Ofsted rated Nottingham College's residential care for Ruddington apprentices outstanding in all three areas. Inspectors made no points for improvement.

Ofsted has rated Nottingham College outstanding for the way it looks after apprentices who stay away from home to train at Ruddington. Inspectors gave the top grade in all three areas and made no points for improvement.

The inspection took place on 15 and 16 September, and Ofsted published the report on 31 October. The last inspection, in January 2024, was also outstanding overall. (Ofsted report, Ofsted provider page)

This report covers residential care only. It is not a judgement on the college’s teaching.

The three judgements

  • Overall experiences and progress of young people: outstanding
  • How well young people are helped and protected: outstanding
  • The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

What inspectors found

The “residential provision” is an approved hotel, not a hall of residence. Young people have their own rooms, eat dinner and breakfast in the restaurant and have lunch at college. Wardens from the college base themselves at the hotel. Inspectors also noted a common room, a gym and a swimming pool.

For some of these young people, the report says, it is their first time away from their families. One told inspectors: “Everything is going well. I like that we are treated like adults; it’s great.”

The report also says:

  • there have been no safeguarding concerns about staff working in the residential provision
  • young people must tell staff when they leave and return to the building
  • feedback from parents and employers was “extremely positive”
  • one parent directly credited their child’s progress to the support from staff

Inspectors found no failures of the national minimum standards.

Why it matters locally

The college’s Ruddington site, at Ruddington Fields Business Park about three miles south of West Bridgford, trains automotive apprentices for manufacturers including Aston Martin, Ferrari and Tesla, according to its campus page. The college said in 2024 that more than 400 apprentices used the residential provision. The new report gives no current figure.

What it means for you

  • If your child has an apprenticeship place that involves residential weeks, you can read the full report.
  • To ask about arrangements, contact the college directly. Ofsted does not name the hotel.