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Ofsted rate teacher training leadership as ‘outstanding’

Posted on 18 April 2024

The leadership and management of the University’s programmes for teacher training has been rated as ‘outstanding’, alongside a ‘good’ rating for quality of education.

The Ofsted report for the University's initial teacher training (ITT) provision highlights that York trainees “are given the training and support that they need to succeed.” 

It states that local headteachers were “impressed by the resilience and professionalism of trainees and their readiness to become confident practitioners”, and that early career teachers who trained at the University are “ thoroughly prepared for their fundamental responsibilities.”

Quality

The quality of the initial teacher education curriculum, rated as ‘good' by inspectors, was also praised: “Leaders have carefully structured an ambitious curriculum that prepares trainees to be reflective and competent practitioners,” they said. It highlights that the curriculum content is organised to “complement trainees' development, with key aspects such as safeguarding, behaviour and adaptive teaching suitably foregrounded.” 

The report also noted that course leaders demonstrate commitment to educational research, with “seamless interweaving of education theories and research into the subject-specific aspects of the curriculum,” which they state made the experiences of trainees distinctive. 

York currently offers teacher training in Secondary (11-16) specialisms of Biology, Chemistry, English, Geography, History, Maths, Modern Foreign Languages (French, German and Spanish), and Physics. From September 2024, the University will also offer a Primary specialism for students wishing to train for the 4-11 age group.

Civic mission

The programme is co-constructed and co-delivered with teaching staff and senior managers in over 100 secondary schools in the York and North Yorkshire region, who work with the University of York ITT Partnership. 

Ofsted inspectors recognised how the work of the ITT team at the University of York contributes to the civic mission enshrined in the University Strategy; they said the University is “committed in its mission to work for the public good. Course leaders fulfil this by providing a stream of high-quality teachers to the region's schools. This provider is the central hub around which an exceptionally strong network of schools has been built. The University of York is an innovative and outward-facing institution leading the continual development of ITE locally and beyond. The relentless drive for excellence benefits schools across the local area.”

Claire Ball-Smith, Director of Initial Teacher Education at York, said: “This report is a testament to the hard work of teacher education colleagues both at the University and in our partner schools, to produce excellent new teachers for all children in our region's schools.

The University's ITT Partnership is committed to delivering excellent initial teacher education precisely so that generations of Yorkshire & Humberside children succeed in reaching their potential as learners as a result of outstanding teaching from York graduates. 

We are extremely pleased that our Ofsted report so clearly recognises this commitment.”

Find more information about Teacher Training at York on the website. 

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