Quality assessment report: University of Northampton

The report sets 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 meeting with staff and students.     

The report finds seven areas of concern. The first two relate to the OfS’s condition of registration B1 on students’ academic experience:

• Concern 1: that the course delivery model is not effective for the nature of the undergraduate student cohort. This concern relates to condition of registration B1 because this condition requires that the university ensures that students receive a high quality academic experience.
• Concern 2: that the quality of information available to students about assessment is limited; it is not clear or consistent. This concern relates to condition of registration B1 because this condition requires that the university ensures that students receive a high quality academic experience.

A further four concerns relate to condition B2 on resources, support and student engagement:

• Concern 3: that there is limited access to resources that would support games students’ independent learning. This concern relates to condition of registration B2 because this condition requires that the university takes steps to ensure students receive sufficient resources and support.
• Concern 4: that students have insufficient access to specialist learning resources. This concern relates to condition of registration B2 because this condition requires that the university takes steps to ensure students receive sufficient resources and support.
• Concern 5: that there is limited academic learning support for computing students. This concern relates to condition of registration B2 because this condition requires that the university takes steps to ensure students receive sufficient resources and support.
• Concern 6: that ineffective systems and processes impact the effectiveness of academic support for students. This concern relates to condition of registration B2 because this condition requires that the university takes steps to ensure students receive sufficient resources and support.

The final concern relates to condition B4 on assessment and awards:

• Concern 7: that assessment information and feedback is insufficient to enable all students to use it effectively to inform the development of their work. This concern relates to condition of registration B4 because this condition requires that the university ensures that students are assessed effectively.

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

Notes

1. 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.