University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham
University of Gloucestershire is a school for pupils in Cheltenham. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2026, ended in a report card: 5 expected standard.
- Ofsted report card
- 0 of 5 areas strong or better
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
University of Gloucestershire in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 21 April 2026 inspection grades University of Gloucestershire on 5 areas: 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have created a positive environment in which disadvantaged apprentices are well supported through a wide range of services delivered both digitally and in person."
Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders generally understand the strengths and areas for improvement of the training they provide."
Achievement - Expected standard. "Most apprentices, including those with barriers to learning, complete their apprenticeship and achieve within their expected timeframe."
Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders and managers use a range of formal and informal processes to understand the quality of apprentices' experiences."
Participation and development - Expected standard. "Leaders maintain clear strategic oversight of apprentices' participation and personal development."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that apprentices routinely receive high-quality reviews that support them in their progress and achievement"; "Leaders should ensure that any adaptions or learning support for apprentices is reviewed effectively so that it has the greatest possible positive impact"; "Leaders should ensure that wider themes, such as the dangers and signs of radicalisation, are taught in a way that helps apprentices understand how they apply at work".
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 Cheltenham Spa Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
17 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Campus (entrance), 70 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood University of Gloucestershire stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Sources: NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 6 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- InclusionExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- Participation and developmentExpected standard
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should ensure that apprentices routinely receive high-quality reviews that support them in their progress and achievement.
- Leaders should ensure that any adaptions or learning support for apprentices is reviewed effectively so that it has the greatest possible positive impact.
- Leaders should ensure that wider themes, such as the dangers and signs of radicalisation, are taught in a way that helps apprentices understand how they apply at work.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 21 April 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
University of Gloucestershire creates a supportive and inclusive learning environment where apprentices feel valued and gain confidence. Lecturers are approachable and well-organised, helping apprentices feel comfortable asking questions and developing their knowledge quickly. Apprentices successfully apply their learning directly to their jobs and progress into more senior roles or further training.
Key Strengths
- Most apprentices complete their apprenticeship and achieve within expected timeframes, with all final assessment takers passing
- Teaching is generally high quality with lecturers explaining concepts clearly and using real workplace situations to help apprentices apply theory to practice
- Strong support structures help apprentices engage positively with learning, with high attendance and clear progression into more senior roles
- Curriculum is carefully planned with employers and professional bodies to ensure content reflects current industry practice
- Effective support for disadvantaged apprentices and those with barriers to learning, helping them achieve in line with peers
Areas for Improvement
- Reviews with apprentices, employers and skills coaches are not used effectively or routinely enough to support progress
- Learning support plans are not reviewed in a sufficiently timely or well-structured way to remain focused and effective
- Wider themes such as radicalisation and extremist views are not sufficiently contextualised to apprentices' workplace settings, leaving some with limited understanding of these risks at work
- Leaders' oversight is not consistently sharp across all aspects of provision
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and managed, and apprentices feel safe.
University of Gloucestershire provides apprenticeships across healthcare, hospitality, leadership and children and families sectors. The provider meets safeguarding standards and achieves an expected standard overall, with apprentices completing their programmes and progressing to senior roles.
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 University of Gloucestershire
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 6
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 3 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 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 Gloucestershire is 5 (the median across 338 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 Gloucestershire council
Places available
7,977
Applications
6,517
Got 1st preference
86.8%
Got preferred school
97.0%
All secondary applications across Gloucestershire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
Questions parents ask about University of Gloucestershire
What is the catchment area for University of Gloucestershire?
No fixed boundary. When University of Gloucestershire is oversubscribed, Gloucestershire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How do I apply to University of Gloucestershire?
Apply through Gloucestershire's coordinated admissions process, naming University of Gloucestershire 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 Gloucestershire?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 3 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 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 Gloucestershire is 5 (the median across 338 schools, same distance and years).
Where is University of Gloucestershire?
University of Gloucestershire is at The Park, The Park Campus, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 2RH.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)