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A Connexions partnership has received a highly critical report from Ofsted.

Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Connexions Partnership which has had four chief executives since it was formed two years ago provides unsatisfactory value for money says the inspection body.

Leadership and management throughout the partnership are weak. Nearly 90 per cent of the £10 million  budget has been allocated to four subcontractors, most of it to two private careers companies, Centre for British Teachers Careers Services and Careers Management. The subcontractors “do not collectively support the need for an overarching Connexions partnership”, and some staff funded to be personal advisers do not recognise that they are personal advisers working as part of the Connexions partnership to agreed objectives and targets.

Staff, offices and resources have been allocated and deployed to meet the needs of the sub-contractors rather than the needs of the partnership and young people, which Ofsted describes as “a highly unsatisfactory state of affairs”.

Overall the quality of practice by personal advisers was satisfactory and there were many examples of sensitive work, especially with young people with special education al needs and those who were disaffected with school. But it was unsatisfactory in 18 per cent of sessions observed.

The partnership is now establishing a more robust central team, and it does provide effective advice in schools and colleges, says the report. http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/servicereports/505.pdf