L3Harris Airline Academy announced that following a recent visit by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), they have once again been rated as ‘exceeding expectations’.

The ISI is an approved Educational Oversight body authorised by the Home Office to inspect privately funded further education colleges and English language schools in England and Wales offering courses on the Qualifications and Credit Framework. It is designed to improve the quality of education on offer to international students who attend UK colleges through student visas.

Summary of Findings of the ISI:

• The college exceeds expectations. At the previous inspection of 23 – 25 November 2021 the college was found to exceed expectations and the quality of education as judged at that time has been maintained.
• The quality of the curriculum, teaching and learners’ achievements is excellent. Trainees are very well educated in accordance with their aim to successfully progress into the aviation industry. The curriculum is very well organized and is highly effective in meeting the requirements of the UK CAA, EASA and other regulatory aviation organisations. Courses on offer to students on Student visas meet the definition of an approved qualification, as set out in the Home Office guidance. Initial assessment prior to, and on arrival, is excellent and is highly effective in ensuring trainees have the ability to successfully complete their course and go on to fly with major airlines. Overall, teaching is excellent. Instructors have excellent subject knowledge, experience in the aviation industry and use effective teaching methods to motivate and involve the trainees in their learning. As a result, trainees make excellent progress across the range of courses. Trainees’ achievement and attendance rates are very high.
• Arrangements for the health, safety and welfare of trainees are excellent. Health and safety at both centres is very well managed and monitored. The academy’s buildings are very well maintained and provide an excellent environmer for trainees to learn and staff to work. Detailed health and safety policies and procedures are implemented effectively at both centres to ensure a safe and secure learning environment for trainees and staff. Fire precautions, drills and evacuations are systematically undertaken and are clearly understood by all trainees and staff. Trainee registration and attendance records are excellent. They are accurate, very well managed and are highly effective in monitoring attendance and taking any necessary action. Procedures for reporting to the Home Office are highly secure. Pastoral support and guidance for the trainees is excellent and fully supports the academy’s aims. Relationships between instructors and trainees are excellent. Trainees report that they feel safe and very well supported.
• The effectiveness of governance, leadership and management is excellent. The board of directors provide excellent oversight and discharge their responsibilities well for financial planning and investment in the future. They are highly effective in ensuring that high levels of education, welfare, health and safety are maintained. A clear vision for the academy is shared by all staff, who work very well together for the good of the trainees. A comprehensive and well-developed management structure, with clear roles and responsibilities, ensures that the academy is very well run and meets all its legal obligations. The academy is very successful in attracting and retaining highly qualified and experienced instructors and other staff. Procedures for the recruitment of staff are excellent, in accordance with legal requirements, with all appropriate checks undertaken. As a result, all required employment and suitability checks are completed on staff before their employment is confirmed.

L3Harris CTS Airline and Academy Training Ltd (formerly L3 CTS AAT Ltd) is a wholly owned subsidiary of L3Harris Technologies, Inc. The academy is a division within L3Harris Commercial Training Solutions Limited (L3Harris CTS) and provides training to pilots at all stages of their career from ab-initio (Airline Academy) to the post qualification training (Airline Training) of pilots and examiners on behalf of the UK CAA, EASA and other regulators globally. In 2023, L3Harris became an accredited recruitment partner of British Airways and TUI which allows both airlines to select students from the Graduate Placement Pool or select high performing students currently within the training system.

Source: L3Harris Airline Academy
Photo Credit: L3Harris Airline Academy