Glowing Ofsted report for University of Brighton apprenticeships

The inspection highlighted the quality of teaching, learning and assessment as well as outcomes for learners. Inspectors also praised the diversity and breadth of experience-sharing among the apprentices, and the way that student feedback informs teaching.

The report concluded that apprenticeship provision “plays an essential part in the university’s mission to meet the skills needs of local employers and to offer a route into higher education for non-traditional learners”, and that: “senior managers (from employer organisations) play an active part in the apprenticeship steering committee that over sees the performance of the apprenticeship provision”.

Welcoming the report, Vice-Chancellor Professor Debra Humphris said: “This is excellent news and testament to everyone involved in making our higher and degree apprenticeships so successful. It is a great foundation on which to continue to build the university’s apprenticeship offer in a wide range of sectors, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.”

Employers of staff on apprenticeship programmes with the university: Tricia Rigby, Head of Nursing and Midwifery Education, Western Sussex Hospitals; Alyson Stobbs, Placement Learning Manager East Surrey Hospital; David Roberts, HR, Sussex Partnership Trust.

Inspectors also noted that apprentices take on more responsibilities at work because of the technical skills, theoretical knowledge and personal confidence they develop during their apprenticeships.

Langley House Surgery in Chichester sent healthcare assistant Michele Hotchkiss on the university’s Assistant Practitioner in Healthcare Higher Apprenticeship. Practice manager Victoria Hamer explained that Michelle has now progressed to assistant practitioner as a result of the apprenticeship.

She said: “Michelle has embraced her enhanced knowledge and relishes looking after her own wound care patients with competence, enthusiasm and confidence.”

Tricia Rigby, Head of Nursing and Midwifery Education at Western Sussex Hospitals said: “We’ve found that as employers, we’re all working together far more, so our apprentices are getting the opportunity to cross boundaries, and experience things that they’ve not had before”.

Many of the apprentices who have completed their apprenticeship programmes remain with their employers and have received promotions to positions with greater responsibilities and higher pay.

As an established provider of apprenticeships since 2016, the University of Brighton is one of the first universities in the South East to undergo a full Ofsted Inspection.

The Ofsted report has been published today.