Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford
Anglia Ruskin University is a school for pupils in Chelmsford.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Anglia Ruskin University in detail
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Chelmsford Rail Station, about 640 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Anglia Ruskin University (outside), 40 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 622 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Essex (97), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Anglia Ruskin University excels at providing expert teaching delivered by subject specialists who make learning relevant to apprentices' real work. The university creates an inclusive, supportive environment where apprentices develop both professionally and personally, with excellent support from study coaches and tailored adjustments for those who need extra help. Apprentices gain valuable qualifications and professional accreditations that prepare them well for their next career steps.
Key Strengths
- Expert lecturers who deliver highly relevant, up-to-date tuition with clear explanations and visual aids
- Strong support from study coaches who communicate with employers and conduct thorough progress reviews
- Excellent arrangements for apprentices with special educational needs, including tailored workplace adjustments
- Well-designed curriculum mapped to professional requirements, such as nursing proficiencies
- High and rising apprenticeship completion rates overall
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistent checking of apprentice understanding in some lessons, particularly in online nursing courses and large quantity surveyor groups
- Low achievement rates on some apprenticeships, with apprentices not completing end-of-course assessments despite passing their degree
- Superficial understanding of radicalisation and extremism risks among apprentices outside policing and nursing
- High early-leaving rates among construction site supervisor apprentices with no qualifications
- Limited focused development for high-performing lecturers to advance their teaching skills further
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with minor areas for improvement, with staff using cause for concern reports and the student support team responding swiftly to apprentice welfare issues.
Extracurricular Activities
Sports clubs, gym access, counselling services, health and well-being app
Anglia Ruskin University is a large provider offering degree apprenticeships at levels 4 to 7 across multiple campuses, with strong subject expertise and a commitment to widening participation. The university has made significant improvements since its previous inspection and now provides a good quality of education for its 3,431 apprentices.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Anglia Ruskin University
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 22
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 22 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 18 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
6 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Essex is 9 (the median across 614 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
Across Essex council
Places available
17,590
Applications
16,568
Got 1st preference
83.4%
Got preferred school
97.0%
All secondary applications across Essex council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(4)
Questions parents ask about Anglia Ruskin University
What is the catchment area for Anglia Ruskin University?
No fixed boundary. When Anglia Ruskin University is oversubscribed, Essex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How do I apply to Anglia Ruskin University?
Apply through Essex's coordinated admissions process, naming Anglia Ruskin University on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Anglia Ruskin University?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 22 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 18 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 6 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Essex is 9 (the median across 614 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Anglia Ruskin University?
Anglia Ruskin University is at Rivermead Campus, Bishop Hall Lane, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1SQ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)