Queen Mary University of London is celebrating a remarkable achievement as its apprenticeship provision has been rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted (the UK government’s Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills) across all categories. This prestigious recognition places Queen Mary among only eight universities in the UK to attain the top rating, highlighting its dedication to delivering exceptional education and career development opportunities.
Following a comprehensive four-day on-campus inspection by Ofsted, Queen Mary’s degree apprenticeship programmes were rated Outstanding in all five key categories:
Professor Colin Bailey, President and Principal of Queen Mary, expressed his pride in this achievement, stating:
"I am extremely proud, although not surprised, that the quality of our education has been rated as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted. This independent in-depth evaluation by the regulator demonstrates the excellent education delivered by our staff. Our vision at Queen Mary is to open the doors of opportunity to any student with the potential to succeed. I am therefore pleased that the Ofsted assessors recognised that we ‘place a significant emphasis on promoting social mobility, diversity and inclusion’."
As the first Russell Group university to offer degree apprenticeships, Queen Mary has been a pioneer in shaping education pathways that combine academic excellence with practical experience.
Dr Philippa Lloyd, Queen Mary’s VP Policy and Strategic Partnerships, praised the University’s partnerships with leading organisations:
We are very proud of the employers we partner with on our degree apprenticeship programmes, including Goldman Sachs, Amazon, KPMG, PwC, and the NHS. I was particularly pleased to see this assessment highlight that we ‘work very effectively with prestigious organisations’ to ensure our curricula meet employers’ skills needs.
Ofsted’s report highlighted the exceptional qualities of Queen Mary’s apprenticeship provision, noting that students demonstrate positive attitudes, develop substantial new knowledge and skills, and benefit from inclusive and ambitious teaching. Employers, in turn, gain highly skilled graduates equipped to meet the demands of a global market.
The School of Business and Management's BSc Accountancy (Flying Start) programme offers a unique blend of rigorous academic study and hands-on professional placements at PwC, one of the world’s leading professional services firms. Students also progress towards achieving the ICAEW Chartered Accountant qualification, making this an exceptional pathway into a competitive career.
Professor Stephanie Marshall, Queen Mary’s Vice-Principal for Education, said:
"This fantastic result is a testament to the hard work, commitment, and dedication of staff across Queen Mary. It demonstrates the quality of our educators who teach our degree apprentices alongside our undergraduate and postgraduate students. I could not be more proud."