Nottingham Trent University rated ‘good’ in latest Ofsted inspection report
Nottingham Trent University (NTU)’s further education and skills provision has been graded ‘good’ by Ofsted, the government’s regulatory body for education, in its latest inspection report.
By Sarah McLeod | Published on 13 January 2025
Categories: Press office; School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences;
The inspection assessed NTU’s Further Education, Access and Apprenticeship programmes.
The report was published on 13 January 2025, following an inspection on 5-8 November 2024. In addition to the overall rating, Ofsted graded the University’s apprenticeships and adult learning provision as ‘outstanding’, along with Behaviours and Attitudes across all the provision inspected.
NTU is now one of a small number of universities in the UK providing apprenticeship programmes graded ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.
The report noted:
- “Apprentices and adult learners develop their knowledge and skills very well. They become significantly more proficient and skilled as a result of their training…They are highly motivated, attend very well and have very positive attitudes towards their studies.”
- "Staff at the university treat further education and higher education learners equally. They foster a culture of high expectations for all learners and apprentices. Learners and apprentices enjoy their courses and take pride in being part of the university community."
- "Lecturers encourage learners and apprentices to explore subjects widely and to make positive life choices."
Jane McNeil, Pro-Vice Chancellor Education at Nottingham Trent University commented:
“This is well-deserved recognition for our colleagues, learners and apprentices. Colleagues’ great commitment to our further education and skills provision is evident in the findings.
“Our current and future learners and apprentices can be reassured that they are part of a community which strives to ensure successful outcomes for all.”
This recognition of the quality of NTU’s apprenticeships follows our rating as the highest-rated UK university provider of higher and degree apprenticeships, in the RateMyApprenticeship Top Training Providers list for 2024.
Notes for Editors
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About Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University (NTU) has been named UK ‘University of the Year’ five times in six years, (Times Higher Education Awards 2017, The Guardian University Awards 2019, The Times and Sunday Times 2018 and 2023, Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023) and is consistently one of the top performing modern universities in the UK. It is the 3rd best modern university in the UK (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023).
NTU is the 5th largest UK institution by student numbers, with over 40,000 students and more than 4,400 staff located across five campuses. It has an international student population of almost 8,000 and an NTU community representing over 160 countries.
NTU owns two Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for outstanding achievements in research (2015, 2021). The first recognises NTU’s research in science, engineering, arts and humanities to investigate and restore cultural objects, buildings and heritage. The second was awarded for research on the safety and security of global citizens.
The Research Excellence Framework (2021) classed 83% of NTU’s research activity as either world-leading or internationally excellent. 86% of NTU’s research impact was assessed to be either world-leading or internationally excellent.
NTU is rated 5/5 stars overall and for Teaching, Employability, Internationalisation, Research and Facilities (QS Stars 2022).
NTU is a top five university for widening participation with 25% of NTU students coming from disadvantaged backgrounds (HESA 2021-22). It was the first UK university to sign the Social Mobility Pledge in 2018 and was named ‘University of the Year’ at the UK Social Mobility Awards in 2019,
NTU is the most sustainable university in the UK and 2nd in the world (UI Green Metric University World Rankings, 2023).