Kingdom Academy’s Ofsted report has been published today and, for us, the most important thing is what the report says about the experience apprentices have with us.
Throughout the inspection, Ofsted recognised the culture that sits behind our programmes. Inspectors highlighted the support apprentices receive from tutors and skills coaches, the inclusive environment we work hard to create, and the strong connection between what apprentices learn and the skills employers need in the workplace.
For everyone involved in Kingdom Academy, it was encouraging to see those things reflected clearly in the report.
A culture where apprentices feel supported
One of the strongest themes in the report is the way apprentices are supported throughout their learning journey.
Inspectors recognised that tutors and skills coaches take time to understand each apprentice as an individual. Support needs are identified early in the programme and tailored plans are put in place to help apprentices overcome any barriers to learning.
These plans are reviewed regularly and adapted where needed, ensuring apprentices continue to receive the right support as their programmes progress.
The report also highlighted the care shown by tutors and skills coaches, noting how deeply staff care about their apprentices and the effort they put into helping them succeed.
Inclusion as a core part of the learning experience
Inclusion is a central part of how Kingdom Academy delivers its programmes. The Ofsted report highlights the way tutors and skills coaches quickly identify apprentices’ support needs at the start of their apprenticeship and put tailored support plans in place. These plans are reviewed regularly and adapted as needed so that apprentices continue to receive the right support throughout their programme.
Inspectors also recognised how confidently tutors adapt their teaching approaches to meet different learning needs. This includes providing resources in advance, breaking learning into manageable stages and using teaching strategies that help apprentices feel calm, prepared and able to engage fully in their learning.
Supporting this approach is Kingdom Academy’s Inclusion Toolkit. The toolkit provides practical guidance and resources for tutors, mentors and employers to help them support apprentices who may be neurodivergent, managing additional learning barriers or navigating different cultural experiences.
With the current inspection framework placing greater emphasis on how providers identify and respond to barriers to learning, this work forms an important part of how Kingdom Academy ensures apprentices are able to participate fully in their programmes and make strong progress.
Supporting wellbeing alongside learning
The inspection also recognised the importance placed on apprentices’ wellbeing. Apprentices have access to Kingdom Academy’s online Mental Health Toolkit, which includes practical tools to help manage stress, develop healthy routines and maintain wellbeing while balancing work, study and home life.
Alongside this, apprentices regularly take part in Lunch and Learn sessions covering topics such as mental health, wellbeing and managing workload.
These initiatives reflect our belief that professional development is not just about gaining knowledge. It is also about building confidence, resilience and the ability to manage the pressures of working life.
Apprentices developing real workplace capability
A strong link between the learning apprentices complete with Kingdom Academy and the work they carry out within their organisations is another theme that runs through the report.
Drawing on their own sector experience, tutors and skills coaches bring practical knowledge into sessions so that learning connects directly with real workplace situations.
The report includes examples of apprentices applying their learning at work. Team leader apprentices use recognised communication models to improve clarity with colleagues, while operations manager apprentices apply change management theory to support staff during organisational change.
For Kingdom Academy, that real-world application is one of the most important measures of success. Apprentices are not simply completing qualifications. They are developing the confidence, judgement and capability to contribute meaningfully within their organisations.
Apprentices growing in confidence and ambition
Another encouraging theme throughout the report is the confidence apprentices develop during their programmes. Inspectors noted that apprentices enjoy their learning and grow in confidence as they progress. Many develop strong communication skills, apply critical thinking in their roles and take on greater responsibility within their organisations.
Some apprentices go on to achieve distinctions in their final assessments, while others progress into new roles or further learning. Just as importantly, apprentices reported feeling safe and supported throughout their training.
Safeguarding standards were confirmed to be fully met, reflecting the open culture across the organisation where safeguarding is understood as everyone’s responsibility.
Kingdom Academy - One of the first providers inspected under the new Ofsted framework
Kingdom Academy is one of the early independent training providers to be inspected under Ofsted’s updated framework. As more reports are published across the sector, it will be interesting to see how apprenticeship provision continues to evolve and how providers respond to the new framework.
Like all inspections, the report also highlights areas where provision can continue to improve. These include strengthening aspects of quality assurance and continuing to support staff professional development.
Those areas are already part of Kingdom Academy’s ongoing development plans, and we are ambitious in our aspirations to achieve progress in these areas.
Proud of the provision we are building...
Sara Roberts, CSO of Kingdom Academy, reflected on the report and the work of the team:
“We were really proud to see so many aspects of our provision recognised in the report. What matters most to us is the experience apprentices have when they learn with Kingdom Academy. The culture of support, inclusion and care shown by our tutors and skills coaches is something we work hard to build, so it was encouraging to see that reflected so clearly.”
“Our programmes are designed around the needs of employers and the sectors we serve. Apprentices should finish their programmes not just with a qualification, but with the confidence and capability to make a real impact in their organisations.”
“We also know that inspections are part of a wider journey. We are ambitious about continuing to strengthen what we do and building on the strong foundations already in place.”
Continuing to build on strong foundations
The Ofsted report recognises the culture that has been developed at Kingdom Academy: one where apprentices feel supported, where tutors care deeply about learner success, and where training is closely connected to the needs of employers.
Those principles will continue to guide the organisation as it grows its provision across housing, leadership and construction. You can read the full Ofsted inspection here.
For the team at Kingdom Academy, the focus remains clear. To create learning experiences that help apprentices succeed in their careers and make a meaningful difference in the sectors they serve. Get in touch if you are an organisation that is looking for a training provider to help your workforce development plans.