University’s degree apprenticeship programmes rated as ‘Good’

The provisions under inspection included the University’s apprenticeships in Chartered Manager, Social Work, Student Nursing Associate, Pre-Registered Nurse, Advanced Clinical Practitioner and Police Constable programmes.  

The University achieved a ‘Good’ for all four key judgment areas and a ‘Good’ overall rating. All programmes demonstrated effective teaching, using technology to support and enhance the learning experience and provided learners with constructive and developmental feedback to support continued development on the programmes they study as well as developing their professional knowledge, skills and behaviours. 

This result demonstrates that learners are achieving well with a third of learners being awarded the highest classification for both the qualifications studied and their end point assessment for the apprenticeships.  

The Ofsted report recognises the important work done by the University to support learners at all stages of their journey. Inspectors acknowledged that academic staff identify what learners know and can do at the start of their programme and this is effectively reviewed during their studies with learners being set challenging targets. Work to support significant numbers of apprentices with Special Educational Needs and/or Difficulties (SEND) was also praised.  

The University works hard with employers to ensure that all learners are effectively supported to ensure they benefit from the full curriculum. Inspectors found that the University’s apprenticeship curricula have been well-planned and developed to support the broader development of learners and to support citizenship. Benefiting from the high-quality of education delivered by the University, learners develop their resilience, confidence and wider professional skills during their apprenticeship journey.  

The University is pleased that the report also recognises the improvements it has made to ensure that apprentices are provided with valuable careers and employability advice and guidance. This raises the aspirations of learners, opening opportunities for career routes and specialisms they might not previously have considered. 

Professor Eunice Simmons, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Chester said: “We are delighted with this outcome and I want to thank all our employers and learners who supported the University during the Inspection and continue to do so on our apprenticeship programmes.  

“This report recognises the hard work of colleagues across the University who support our higher and degree apprentices which is apparent in the improving achievement rates. Our provision is predominantly delivered for and with the public sector, and we are very proud to be developing the nurses, social workers and police officers of the future for the communities we serve across the North-West region.”