Quality assessment report: Bradford College

The reports set out the advice of independent academic experts who carried out the assessment for the OfS during the 2022-23 academic year. The assessment included two on-site visits, with the team considering a range of evidence, including making observations of teaching and meeting with staff and students.

Bradford College has a validation partnership with the University of Bolton that covers all of its BSc (Hons) computing courses. The college is responsible for the design and delivery of each course and the university carries out approval, review and validation. All students graduating from one of the college’s BSc (Hons) computing courses receive a University of Bolton qualification.

A report published today sets out the findings of the assessment team.

Jean Arnold, Deputy Director of Quality at the OfS, said:

'The assessment team found three areas of concern with computing courses at Bradford College. The first was that the level of educational challenge and coherence was considered to be below what would be expected of a computer science higher education course. This caused concerns that students were not required to develop relevant skills.

'The assessment team found that the high volumes of non-technical assessment in modules with technical subject matter may suggest that students are not assessed effectively. Additionally, the assessment team were concerned the marking criteria used for more technical assessments may not have been designed for the assessment of this type of work, leading to concerns around the credibility of the qualifications offered.

'The assessment team also found that students may achieve higher grades than their technical skills were able to demonstrate, raising concerns that the awards may not be credible.

'The OfS will continue to carefully consider this report before deciding whether to take further regulatory action.'

The concerns the assessment team found relate to conditions B1 and B4 of the conditions of registration which all higher education providers registered with the OfS are subject to. The assessment team found no concern with regard to condition B2.

Notes

1. The Office for Students is the independent regulator for higher education in England. Our aim is to ensure that every student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers.
2. An assessment report contains the judgements and advice of an assessment team. Once the OfS receives a report it considers the advice and whether it raises any compliance issues with its conditions of registration. The OfS has not yet made any decisions in relation to this provider.