University of Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent
University of Staffordshire is a school for pupils in Stoke-on-Trent. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2026, ended in a report card: 2 strong standard and 3 expected standard.
- Ofsted report card
- 2 of 5 areas strong or better
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
University of Staffordshire in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 24 February 2026 inspection grades University of Staffordshire on 5 areas: 2 strong standard and 3 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 capture information on potential barriers to learning during enrolment, including information about special educational needs and/or disabilities, care leavers and carer responsibilities."
Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear vision for apprenticeships to meet employer needs in sectors such as the health and digital sectors."
Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders closely align the curriculum to local and regional priorities and employers' needs."
Participation and development - Strong standard. "Staff provide a rich, thoughtfully tailored programme of wider learning that develops apprentices' confidence and independence."
Achievement - Expected standard. "Apprentices typically make appropriate progress from their starting points and achieve their qualifications."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should be proactive in using data on the progress of disadvantaged apprentices to make and implement evidence-informed adaptations to the inclusion strategy, so they consistently improve apprentices' education"; "Leaders and governors should continue to monitor accurately the quality of apprenticeship provision to improve apprenticeship achievement rates".
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 Stoke-on-Trent Rail Station, about 120 metres away (roughly a 2-minute walk).
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Stoke-on-Trent rail station (adjacent), 90 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 592 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Staffordshire (86), 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 · 8 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- InclusionExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
- Participation and developmentStrong standard
- AchievementExpected standard
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should be proactive in using data on the progress of disadvantaged apprentices to make and implement evidence-informed adaptations to the inclusion strategy, so they consistently improve apprentices' education.
- Leaders and governors should continue to monitor accurately the quality of apprenticeship provision to improve apprenticeship achievement rates.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 24 February 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
University of Staffordshire excels at preparing apprentices for real-world challenges through state-of-the-art simulation training and strong partnerships with employers. The university creates an inclusive, supportive environment where apprentices from all backgrounds feel valued and receive wraparound support tailored to their needs. Most importantly, apprentices develop strong professional skills and confidence, with most progressing to employment that matches their career goals.
Key Strengths
- Excellent use of simulation activities and immersive learning spaces to build apprentice confidence in complex situations
- Strong employer engagement and curriculum tailored to local, regional and employer needs
- Inclusive culture with targeted support for neurodiversity and diverse groups in traditionally male-dominated fields
- High apprentice motivation, attendance and professionalism
- Comprehensive support services including counselling, financial advice and flexible arrangements for working apprentices
Areas for Improvement
- Some apprentices in manufacturing engineering achieve less well than others
- Need to use data more proactively to improve outcomes for disadvantaged apprentices
- Continue to monitor and improve achievement rates across all apprenticeship programmes
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met with an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified and managed, keeping learners safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Officer safety training, driving competence courses, Tech Industry Gold accreditation, hackathons, STEM ambassador programmes, community projects supporting employment readiness, additional qualifications for police apprentices
University of Staffordshire provides apprenticeships across sectors including health, digital, policing and paramedic services with a strong standard for curriculum and teaching. The provider has established clear strategies to embed apprenticeships within the university structure and meet employer and regional needs.
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 Staffordshire
From University of Staffordshire's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with University of Staffordshire
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 32
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 6
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 32 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 26 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise.
4 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 Staffordshire is 5 (the median across 457 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 Staffordshire council
Places available
8,807
Applications
7,681
Got 1st preference
91.9%
Got preferred school
98.5%
All secondary applications across Staffordshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(5)
Questions parents ask about University of Staffordshire
What is the catchment area for University of Staffordshire?
No fixed boundary. When University of Staffordshire is oversubscribed, Staffordshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How do I apply to University of Staffordshire?
Apply through Staffordshire's coordinated admissions process, naming University of Staffordshire 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 Staffordshire?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 32 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 26 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise. 4 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 Staffordshire is 5 (the median across 457 schools, same distance and years).
Where is University of Staffordshire?
University of Staffordshire is at College Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 2DE.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)