Choosing a Plumbing and domestic heating technician provider: the evidence
Everything an employer needs to shortlist with confidence, on one page: the Department for Education's official 2024/25 achievement rates, the latest Ofsted findings, and verified provider-reported results where official data is suppressed. Compiled by Find a Training Provider; no provider can pay to appear here or change their position. Methodology
The shortlist, on the numbers
Colchester Institute leads the official table at 90.3% achievement against a 44.2% national average for this standard, from 30 learners. A defensible shortlist starts with Colchester Institute, South Essex College, Hull College - then check each profile's Ofsted findings below before you talk to any of them.
| # | Provider | Achievement | Learners | Ofsted (latest) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colchester Institute | 90.3% | 30 | Good |
| 2 | South Essex College | 74% | 50 | Good |
| 3 | Hull College | 73.1% | 30 | Good |
| 4 | Activate Learning | 71.4% | 40 | Good |
| 5 | York College & University Centre | 70.4% | 30 | Good |
| 6 | New College Durham | 69.8% | 40 | Good |
| 7 | Abingdon and Witney College | 69% | 30 | Good |
| 8 | Lincoln College | 67.6% | 30 | Good |
| 9 | West Suffolk College | 66.7% | 30 | Outstanding |
| 10 | Gateshead College | 62.3% | 60 | Good |
Achievement rates: DfE published data, 2024/25. Ofsted: latest published inspection - a single grade (Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement, Inadequate) for older inspections; area judgements such as "Strong" or "Expected" for inspections under the renewed framework from November 2025.
No verified provider-reported results for this standard yet. Providers whose official data is suppressed can submit theirs for verification.
Check the claims yourself
- GOV.UK Find Apprenticeship Training - reviews and participation, per provider
- Ofsted reports - read the inspection text, not just the grade
- The Plumbing and domestic heating technician standard page - funding band, duration, full provider directory