Higher Education student satisfaction survey puts College in the top 15% in UK

Results from a recent national student survey has placed Abingdon & Witney College within the top 15% of institutions in the UK offering higher education courses.

Over 300,000 students responded to the National Student Survey (NSS), from 458 universities, colleges and alternative providers across the UK.

The survey, run by the Office for Students (OfS), sought feedback on key features of the students’ higher education experience, including quality of teaching, access to resources, and level of academic support.

Abingdon & Witney College enrols over 350 higher education students every year across its three campuses. With courses ranging from equine science to mechanical engineering, a partnership with Oxford Brookes University provides residential options and opportunities to study at their Headington campus.

Results from the survey included 91% of the College students agree with the statement that ‘Staff value students’ views and opinions about the course’, whilst 93% of the respondents agreed that ‘staff made the subject interesting’.

Overall, the College achieved a 91% student satisfaction rating – 9pp higher than the national benchmark.

Rebecca Philbrook, Head of Higher Education, was delighted upon hearing the outcome of the survey:

‘I am thrilled that the quality of our degree-level student experience has been recognised in this national survey. The responses clearly demonstrate the value our students place on the support and high-quality teaching and learning experiences provided by our dedicated staff. The flexibility of our degree-level courses means that students can combine high-quality study with other work and family commitments whilst improving their skills and opening up career options.’

Nicola Dandridge, Chief Executive of the Office for Students, said:

‘We run the NSS to help ensure that students’ voices are heard and understood – so that universities and colleges can work to give all students a positive experience of higher education. The NSS is a highly credible and long-established survey which continually achieves a very high response rate. The results are an invaluable tool for universities and colleges to improve students’ experience of higher education.

‘While I am pleased to see the overall satisfaction rate remains high, the data shows that there is more work to be done to ensure all students have a high quality and fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers.’