UK Quality Mark for Northampton College

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) has confirmed the quality and standards of provision at Northampton College (the College) following its review in May 2016.

A team of QAA reviewers visited the College and judged that its academic standards, the quality and enhancement of its student learning opportunities, and the quality of information about its learning opportunities all meet UK expectations.

The review identifies the College’s well-embedded and effective relationship between the College and the University of Northampton, which enables a distinctive higher education student experience, as an example of good practice.

The review made the following recommendations for improvements:

• develop and implement a version control process to maintain the definitive record of programmes

• ensure all programmes have formal student representation and provide training to enable students to be effective advocates

• ensure that students can engage more widely as partners in the development of their educational experience.

Principal Pat Brennan-Barrett said, ‘This is an endorsement of the high standards that we are proud to have attained. The judgement is particularly welcome at this time when many students are considering studying higher education in further education settings. To be assured that the quality of the provision is high as well as being able to study locally and usually with lower fees to pay is attractive for many people.

‘This report should be welcomed by students making decisions about their next steps at this crucial time of year and the College will be open on Friday, 19 August from 9am until 2pm for those who would like advice on joining higher education programmes this September.’

QAA’s Higher Education Reviews are carried out by experts from other universities and colleges. Every review team includes a student reviewer, because QAA believes that students should be partners in the quality assurance of their education.

The team that reviewed Northampton College comprised Christine Bevan (QAA), Mark Cooper (Wiltshire College) and Kate Wicklow (student reviewer, University College London).

A successful review means that the College can display the QAA Quality Mark, indicating to UK and international students that the College meets national requirements for standards and quality.