Hartpury College

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings

This is an outstanding provider Learners on all programmes and courses receive high-quality teaching, learning and assessment. Leaders have created a highly supportive, respectful and collaborative culture in which learners thrive, raise their ambitions and gain vastly in confidence.

Leaders and managers have successfully dealt with weaknesses identified by inspectors during the previous inspection. A very high proportion of learners achieve their qualifications, including good grades in GCSE English and mathematics. Teachers make extremely effective use of their industry and sporting expertise to inspire learners to achieve excellence.

As a result of managers' expertly designed cur...riculum, sports learners develop their sporting prowess alongside achieving qualifications. Excellent relationships with a wide range of equine, agricultural, animal management and sports industries ensure that learners develop specialist skills rapidly. Many go on to secure and sustain employment.

Learners develop excellent practical skills and produce high-quality work. Current learners are highly positive about their experiences and making rapid progress. All learners participate in excellent and highly relevant external work placements.

These develop learners' readiness for work and knowledge of their chosen careers exceptionally well. Learners' excellent attitudes and pride in their work contributes significantly to the outstanding progress they make. Careers advice is impartial, comprehensive and highly effective.

The large majority of learners go on to university or employment related to their courses. Staff provide excellent support to all learners which ensures that their academic, vocational and personal needs are met extremely well. In a small number of A-level subjects, some learners do not achieve the grades of which they are capable.

Information about the provider

Hartpury College is a specialist sports and land-based college on a rural, single-site campus in Gloucestershire. Most learners who attend the college are from Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Learners also come from elsewhere in the UK, including Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Most live in residential accommodation on the campus. Around a quarter of the learners following further education courses come from areas of economic deprivation. A small number of learners follow apprenticeships in agriculture, or in sporting excellence in rugby, rowing or equine.

Sporting excellence apprenticeships are designed to develop talented young sports people to elite levels and do not require employment. Adults from across the UK undertake short sports coaching courses in rugby or football through two specialist subcontractors to the college. Hartpury College also has a large higher education (HE) provision, and a small number of international learners from the European Union and further afield.