The College of Legal Practice is inspected by Ofsted as a provider of the Level 7 Solicitor Apprenticeship.
What does Ofsted oversight mean for students and employers?
Ofsted inspection provides independent assurance that the College meets national quality standards for apprenticeship training, safeguarding and learner support.
Inspection outcomes
In its January 2026 monitoring inspection, Ofsted confirmed significant progress by The College of Legal Practice in key areas including inclusion and curriculum, teaching and training, and recognised the College’s strong support for apprentices and employers.
The College of Legal Practice has welcomed the findings of its recent inspection, which recognises significant progress in key areas of its apprenticeship provision, including inclusion and curriculum, teaching and training.
The monitoring inspection, carried out on 14 and 15 January 2026, reviewed the College’s progress as a new provider delivering the Level 7 Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship. Inspectors focused on four themes: leadership and governance, inclusion, curriculum, teaching and training, and safeguarding.
Ofsted reported significant progress in inclusion, highlighting the College’s inclusive culture and the effectiveness of the support provided to apprentices, particularly those facing barriers to learning or requiring additional support. Inspectors noted that apprentices feel able to discuss their needs openly and that staff act promptly to put appropriate support and adaptations in place, working closely with employers, awarding bodies and specialist services.
The report also identified significant progress in curriculum, teaching and training. Inspectors praised the well-structured curriculum, which enables apprentices to develop strong legal knowledge and apply it effectively to practical tasks such as legal writing, drafting and research. Online teaching sessions were described as highly effective, with expert supervisors providing detailed feedback that helps apprentices improve quickly and prepare confidently for assessments and professional practice.
In leadership and governance, Ofsted found reasonable progress, recognising the College’s ambitious curriculum and its strong relationships with employers, regulators and sector networks. Safeguarding arrangements were also judged to be making reasonable progress, with inspectors noting that apprentices feel safe and that concerns are managed promptly by trained staff.
Dr Giles Proctor, CEO of the College of Legal Practice, said:
“We are very pleased with the findings of this monitoring inspection, particularly the recognition of the significant progress we have made as a new provider in promoting inclusion and in the quality of our curriculum, teaching and training. The report reflects our deep commitment to widening access to the legal profession, delivering high-quality online legal education and providing tailored support that enables apprentices to succeed. We welcome Ofsted’s feedback and will continue to build on this very strong foundation as we grow our apprenticeship provision.”
The College of Legal Practice began delivering apprenticeships in August 2024 and currently supports more than 100 apprentices employed by legal firms across England. Training is delivered wholly online, with a focus on flexibility, accessibility and professional relevance.
The full Ofsted monitoring inspection report is available on the Ofsted website.
The College's Solicitor Apprenticeship programme
The College of Legal Practice's Solicitor Apprenticeship, part of its Developing Legal Professionals Programme, provides a structured, work-based route to qualification through the SQE. Delivered fully online, it combines legal knowledge, skills training and coaching with workplace learning in practice. Apprentices are supported through staged preparation for SQE1 and SQE2, with a strong focus on applying learning in real legal environments. Developed with employers, the programme underpins the College’s apprenticeship provision that was reviewed by Ofsted, reflecting its emphasis on accessible, high-quality legal training and learner support.