Outstanding

Edge Hill University is celebrating the unique achievement of top marks in every area of its teacher training following a glowing Ofsted inspection.

The University has achieved Grade 1 ‘outstanding' results across all 33 possible graded areas covering every phase of initial teacher training - Primary & Early Years, Secondary and Post-Compulsory Education and Training.

It's the first time that a University offering all three phases of initial teacher training has achieved the highest possible grades in all areas graded by the inspection and it builds on Edge Hill's already outstanding reputation for, and a commitment to, the highest quality training of education professionals.

Robert Smedley, Dean of the Faculty of Education, said: "As the UK's largest provider of education and training for the whole school workforce, Edge Hill University is delighted to have all of its work recognised as being outstanding. The University has played an immensely valuable role in the development of the children's workforce for the past 125 years and continues to lead the way. This recognition from Ofsted, the official body which regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in education, reflects the quality of the training experience at Edge Hill University and its partner schools and colleges, and the stunning outcomes that our trainees achieve."

Ofsted praised the University for its ‘outstanding training' and highlighted a number of key strengths within the University's programmes:

• The high quality training that makes excellent contribution to trainees' good and often outstanding progress across all phases,
• The very high levels of support and personalised training which are tailored to improving outcomes for all trainees,
• The very strong, cohesive and collaborative partnership which promotes and achieves the high expectations it sets for trainees,
• The high level skills trainees display in securing good behaviour in their lessons through careful reflection on the impact of their teaching on children and young peoples' learning.

The Report states that 'Edge Hill University provides its trainees, regardless of their chosen age range, with outstanding training. They make at least good progress in their chosen courses and are supported very well so that they attain outstandingly well.

All three phases benefit from very rigorous recruitment and selection, which support trainees' rapid progress from the outset and the highly effective focus on the continuous development of trainees' performance through the setting and monitoring of coherent and very clearly defined targets for improvement. The University has a very strong focus on improvement based on robust evaluations of its provision. This is a key factor in ensuring all three phases demonstrate outstanding capacity to improve."

Vice-Chancellor Dr John Cater said: "As someone who has spent seven years as a Director of the Training and Development Agency for Schools and the Teacher Training Agency and chaired its Accreditation Committee, I am very aware of the rigorous standards applied by Ofsted in their inspection process. I have never seen a report so unequivocal in its recognition of excellence and I'm privileged to work with such talented and committed professionals, partner schools and trainees."

To read the full report, please visit the Ofsted website.