Ofsted praise for York St John University’s Degree Apprenticeships

Ofsted has judged York St John University’s provision of Degree Apprenticeships as ‘good’ for overall effectiveness in its latest report.  

In the first report by Ofsted into the University’s degree apprenticeships, the University was awarded ‘good’ for its quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development of students and leadership and management.

The report highlighted that apprentices proudly represent the University’s values of promoting fairness and equality of opportunity and contribute to a vibrant and inclusive culture where individuality is respected, making apprentices feel safe and protected in training and at work.

It added that lecturers and tutors are highly qualified in their disciplines and provide opportunities for apprentices to develop a sense of social responsibility. Apprentices undertake outreach work through their employer and many take part in research projects to contribute to university-wide projects on themes including social justice and ethical leadership.

The report follows on the heels of York St John University being awarded the title of Training Provider of the Year at the North Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards in June 2023.

Thomas Barton, Head of Apprenticeship Delivery at York St John University, commented:

“I am immensely gratified by our attainment of a ‘Good’ overall rating during our Ofsted inspection. This achievement resonates deeply with our ethos of continuous improvement and ongoing dedication to delivering outstanding degree apprenticeship programmes.

“It reaffirms our collective efforts in providing apprentices with a transformative learning experience, one that equips them with the skills, confidence, and resilience needed to excel in today’s competitive landscape.

“This inspection outcome inspires us to redouble our commitment to innovation and excellence, ensuring that every apprentice who walks through our doors emerges as a confident and capable professional, poised to make a significant impact in their chosen field.”

York St John has been offering degree apprenticeships since 2018. The University works closely with employers to co-design apprenticeship programmes and delivery models to ensure they fit industry needs. Apprentices get cutting-edge and relevant training during a work-based degree apprenticeship, typically working full-time and studying part-time either at the University’s York or London campus.

The University is the training provider of choice to over 140 employers, including the Office for National Statistics, local authorities and NHS trusts, Unilever, E.ON, DRAX, Ocado and the BBC. York St John currently offers degree apprenticeships in Senior Leadership, Chartered Management, Data Science, Project Management, Laboratory Science and for Healthcare Science Practitioners, and Police Constables.

Visit the Ofsted website to read the full report.

Find out more about Degree Apprenticeships at York St John University.