Hartpury College Review 2026: Specialist land based and sport pathways with a residential option

A rural single site campus, specialist equipment, and a timetable that mixes classroom learning with practical training define Hartpury College. The offer is broad for a post 16 provider, with vocational programmes in areas such as agriculture, animal management, equine and sport, alongside A levels and GCSE English and mathematics resit routes.

Leadership is led by Professor Andy Collop (Vice Chancellor, Principal and CEO), who took up post in September 2022, following the retirement of Russell Marchant.

Quality assurance is a headline strength. The February to March 2024 Ofsted inspection graded Hartpury College Outstanding across all areas, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, programmes for young people, adult learning, apprenticeships, and provision for learners with high needs.

Hartpury began life as an agricultural education centre in the late 1940s, when the County Council bought Hartpury House and Home Farm (1948) and the institute opened (1949) with around 50 students. That origin story still matters: the institution’s identity remains anchored in land based education, industry practice, and the kind of facilities that only make sense when you have farms, animals, arenas, and specialist training spaces to use as teaching rooms.

The tone described in official reporting is purposeful and professional. Expectations around conduct are high, and this seems to be part of the brand rather than an add on, particularly for students targeting sport and uniformed pathways. External reporting also highlights strong attendance and punctuality, with calm, ordered learning spaces as the norm.

A key differentiator is the on site residential community. Hartpury is not a traditional boarding school, but it operates student accommodation at a scale that materially shapes the day to day experience. Accommodation is organised across named halls, with under 18 focused provision and residential support staff in building locations designed for younger students.

Because Hartpury is a specialist further education college, headline outcomes need interpreting in context. Many students will be on vocational programmes and practical qualifications rather than a pure A level route, and course choice is tightly linked to progression into sport, agriculture, equine and animal careers. The best way to read the results data is as one strand within a wider outcomes picture.

For A levels, Hartpury’s most recent published grade profile shows:

• A* at 2.27%

• A at 8.82%

• B at 26.45%

• A* to B combined at 37.53%

A* and A together therefore account for 11.09% of grades on this measure, below the England average for A* and A (23.6%). A* to B is also below the England average (47.2%). On FindMySchool’s A level outcomes ranking, Hartpury sits at 1,898th in England, which places it below England average overall on that specific measure. (FindMySchool rankings are proprietary, built from official data.)

The most important implication is fit. Students choosing Hartpury primarily for a vocational, practical route will likely judge “results” through industry readiness, placements, and progression outcomes as much as through A level grade distribution. Students choosing a purely academic A level experience should scrutinise subject level strength, teaching time, and the study culture in their intended department.

The academic model is best understood as applied learning with specialist infrastructure. External reporting describes a curriculum that deliberately integrates theory with practical sessions, with sequencing designed so students build knowledge, skills and professional behaviours over time.

Several examples show what “applied” means in practice:

• Agriculture students add additional vocational tickets and qualifications alongside their main programme, including areas such as welding, chainsaw operation and pesticide safety, a direct employability play for students heading into farm and land management roles.

• Sport students can add coaching and leadership related qualifications, with structured enrichment linked to employment expectations in the sector.

• Equine teaching is explicitly practical, with students learning equipment detail and correct fitting as part of sequenced curriculum planning.

Facilities underpin this approach. Two named investments illustrate where the college is putting resource:

• The Agri Tech Digital Studio, positioned as an agri tech and precision farming simulation space designed to immerse students in tasks without leaving the classroom.

• Tech Box Park, referenced as part of the institution’s work with small businesses and enterprise, supporting learning linked to commercialisation and business planning within agriculture.

The through line is a learning model that tries to shorten the distance between education and industry practice, which will appeal to students who learn best by doing, and who are motivated by clear job linked outcomes.

Hard university destination breakdowns by named institution are not consistently published as a standard data set, so the most reliable progression picture here is the official leaver destinations data for the 2023 to 2024 cohort (907 students):

• 31% progressed to university

• 2% progressed to further education

• 7% started apprenticeships

• 41% entered employment

The remaining share covers other outcomes not listed including destinations that are not captured in those categories.

The practical implication is that Hartpury functions as both a route into higher education and a route directly into work, with a material proportion moving straight into employment. That pattern aligns with a specialist FE setting where industry placements, professional networks, and sector specific qualifications can be as decisive as UCAS points.

Work placements and employer links appear to be a meaningful part of the offer. External reporting references stakeholder engagement with organisations and employers including Tallis Amos Group, Three Counties Vets, Woburn Safari Park, Team GB Sports and the Football Association, and describes placements that develop confidence and sector fluency.

