Hartpury College has been officially recognised as a Centre of Excellence by the Leadership Skills Foundation, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to developing essential leadership skills in its students. This prestigious accolade highlights the college’s dedication to embedding leadership development into its curriculum over the past years.
Out of over 2,500 centres that the Leadership Skills Foundation works with annually, only 37 have been selected for the 2025-26 academic year. Hartpury College’s achievement is a testament to the hard work and expertise of its dedicated tutors, coordinators, and staff, whose efforts have created a lasting impact on the college community. To date, hundreds of learners have benefited from the opportunities provided through the Leadership Skills Foundation’s accredited awards and qualifications.
Claire Whitworth, College Principal, said: “We are incredibly proud to be recognised as a Centre of Excellence by the Leadership Skills Foundation. At Hartpury College, we are committed to equipping our students with the skills, confidence, and resilience they need to thrive in their future careers and make a positive impact in their communities. This award reflects the dedication of our staff and the enthusiasm of our students in embracing leadership opportunities. We look forward to building on this success and continuing to inspire the leaders of tomorrow.”
The Centre of Excellence title, launched in 2023-24, is awarded to organisations that demonstrate a strong commitment to developing leadership skills in their learners, preparing them for both work and life. To qualify, centres must meet rigorous criteria, including fostering a positive community culture, implementing innovative leadership strategies, and maintaining high standards of learner performance.
Richard Norman, Chief Executive of the Leadership Skills Foundation, commented: “We are delighted to award Hartpury College with Centre of Excellence status for the coming academic year. We believe every young person should have access to opportunities to develop the skills they need to positively influence their future and their communities. Hartpury College offers an incredible experience for its students to develop essential leadership skills, and it is a privilege to work with them. We look forward to seeing how they continue to build on their Excellence status.”
Hartpury College retained its Ofsted Outstanding rating in 2024, across all areas including the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, education programmes for young people, adult learning programmes, apprenticeships, and provision for students with high needs. The inspectors also concluded that the college makes a ‘strong contribution’ to meeting skills needs which is the top grade possible.
