How RISE Bootcamps can help Further Education meet Ofsted’s proposed 2025 updates
The Further Education (FE) sector is preparing for significant changes to Ofsted’s inspection framework. From November 2025, Ofsted plans to replace single-word judgments with detailed report cards, offering an overall picture of an institution’s strengths, areas for development, and student outcomes.
For FE colleges and leaders, this means a focus on employer engagement, student progression, and career readiness.
To stay ahead, institutions can act now to embed learning opportunities that directly address these key areas. RISE Bootcamps in Games, Animation and VFX provide an effective, employer-backed solution that aligns with both current and future Ofsted priorities.
What’s changing in the Ofsted framework?
Ofsted’s proposed reforms focus on:
- Report cards instead of single word judgements – A broader evaluation of colleges, highlighting strengths in key areas like employer engagement and student progression.
- Continuous improvement – Institutions will be expected to demonstrate clear strategies for assessing and continuously enhancing their provision and curriculum delivery.
- Employability skills and outcomes – Inspections will assess how well colleges prepare students for jobs, including workplace experience, employer links, and career pathway guidance.
- Education inspection toolkits – Designed to help colleges monitor and improve their curriculum and employer partnerships.
You can find out more about all of the proposed changes (and take part in their consultation before the 28th April 2025) here. Colleges that proactively integrate RISE Bootcamps into their offer now will be ahead of the curve to meet these expectations ahead of the updated framework rollout.
How RISE bootcamps align with Ofsted’s priorities
NextGen RISE bootcamps are designed to enhance outcomes by delivering intensive, employer-led training for Games, Animation and VFX students. They provide a structured, industry-driven learning experience that bridges the gap between education and employment.
Designed for FE institutions, RISE supports and enhances existing curricula. By working with RISE, colleges can provide hands-on, career-focused learning that drives real impact and that align with Ofsted’s proposed changes by:
- Strengthening employer engagement – All RISE Bootcamps and projects have been designed in collaboration with industry.
- Improving student progression – Focused on real-world skills development, they help learners build professional confidence and employability skills.
- Enhancing institutional performance – Colleges that introduce RISE Bootcamps into their curriculum will have clear evidence of employer partnerships and student impact, key focus areas in the new framework.
- Providing measurable impact data – Report cards will require institutions to show concrete results. RISE Bootcamps offer a structured way to collect and demonstrate positive outcomes.
They are also cost-effective and easy to implement. RISE is designed to integrate seamlessly into existing college structures without requiring expensive infrastructure or additional staffing.
How NextGen RISE Works – Real Industry engagement, real impact
NextGen RISE isn’t just another course add-on - it’s an immersive, employer-led learning experience built to transform how creative education connects to the future careers.
Developed with Tom Box, Co-Founder of multi-BAFTA-winning Blue Zoo Animation Studio, RISE is a Remote Industry Studio Experience that brings the energy, expectations, and expertise of the workplace into the classroom.
Here’s what makes RISE different:
- Industry briefs – Written and reviewed by top UK studios to reflect genuine workplace challenges, ensuring students work on projects that matter.
- Professional tools & workflows – Students learn the up-to-date processes and pipelines of creative studios, building job-ready technical skills.
- Professional-grade feedback – Constructive critique from industry boosts quality and confidence while teaching students how to respond to professional review cycles.
- Essential employability skills – Collaboration, communication, time management, and problem-solving are baked into every project, preparing learners for work.
- Standout portfolio pieces – Every student leaves with tangible, industry-reviewed work that showcases their talent, creativity, and readiness for employment.
With RISE, colleges don’t just talk about employer engagement, they live it. It’s a cost-effective, easy-to-integrate solution that elevates curriculum delivery and helps shape the future of the creative sector.
Why colleges should act now
FE institutions that embed RISE Bootcamps before the proposed Ofsted framework changes will:
- Be ahead of the transition, with evidence of strong employer collaboration.
- Strengthen their inspection outcomes under the current framework.
- Enhance student employability and progression.
- Build a future-ready curriculum aligned with evolving industry needs.
Colleges don’t need to wait for Ofsted’s new framework to act, RISE Bootcamps already align with both current and future priorities.
📩 Want to explore how NextGen RISE can support your college’s goals? Let’s talk.