Our latest Ofsted inspection

The result of our latest Ofsted inspection in March 2026 was:

  • Safeguarding: Met
  • Inclusion: Expected Standard
  • Leadership and Governance: Expected Standard
  • Curriculum, Teaching and Training: Expected Standard
  • Achievement: Expected Standard
  • Participation and Development: Expected Standard

The scorecard and full report are available on Ofsted’s website.

Please note University of the Built Environment is the trading name of University College of Estate Management (UCEM) which is the name Ofsted have used in the report.  

Ofsted highlighted in particular the achievements of our apprentices and the positive impressions of their employers:

  • “[Apprentices] grow in confidence, independence and resilience as they progress through their studies.”
  • “Employers praise the way that apprentices make confident judgements, communicate with clients and manage tasks independently. Apprentices quickly become highly valued employees at the organisations where they work.”
  • “Employers value the frequent and helpful reviews, which help them to know how best to support their apprentices in the workplace.”
  • “Apprenticeship achievement continues to improve. Achievement on the chartered surveyor apprenticeship, which most apprentices study, is significantly above the national rates.”

They also highlighted our inclusive design and culture, including the support we offer our apprentices, describing a “positive and inclusive culture at the university, where apprentices feel welcome”. 

New inspection framework

This has been our first inspection under Ofsted’s new inspection framework. Ofsted no longer provide an overall single word assessment as part of the new inspection regime introduced in November 2025.

To award ‘expected standard’ Ofsted need to be satisfied that a provider is offering education that is of a very high standard.

They use a ‘secure fit’ model which means that every single standard within each inspection area must be met before a grade is awarded. Previously a ‘best fit’ methodology applied which meant a grade could be awarded where a provider was judged to meet most of the relevant criteria.

This reflects a step forward from our previous inspection in 2021 where were graded ‘Good’ overall under the old framework.

Previous Ofsted inspections

The University was inspected when it operated as UCEM.  This rating and report is still valid for the University of the Built Environment.

The University passed its first ever inspection by the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) with flying colours after earning an overall rating of ‘Good’ in November 2021.

Ofsted inspected our apprenticeship programmes at levels 3, 6 and 7.

The University was judged across five different areas of its provision, gaining a ‘Good’ rating in the ‘quality of education’, ‘personal development’, ‘leadership and management’ and ‘apprenticeships’ categories and an ‘Outstanding’ rating in the ‘behaviour and attitudes’ category.

Feedback from Ofsted included the following: ‘apprentices consistently demonstrate highly positive attitudes to their learning’; ‘apprentices value the positive and nurturing environment created at work and during their learning’; ‘tutors have developed a range of resources to develop knowledge and skills beyond the requirements of the apprenticeship’; and ‘leaders have put in place an experienced team, who ensure that apprentices have a clear understanding of how to stay safe online’.

Stakeholder feedback saw 98% of employers who work with the University stating they would recommend the university to others, more than 98% of staff agree or strongly agree with the positive statements about its apprenticeship provision in the staff survey and over 80% of the institution’s apprentices agree or strongly agree with all positive statements in the learner survey.

To read the report in full, take a look at the official Ofsted publication.