Hartpury College is a special place, this year celebrating its 75th anniversary. We’ve come a long way during that time but our commitment to our students and community is as strong as ever.
The Love Our Colleges campaign is an ideal chance to celebrate all the brilliant things that colleges do day in and day out to build communities, boost businesses and support individuals. It also provides a good opportunity to bring together some of the many things that make Hartpury College special.
Here are X reasons to love Hartpury College or to consider studying with us from September 2024.
We offer exciting, varied courses within our specialist areas (including T Levels from 2024)
Here at Hartpury College, we offer a varied selection of A-levels as well as vocational diplomas in Animal, Agriculture, Equine, Sport, Access to Higher Education, Outdoor Adventure and Uniformed Protective Services. From 2024, we’ll also be offering T Levels in Agriculture.
A-levels
We offer 14 A-levels in subjects including English Literature, History and Maths, boasting an impressive pass rate and an exciting chance to progress to further studies here at Hartpury University or beyond. Our 2023 pass rate was above the national average once more at 98.4%.
Diplomas
Whether you opt for a diploma in Agriculture, Animal, Equine, Sport, Outdoor Adventure or Uniformed Protective Services, our courses offer clear progression routes through to university or the world of work. We combine academic study with enrichment opportunities and help students to strike the right balance. We offer Level 2 BTEC diplomas, one-year courses designed to provide a solid foundation of knowledge ready for a Level 3 qualification. We also offer Level 3 BTEC diplomas, specialist applied qualifications built around specific industry standards and linked to skills required for employment.
T Levels
Three exciting new agriculture T Levels are coming to Hartpury in 2024. T Levels are set to become one of the main choices after GCSEs, alongside A-levels and apprenticeships, developed with employers and educational providers to offer a technical programme that gives students the applied skills required by industry. At Hartpury, students can choose from T Levels in Land-Based Engineering, Crop Production or Livestock Production, aligning with their future education or career aspirations. We’re starting with agriculture T Levels but look out for T Levels in other subject areas coming soon.
We have consistently high A-level pass rates
A-level results day can be a highly anticipated and nerve-wracking day, but it’s usually a day of success and celebration for Hartpury College students thanks to our consistently high pass rates. Our 2023 pass rate was an impressive 98.4%, above the national rate.
BTEC diploma students, who also now take national exams as part of their course, also enjoy great success. This year, a large proportion of students achieved a Distinction grade profile and an overall 99.4% pass rate.
We’re rated Ofsted Outstanding in all areas for academic and curriculum-related provision
We’re delighted to be rated Outstanding by Ofsted when it comes to all areas of our academic and curriculum-related provision.
We have high student satisfaction levels
Our 96% student satisfaction (Hartpury 2023) with teaching rate reflects our continuing goal of delivering the best standards of teaching we can. Our enthusiastic, passionate lecturers are dedicated to preparing our students for future success whether in higher education or employment.
We help people get skills based on the needs of local, regional and national employers
Colleges have always had good links with employers to offer work placements to students and support apprenticeships. Now, more than ever, Hartpury is working closely with local, regional, and national businesses and employer groups to identify and deliver the specific skills needed to promote economic prosperity and meet skills gaps.
Our industry-curriculum co-curriculum creation events are another great way to get the opinions and thoughts of local business leaders, helping to shape our curriculum. Each year, we invite business leaders and influential figures from our respective subject areas to meet with our teaching staff to review ideas and curriculum content. This ensures our students are equipped with the skills required by industry, raising employability and bridging skills gaps.
Our students have high progression rates
An impressive 97% of Hartpury College students go on to employment, university, or further study (Hartpury 2023). Whilst this is down to multiple factors, our industry-aligned curriculum, state-of-the-art facilities and commitment to teaching and support no doubt helps students to be highly employable or progress seamlessly into higher education.
You’ll complete the Hartpury College Certificate to boost your CV
As part of your Hartpury experience, you'll complete the unique Hartpury College Certificate, helping you develop key life skills, confidence, and independence to support your future endeavours.
Focussed around real-world, practical experience, you’ll be given the tools to develop
your career through work experience with external businesses and 11 on-campus enterprises. You’ll also create and work towards a career plan and strengthen your numeracy and literacy skills alongside your main qualifications, which you'll evidence in your online portfolio. There’s also an opportunity to take these skills further, with the Hartpury College Certificate Plus. This allows you to sign up for extra enrichment activities to boost your CV and help you stand out from the crowd, from our Student Ambassador Scheme to enterprise and setting up a business.
We have a university on site
Many of our students progress to higher education right here at Hartpury University, with some even going to study undergraduate and then a postgraduate qualification before leaving us. This year, Hartpury became the only university in Gloucestershire to be awarded triple Gold in all three areas of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
The inaugural Daily Mail University Guide 2024 ranked Hartpury in 2nd place in the UK for Student Support and 4th in the UK for Teaching Excellence, while The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 ranked Hartpury as 6th in the UK for Teaching Quality and 14th in the UK for Student Experience. In the National Student Survey (NSS), Hartpury University was ranked as the number one university in England in the ‘Academic Support’ category.
Even if you don’t decide to stay on to study higher education, having a university on site brings a host of benefits whether through shared facilities, research, social events, or enrichment.
We’ve invested heavily in our facilities
We’ve invested over £50 million in our facilities in recent years to provide the optimum learning environment for our students. Our newly launched Graze has created the perfect student hub offering study spaces, classrooms, and places to eat and drink. In addition, our commercial Home Farm includes a £2m Agri-Tech Centre and Tech Box Park where industry and innovation collide. Earlier this year, we added an exciting Digital Studio that’s home to a range of AR and VR technology, bringing farming to life and providing a safe environment to trial and learn about the latest digital advances.
We have an Animal and Veterinary Nursing Centre, an Equine Centre that hosts international competitions each year, a walled animal garden that’s home to a diverse mix of domestic and non-domestic species.In addition, our state-of-the-art Sports Academy houses equipment often found in elite sporting environments such as Premier League football clubs, and provides the ideal applied classroom for students and training facility for elite athletes in our competitive Sports Academies.
There are enrichment opportunities galore
At Hartpury, you'll also have access to our Students' Union – which is a huge bonus as a college student. They'll represent your voice, support you to get involved in student life, and
provide access to clubs and societies. Whether you opt to play sport or join one of our clubs including the Agricultural Society, Animal Society, Christian Union, Equestrian Club, Green Leaders, LGBTQ+, Polo or Vet Society, there’s something for everyone.
There are work experience opportunities galore
Our industry contact base includes over 3,000 work experience providers so we can help you find the perfect placement if it’s part of your course, or connect you through our Innovation, Careers and Enterprise (ICE) centre as you seek employment after your studies.
We’re an international college
International students are welcomed from around the world. In fact, our Hartpury family is made up of staff and students from over 60 countries. Our International team is available to help international students in every aspect from the application process through to financial advice and visa guidance.
Pursue your sporting ambitions while you study
Many of our students and graduates are successful athletes; from winning Olympic medals and playing in the World Cup, Champions League, and African Cup of Nations, to competing in international and national events across our sports. Over 250 international athletes have developed their talents at Hartpury over the last 15 years, and they’re doing amazing things in the world of international sport. You could be our next success story.
