On-demand webinar

The Outstanding Series #2: Outstanding with First Intuition

Name: The Outstanding Series #2: Outstanding with First Intuition
Start: 2022-05-19T00:00:00.000Z

David Malthouse and Ginny Bradwell of First Intuition, one of the first level 7 apprenticeship providers graded outstanding, on their Ofsted inspection. Recorded in 2022.

Recorded · 19 May 2022

This is an older recording. Some of it is out of date: see what's still relevant and what has changed.

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The Outstanding Series #2: Outstanding with First Intuition

Speakers

Dr Louise Karwowski
Former VP Neuro-inclusion Training, Cognassist
David Malthouse
Managing Director and Founder, First Intuition
Ginny Bradwell
Education Director, First Intuition

Outstanding with First Intuition

Part two of The Outstanding Series is a case study of First Intuition’s journey through its Ofsted inspection, and how it became one of the first level 7 apprenticeship providers to be graded outstanding. Dr Louise Karwowski, Director of Education at Cognassist, is joined by David Malthouse, Managing Director, and Ginny Bradwell, Education Director.

What we cover

Experiences from First Intuition's teams
Reflections on the experience of a level 7 inspection
Practices and processes that helped them through it

The rest of the series: #1 with LDN Apprenticeships, #3 with Multiverse and #4, the panel discussion.

Watch the recording

Recorded May 2022 · reviewed October 2026

What's still relevant

How a leader and the person liaising with inspectors prepare their teams, share one clear vision and look after each other under pressure.
Building a culture where leaders are visible, learners and employers have a voice, and everyone shares responsibility for learner support.
Simple visual tools, such as planners, flowcharts and boards, for managing complex work and different ways of processing information.

What's out of date

Ofsted grades (from 45:56). The team describes coming out of the inspection with an outstanding grade. Now: Since November 2025, Ofsted has published report cards with no overall grade; each area is graded on a five-point scale from urgent improvement to exceptional.
Evidence for inspectors (from 25:47). They advise building dashboards and mapping the framework's indicators to evidence so inspectors can follow the story. Now: Inspectors don't need information in any specific format or documents produced for the inspection; they gather evidence mainly through professional conversation and joint inspection activity.
Learners with additional needs (from 15:57). First Intuition describes flagging level 7 learners' needs and sharing them with tutors, and its report finding they achieved as well as their peers. Now: Ofsted now grades inclusion as its own evaluation area, looking for early and accurate identification, consistent support and evidence of impact.
How an inspection runs (from 8:42). A nominee takes the notice call, the inspection lasts four days and the grade can't be shared for weeks. Now: This has changed since the recording; check current guidance.