices to achieve their full potential”.

Despite the criticism inspectors did note that leaders “ensure that tutors are well qualified to teach their subjects” and that teachers have “extensive experience in their industries”.

Tutors also use their expertise to “deliver learning that enhances apprentices’ knowledge and skills” and “identify gaps in apprentices’ knowledge”, meaning “apprentices know more and remember more throughout their programme”.

However, leaders do not ensure that staff “regularly update their vocational and industry skills so that they remain up to date with current industry developments”, according to inspectors, and have been “too slow to improve the quality of education that apprentices receive”.

Inspectors have also called on the centre to improve the “planning and coordination” of on- and off-the-job training with employers so that apprentices can practise, improve and master their knowledge, skills and behaviours at work.

It has also been advised that leaders and managers at the centre ensure that trainers and training advisers receive “appropriate training to update their vocational knowledge and understanding of topics” such as British values and the risks relating to radicalisation and extremism.

In response to the inspection, David Farrington, chair of the Board of Trustees said: “We are disappointed by the overall outcome but we accept Ofsted’s judgement. The benchmark for “good” is at the highest level it has ever been and we have been acknowledged as having achieved this in two of the four categories.

“What is reassuring is that many of the next steps identified were already within our improvement plan. The Board remain determined and ambitious for OTC and will continue to support and strengthen the management team to ensure they effectively embed the agreed improvements to secure rapid progress towards an improved overall grade”.

A spokesperson from the centre added that work is underway to implement the recommendations outlined by inspectors ahead of an Ofsted monitoring visit between May and November 2023.