University celebrates ‘Good’ rating from Ofsted for teacher training

University of Gloucestershire’s programmes for producing the next generation of teachers have been rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted, with inspectors highlighting their ‘unique’ emphasis on sustainability and the University’s strong partnership with schools.

The overall effectiveness, the quality of education and training, and the leadership and management of the University’s Primary phase and Secondary phase programmes were all classified as ‘Good’ in the Government education watchdog’s latest official report.

Ofsted said the Initial Teaching Education (ITE) partnerships between the University – founded as a teaching college 175 years ago – and 370 schools and five School Direct providers ensured that trainees were ‘well prepared for the realities of a career in teaching’ and their welfare was ‘well supported’.

“They (trainees) follow a curriculum that is carefully constructed and coherent,” noted the report. “It is based on national and international research and local needs. A unique feature is the partnership’s emphasis on sustainability. This provokes trainees’ debate on the role that education plays in a sustainable future.

“The ITE curriculum prioritises teaching about equality and diversity across all routes. By considering education from many perspectives, trainees are well equipped to adapt their teaching to meet the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who speak English as an additional language.

“Trainees benefit from a good balance of centre-based teaching and school placements. This enables them to translate theory into practice and deepen their skills and knowledge effectively.

“A strong partnership between the university and schools enables many trainees to benefit from a robust mentoring programme.”

Primary phase trainees follow a three-year undergraduate programme, a one-year postgraduate programme or a one-year School Direct fee-paid route. Secondary phase trainees follow a one-year postgraduate programme or a one-year School Direct fee paid programme.

The Early Years programme, which will not be running next year, was rated as ‘requires improvement’ in the latest Ofsted report.

Dr Graham Parton, Head of the School of Education and Humanities, said: “We’re extremely proud of our long and rich history in producing many of the nation’s teachers over the past 175 years.

“Being awarded a ‘Good’ rating by Ofsted for our Primary and Secondary programmes reflects the commitment and dedication of our colleagues and our school partners in preparing our trainees for a rewarding career in the teaching profession.

“After a couple of challenging years, it is fantastic to see the efforts of everyone involved in these teaching programmes being rewarded with a positive endorsement from Ofsted.”