The Marine Society College of the Sea

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings

This is a good provider Leaders and managers have a very clear and well-considered strategy to support seafarers to improve their education and to progress in their careers.

Since the previous inspection, leaders, managers and staff have taken successful and effective actions to improve the quality of teaching, learning and assessment, and the outcomes for learners. Staff monitor the progress of learners very well. As a result, the majority of learners are on track to achieve their GCSEs and A levels in mathematics, English and science.

Staff understand very well the complexities of learning and working at sea and give good advice to learners to help them choose suitable courses. As... a result, the number of learners who remain on their programme has improved and is high. Learners have high aspirations, enjoy their learning and take pride in their work.

They produce work of a good standard. Staff assess well the support that learners need to be successful, and provide a good range of resources to help them overcome the barriers to learning at sea. The vast majority of learners who achieve their qualification remain in employment, secure promotion and/or take up further learning.

Managers have designed and implemented the curriculum very well. Learners have access to a variety of courses that develop the skills they need to become officers in the Royal Navy and Merchant Navy. Managers do not know how many of the potential learners on the pre-courses, 'maths@sea' and 'English@sea', progress to higher levels of learning.

As a result, they do not understand whether the courses support learners well to move on to a higher level of qualification. A small minority of learners have not yet completed the online 'Prevent' duty course, or fully understand its relevance to their lives. Staff do not regularly follow up the recommendations given to a minority of tutors at the subcontractor, on how to improve feedback on learners' work.

As a result, they do not know whether the actions have been implemented.

Information about the provider

The Marine Society was founded in 1756 to encourage men and boys to join the Royal Navy at the start of the Seven Years War. An Act of Parliament incorporated the society in 1772 to apprentice poor boys to the Royal Navy and the Merchant Navy.

In 2004, it merged with the Sea Cadet Association to form the Marine Society and Sea Cadets (MSSC). The Marine Society College (MSC) operates within the MSSC. It offers personal and professional development to seafarers and provides opportunities for them to gain accredited qualifications, and to develop the skills required to support them to progress their careers.

The college offers a range of courses, from bespoke maritime mathematics and English, through to GCSEs, A levels, degrees, scholarships, and short online courses. Teaching, learning and assessment are delivered through distance learning programmes, managed by one subcontractor. This inspection was of GCSEs, A levels and short online courses.