Admissions are direct rather than Local Authority coordinated, and the college is explicit that places can be competitive.

For 2026 entry, the published admissions operating procedure sets out a main application cycle running from 20 September 2025 to 19 June 2026. Applications submitted after 19 June 2026 and before 14 August 2026 can still be considered where places remain.

Key process features that parents and students should understand:

• Applications are made online and applicants can apply for one course at a time.

• Interviews are used across many routes, with some Level 3 applicants potentially receiving offers without interview where the application, reference and predicted grades are strong, and attendance and conduct expectations are met. The procedure lists a minimum 95% attendance threshold for that pathway.

• Some equine courses can require evidence of riding ability, with applicants invited to a riding assessment where relevant.

• The college states it aims to give equal consideration to all those interviewed before 31 March (a useful practical anchor for families planning their Year 11 timeline).

Open events for September 2026 entry are published as scheduled on 07 February 2026 and 14 March 2026 (with an earlier January date shown as fully booked at the time of publication).

A practical tip for parents comparing options is to use FindMySchool’s Saved Schools shortlist feature alongside your application timeline. It helps keep interviews, references, and course requirements organised when you are managing multiple post 16 pathways.

Pastoral support looks strongest where it connects to safeguarding, inclusion, and the residential model.

External reporting states that learners feel safe, that staff facilitate discussions on sensitive topics appropriately, and that there is specific education around risks relevant to the cohort, including online gambling risks in sport.

For residential students, Ofsted’s residential accommodation inspection in November 2024 judged all key areas outstanding, including experiences and progress, help and protection, and the effectiveness of leaders and managers.

A later monitoring visit (September 2025) notes that after a significant incident, leaders and staff reflected on what happened and took practical steps to improve staff response, while maintaining strong information sharing and multi agency working. That combination of transparency and process improvement matters in a large residential setting.

The enrichment story here is inseparable from sport, fitness, and sector identity. Hartpury Active is positioned as a campus wide physical activity programme, with activities largely running in the evenings and shaped by student demand through an enrolment questionnaire that informs the Hartpury Active timetable.

Students who want a more society style experience also have structured options through the Students’ Union, including (as examples) Agriculture Society, Equestrian Society, Polo Club, LGBT+ Society, Christian Union and Clay Shooting Club.

The implication for families is that extracurricular life can be genuinely motivating for students whose identity is tied to sport or land based interests. Equally, for students looking for a more arts led enrichment model, the question to ask at interview is what the weekly rhythm looks like on their specific course, and how easily they can access non course activities alongside training and placements.

This is a state funded provider, so there are no tuition fees in the way families associate with independent schools. Costs can still arise through specialist kit, travel, trips, and accommodation for residential students.

Transport is more structured than many rural campuses. The college states it is served by public buses including Stagecoach 351 (Gloucester to Tewkesbury) and a shuttle bus service between campus and Gloucester, with the shuttle operating up to late evening on weekdays.

Accommodation is offered across named halls (including Rudgeley, New Vicarage, and Dingle), with under 18 accommodation described as specifically designed for that age group and supported by residential staff in building locations.

For families considering residence, the published 2025 to 2026 FE accommodation pricing guide provides costed options by room type and hall.

Daily start and finish times are not published as a single uniform “school day” because timetables vary by programme, practical sessions, and placements. Families should expect a timetable led rhythm and confirm specific contact hours for the chosen course during interview.

• Academic route fit. A level grade distribution and the FindMySchool A level ranking indicate below England average performance on that measure. Students who want a strongly academic sixth form experience should probe subject level teaching strength and independent study expectations.

• Rural campus realities. Transport is supported by public routes and a shuttle, but the campus is not city centre. Travel time, evening commitments, and weekend logistics matter, particularly for students mixing training with study.

• Residential commitment. Living on site can be a major positive for independence and immersion, but it is a significant step at 16. Families should review hall arrangements, sign out expectations, and how residential support operates day to day.

• Competition and course capping. The admissions procedure allows for course capping and waiting lists where demand exceeds places. Applying early helps, but it is not a guarantee.

Hartpury College is a specialist post 16 option built around applied learning, sector aligned qualifications, and facilities that make practical training credible. The Outstanding inspection outcome supports confidence in quality and culture, particularly around behaviour, safety, and leadership.

Best suited to students who want a clear line of sight from study to industry, especially in sport, agriculture, animal management and equine pathways, and who will use the residential and enrichment offer to build independence and professional habits. The main challenge is ensuring the chosen programme matches the student’s academic profile and preferred learning style.