University of Chester earns top marks again for its teacher training courses

Aug 22 2011 Chester Chronicle

THE University of Chester has once again been recognised for its outstanding teacher training provision.

In the nationally recognised The Good Teacher Training Guide 2011, Chester has been rated as the 12th best university in the country for its delivery of initial teacher training.

This makes it the highest ranking institution in both the Cathedrals Group and the North West for teacher training.

And breaking the results down further, the university has been placed at number four in the top 10 institutions for delivering primary teacher training in the country.

This result follows an announcement earlier this year that the university has been recognised by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector (HMCI) at Ofsted as an ‘Outstanding Provider’ of initial teacher training.

The Initial Teacher Education Inspection report found the overall effectiveness of primary teacher training scored an ‘outstanding’ Grade 1 and Secondary teacher training received a ‘good’ Grade 2.

The employment-based training route of Graduate Teacher Programme (or GTP) also scored an ‘outstanding’ Grade 1, while the Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Programme for Further Education received an award of ‘good’ Grade 2.

The Good Teacher Training Guide 2011 is produced by Alan Smithers and Pamela Robinson at the Centre for Education and Employment Research at the University of Buckingham.

All 227 university, school centred and employment-based training providers were compared on entry qualifications, Ofsted grades and take-up of teaching posts.

Anna Sutton, executive dean of the faculty of education and children’s services, said: “We are very proud of our placing within The Good Teacher Training Guide. This once again demonstrates the quality of the programmes in teacher training that we deliver at the University of Chester.

“I wish to thank everyone involved for their hard work in achieving this success – from the education professionals and staff who provide the best educational experience possible to the trainees who work so hard to deliver the best results.

“This latest result builds on a strong tradition within the profession, as the university’s roots are as the country’s first, purpose-built teacher training college, dating back to 1839.”