Apprenticeship training by CLAAS UK, near Bury St Edmunds, is judged to be ‘good’ with ‘outstanding’ feature following Ofsted inspection

A leading manufacturer of farm machinery has been praised by Ofsted for its apprenticeship training following its first full inspection by the regulator.

CLAAS UK Limited, based at Little Saxham, near Bury St Edmunds, provides apprenticeship training in land-based engineering and the provision was inspected by Ofsted in September.

Inspectors judged the provider to be ‘good’ in four out of five areas – quality of education, personal development, leadership and management, and apprenticeships – while the behaviour and attitudes of apprentices were found to be ‘outstanding’.

CLAAS introduced apprenticeship training in 2022 to provide land-based engineering technicians.

The Ofsted report said: “Apprentices develop the high-level technical skills they need to service and repair machinery such as tractors and combine harvesters.

“They learn from trainers with extensive land-based engineering experience using the latest industry-standard facilities. Apprentices promptly put their learning into practice in lessons.”

The report also said apprentices benefit from training in small groups and receiving individual coaching from trainers.

Apprentices are highly motivated to learn new skills, which they practise at work, and they have high attendance in lessons and make good progress in their learning.

The report also said leaders work successfully with employers across the CLAAS dealership network, and trainers ‘expertly’ structure the content of courses to meet apprentices’ and employers’ needs.

Apprentices also develop their English and mathematical skills effectively during their apprenticeship.

The report added: “Trainers ensure that apprentices have a good understanding of the career opportunities in land-based engineering on completion of their apprenticeship. Apprentices know the specialist pathways, including tractor, forager and combine harvester.”

In further praise for leadership, inspectors said they had developed a range of strategies to improve teaching, learning and the apprentice experience, and had established a very effective oversight structure for ensuring that training is of high quality.

“This includes using highly experienced representatives from industry and education,” it added.

To improve further, Ofsted highlighted the need to ensure apprentices routinely record and reflect on their new knowledge and skills at work and that they gain a good understanding of specific issues affecting the land-based sector such as mental health and isolation in the farming community.

The regulator also said about developing the knowledge of managers and trainers so they can identify and help those apprentices with SEND (special educational needs and/or disabilities) who have not disclosed a specific need.

At the time of the inspection, there were 40 apprentices.