Derbyshire Adult Education Rated Good By Ofsted
Government inspectors have praised Derbyshire County Council’s Adult Community Education Service (DACES) for their ‘dedicated support’ of learners and their commitment to ensuring apprentices develop the skills they need to be successful at work.
Ofsted Inspectors spent four days earlier this year visiting DACES to review the quality of their education provision and speak to staff and learners. Following that visit Ofsted have upgraded the service from ‘Requires improvement’ to ‘Good’.
The service currently supports over 1800 learners, including more than 100 young learners and 91 apprentices, who are engaged with community learning courses, studying qualification-based courses such as digital skills, English and maths, or undertaking an apprenticeship.
Inspectors reported that most learners and apprentices make good progress on their courses or apprenticeships and ‘feel safe and protected’. They highlighted that learners choose to study at DACES because ‘it feels like a community and staff treat them with respect’.
The report also notes that a significant number of young learners have a history of not attending their previous school or college but that the way courses are structured at DACES encourages them to attend and develop their employability skills.
The inspectors highlighted many areas for praise including:
· Most learners and apprentices develop substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours
· Learners on community mathematics courses can confidently help their children with homework
· A significant majority of learners and apprentices have a secure understanding of British values and how it applies to them in life and at work
· To promote independence, work coaches purposely reduce their support to learners over time. This helps learners to become more successful both at work and in their daily lives
Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Education and Chair of DACES’ Governance Board, Councillor Alex Dale, said: “It’s wonderful for our Adult Community Education Service to be recognised for their hard work in creating a safe and supportive environment for learners across the county.
“Ofsted particularly highlighted that learners on our community courses improve their mental and physical health and well-being, and that most apprentices develop the skills they need to be successful at work.
“We’re committed to ensuring young people and adults across Derbyshire have access to the courses, support and advice they need to be successful at work or learn new skills.
"I’d like to specifically highlight our brilliant DACES team and the hard work they’ve put in to create the type of learning environment and programmes that give local people the best chance of being successful.”
On what DACES does well, the report also highlights:
· Most learners and apprentices receive effective careers information, advice and guidance from staff. They know the options available to them once they complete their courses.
· Leaders have carefully considered their programmes for young people, adults and apprentices. They are ambitious to provide meaningful learning programmes so that learners and apprentices can improve their future career prospects and their lives.
· Most staff are proud to work at DACES. They appreciate that leaders are considerate of their workloads and well-being. Leaders have trained a significant number of staff to become mental health first aiders.
The full report can be read here – https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/42/50217
More News From Amber Valley Info
| The dazzling Darley Park Concert returns this summer The Darley Park Concert will return in 2026, marking the grand finale of The Darley Park Weekender. This summer tradition invite read more | |
| DLRAA Receives Donation From Ripley Tuesday Club 2026 On Tuesday 20th January 2026 Ripley Tuesday Club donated £292.72 for the Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulan read more | |
| Holocaust Memorial Avenue extended with new tree planting at Alfreton Park The Holocaust Memorial Avenue at Alfreton Welfare Recreation Ground has been extended with new tree planti read more | |
| Community power secures future for Nature and People at Middleton Moor Community power secures future for Nature and People at Middleton Moor Thanks to the extraordinary generosity read more | |
| More help for residents to get online and go digital across Derbyshire A £50,000 funding boost will help Derbyshire residents get online, stay connected and access vital servi read more | |
The Amber Valley Info Noticeboard
| Stallholder Bookings Now Open For The Tansley Big Day Out We're excited to announce that Tansley's Big Day Out 2026 will take place on 6th & 7th June 2026! read more | |
| Christmas and New Year bin collection dates Over the festive season, bin collections will operate on revised schedules. Some collections may take place up to two days earlier than u read more | |
| Launch Of WOMBLE MANIA! At the Heights of Abraham, Opened by Marcus Robertson, Son of Wombles author, Elisabeth Beresford, officially launched WOMBLE MANIA! at the Heights of Abraha read more | |
| Belper School and Sixth Form Centre Closed Today Due to a significant water leak, resulting in the water being turned off at school, we unfortunately have to close the school today. read more | |
| When you need to call 999 but can't talk When you need to call 999 but can't talk - the ‘silent solution’ can help. Press 55 on your mobile when prompted, to confirm you are in read more | |
