University of Exeter, Exeter
University of Exeter is a school for pupils in Exeter. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2026, ended in a report card: 3 exceptional and 2 strong standard.
- Ofsted report card
- 5 of 5 areas strong or better
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
University of Exeter in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 12 May 2026 inspection grades University of Exeter on 5 areas: 3 exceptional and 2 strong standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Leadership and governance - Exceptional. "Leaders and those responsible for governance have created an exceptionally sophisticated culture of reflective improvement, institutional learning and ambitious apprenticeship practice."
Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders and staff have established a highly inclusive culture in which apprentices from a wide range of backgrounds feel welcomed and well supported."
Achievement - Exceptional. "The progress that apprentices make from their starting points, including apprentices who are disadvantaged, is exceptional."
Participation and development - Exceptional. "Leaders innovatively source and generate participation and development opportunities for degree apprentices."
Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders have developed a high-quality curriculum that gives apprentices access to industry-leading, cutting-edge teaching and training supported by expert research and curriculum development."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to strengthen their approaches to identifying and supporting apprentices who experience barriers to their learning, ensuring that they receive timely support where required".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Exeter St Davids Rail Station, about 910 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Queen's Drive (n-bound), 110 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood University of Exeter stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 7th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 474 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 Devon (16), 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 · 5 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- Leadership and governanceExceptional
- InclusionStrong standard
- AchievementExceptional
- Participation and developmentExceptional
- Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should continue to strengthen their approaches to identifying and supporting apprentices who experience barriers to their learning, ensuring that they receive timely support where required.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 12 May 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
University of Exeter excels at supporting apprentices to thrive both in their studies and workplaces through high-quality teaching and considerable tailored support. The institution removes barriers before apprentices encounter them, offering flexible support and professional qualifications alongside degrees. Apprentices produce high-quality work that transforms their employers' operations while developing confidence and marketable skills for their futures.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional achievement with apprentices making rapid progress from their starting points, many gaining merit and distinction grades and professional qualifications from recognized bodies
- Exceptionally sophisticated leadership and governance with deeply embedded initiatives like Success for All and Universal Design for Learning shaping all aspects of the institution
- Highly inclusive culture where apprentices from disadvantaged backgrounds, care experienced, disabled or facing other barriers receive carefully considered support and flexible, compassionate assistance
- Innovative sourcing of transformational participation and development opportunities including Leading Edge speaker programme, WorldSkills UK competitions and professional networks
- Expert teaching staff using cutting-edge, industry-leading curriculum with innovative strategies that effectively convey technically complex concepts
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed, resulting in learners feeling safer.
Extracurricular Activities
Leading Edge speaker programme, WorldSkills UK competitions, professional networks and societies for degree apprentices, Black Apprentice Network, learning circles, structured networking groups
University of Exeter's apprenticeship provision has been rated as exceptional, with leaders creating a sophisticated culture of reflective improvement and ambitious apprenticeship practice. The institution has fundamentally reshaped apprenticeship provision to remove barriers and provide highly inclusive and transformational educational experiences.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from University of Exeter
Weekly Bulletin - Staff news and updates
1 Oct 2026
Past newsletters - Exeter Food
24 Sep 2026
Publications and briefings - Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
24 Sep 2026
Newsletter archive - Microbes and Society @ Exeter
24 Sep 2026
From University of Exeter's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with University of Exeter
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 7
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 5 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 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 Devon is 3 (the median across 426 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 Devon council
Places available
7,788
Applications
7,251
Got 1st preference
93.3%
Got preferred school
98.4%
All secondary applications across Devon council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
Questions parents ask about University of Exeter
What is the catchment area for University of Exeter?
No fixed boundary. When University of Exeter is oversubscribed, Devon allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How do I apply to University of Exeter?
Apply through Devon's coordinated admissions process, naming University of Exeter 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 University of Exeter?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 5 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 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 Devon is 3 (the median across 426 schools, same distance and years).
Where is University of Exeter?
University of Exeter is at Northcote House, The Queen's Drive, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4QJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)