Higher Level for Edge Hill

EDGE Hill has won a highly sought-after contract to continue its work in training and assessing Higher Level Teaching Assistants (HLTA).

From the start of 2006, a consortium led by the Ormskirk institution will be the sole provider of HLTA assessment in the North West.

Assisted by St Martin?s College, the University of Chester and North Trafford College, Edge Hill will assess all potential HLTAs in schools across the region, and will prepare students for assessment at a range of outreach centres.

Robert Smedley, Dean of the Faculty of Education said: "For the past 18 months Edge Hill has been one of 36 national providers to deliver HLTA training and assessment ? this figure has now been reduced to nine. All providers were invited to bid for the main contract for the northwest region and I am delighted that Edge Hill has secured this eminent position.

"This is formal recognition of the quality of training and assessment that has taken place over the last year and a half. We are confident that we can continue to provide quality training and assessment for the school workforce and we look forward to working with Local Authorities across the region."

The HLTA training and assessment programme allows school support staff with a significant level of skills and knowledge to be trained and assessed against HLTA Standards, leading to more responsibility in the classroom and the potential for further study.