Teacher education rated as Outstanding

Mr Ciro Genovese, Head of Teacher Education, said, "The Ofsted report highlights the strength of our curriculum and the exceptional support we provide to our trainees.

“Our focus on inclusion, diversity, and high-quality training ensures that our trainees are well-prepared to make a positive impact in their classrooms. We are particularly proud of our 'Outstanding' rating in primary and further education, and the many strengths within our secondary provision. We will not be complacent but instead commit to building on our strengths and addressing areas for improvement to achieve excellence across the board."

What the report says

In the primary phase, trainees benefit from high-quality training delivered by experienced experts. The curriculum is designed to exceed core content framework (CCF) requirements, ensuring that trainees develop a deep understanding of their subjects. 

This foundation is enhanced by a strong focus on inclusion and diversity, preparing trainees to meet the needs of all pupils. The teaching of early reading and phonics is given high priority, with events such as the “festival of phonics” providing in-depth training that trainees can apply during their school placements.

The further education and skills (FES) phase also received an "Outstanding" rating. Trainees in this phase experience a highly ambitious curriculum that is closely aligned with their teaching placements. Tutors, who bring extensive real-world experience, provide credible and contextualised teaching theories. 

This approach ensures that trainees are well-prepared to teach a diverse range of students, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Comprehensive feedback and targeted mentoring further enhance their teaching practice, building their confidence and competence.

In the secondary phase, the Ofsted report praised the ambitious and carefully sequenced core curriculum. Trainees are prepared to critique learning theories and develop their subject knowledge, ensuring they are well-equipped for their teaching careers. Inspectors also praised innovative mentor training and resources in secondary, including video “shorts” for mentoring discussions. 

If you would like to learn more about teacher training, see our course pages.

Key highlights of the report

Primary Phase:

• Trainees receive high-quality training from experienced experts.
• The curriculum exceeds core content framework (CCF) requirements and is logically sequenced.
• There is a strong focus on inclusion, diversity, and respecting pupils' rights.
• Emphasis on the teaching of early reading and phonics, supported by events like the “festival of phonics”.
• Rigorous monitoring of mentoring quality ensures effective trainee support.

Further Education and Skills (FES) Phase:

• Highly ambitious curriculum aligned with practical teaching placements.
• Tutors provide extensive, credible teaching theories and contextualised examples from their own experience.
• Comprehensive integration of SEND strategies and support for diverse student groups.
• Detailed and constructive feedback on teaching practice.
• Effective collaboration between tutors and mentors ensures clear improvement targets for trainees.

Secondary Phase:

• Ambitious and carefully sequenced core curriculum.
• Emphasis on critiquing learning theories and developing subject knowledge.
• Strong preparation for teaching pupils with English as an additional language (EAL) and SEND.
• Suite of mentor training programmes and innovative resources for mentoring discussions.