Hartpury Annual Report July 2025

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Hartpury University Annual Report and Financial Statements > 2024/2025

Specialist institutions such as Hartpury University play a crucial role in the success of UK higher education, supporting key government priorities and delivering the skills and expertise that drive innovation, industry, and regional growth. We are delighted to have been named Specialist University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026. This is an extraordinary achievement for our whole community. Given the prestige of this publication, the recognition is particularly meaningful. It not only reflects where we are now but also the exciting direction in which we are heading. I am incredibly proud of our staff, governors, students, alumni and partners who have all played a role in this success. institutions for student satisfaction. Hartpury also ranks 6th in the UK, and 1st in Gloucestershire and the South West, for Academic Support according to the latest National Student Survey. At postgraduate level, it has been pleasing to see our performance in the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey, where Hartpury ranked 7th in the UK for overall satisfaction among home postgraduate students. Notably, 100% of MSc Applied Performance Analysis in Sport, MSc Sports Management, and Postgraduate Veterinary Nursing students reported satisfaction with the quality of their course. Our wellbeing services continue to provide vital support for students and staff facing physical and mental health challenges. Partnerships with local charities and support groups have gone from strength to strength, while initiatives such as our wellbeing calendar and workshops with external advocates have been hugely successful. As is now tradition, the academic year began with our annual WellFest event, attended by more than 3,000 students. The event highlighted the breadth of health, safety, and wellbeing support services available at Hartpury, while also raising awareness of important campaigns. Guest speakers from organisations including the Charlie Waller Trust, Freedom Personal Safety, Attention Seekers, ARAMARK, Victim Support, and Gloucestershire Police addressed issues ranging from self-care and mental health to body confidence, sexual safety and healthy relationships, hate crime awareness, and addiction. This rounds off twelve months of extraordinary accolades. In The Guardian University Guide 2025, Hartpury University’s sports degrees ranked 4th among 86

Further education outcomes have continued to impress, with Hartpury College celebrating another strong year of A-level and BTEC results. This year’s A-level results were our best on record, with a 99.4% overall A–E pass rate, compared with the national figure of 97.4%. In addition, 80.7% of students earned A–C grades (national: 77.7%), and 76% secured their first-choice university place. Vocational BTEC learners achieved a 99.2% overall pass rate, with 70.8% attaining a high-grade profile. T Level students also posted excellent results in their first year, with 98% passing their core components, which they will carry forward into their second year. Graduate employability from both the university and the college remains strong, demonstrating how our courses and teaching prepare students to meet industry skills needs. According to the 2025 Graduate Outcomes Survey, 95% of Hartpury University graduates are in employment, further study, or other purposeful activity. Following the launch of our ambitious 2030 Strategy in 2024, work has continued to progress our shared vision and goals for the next decade. The strategy builds on the fundamental principles that helped us achieve the triple gold rating in TEF 2023 and retain an Outstanding Ofsted rating in 2024. We are working closely with the Students’ Union to ensure the student voice informs decision-making, while strengthening collaboration between further and higher education to deliver a curriculum and student experience that inspire aspiration. The last twelve months have also seen stronger partnerships and a sharper focus on knowledge exchange with industry. Research and knowledge exchange activities have grown, with staff presenting at major external conferences such as the UK Animal Law Conference, where Hartpury researchers shared groundbreaking work on the use of artificial intelligence to investigate the unregulated sale of pet reptiles online. On campus, Hartpury hosted the 14th annual Alltech Hartpury Conference, where staff and students tackled pressing issues around equine welfare and social licence.

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