Middlesbrough College wins gold award in national teaching review

Middlesbrough College is celebrating a gold award after a rigorous review of higher education standards judged that it provides teaching of the highest quality in the UK.

The college achieved the top grade in the Government’s first Teaching Excellence Framework awards, which examined how universities and colleges are performing above demanding national standards.

College Principal and Chief Executive Zoe Lewis welcomed the prestigious achievement, and said the results will help students decide which college to join in Autumn 2018.

“The TEF awards are assessed by an independent panel of experts including academics, students and employer representatives,” she said.

“They look at the things that are really important to students – teaching quality, the learning environment and the educational and professional outcomes achieved by students.

“That’s why we’re particularly pleased to have received the top rating, for delivering consistently outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for our students.

“It’s a real reflection of the talent, effort and commitment our Middlesbrough College staff put in to making this one of the best places to study in the country.”

To be considered for a TEF rating, higher education providers have to meet demanding national quality requirements, with the TEF measuring excellence above and beyond this.

The independent panel looked at national data and evidence supplied voluntarily from each university or college before rating them Gold, Silver or Bronze, or Provisional if there was not enough data.

Madeleine Atkins, Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England, said: “Students invest significant amounts of time and money in their higher education. They rightly expect a high-quality learning experience and outcomes that reflect their potential.

“The TEF measures the things that students themselves say they care about: high-quality, engaged teaching and a supportive, stimulating learning environment which equips them with the knowledge and skills they need to achieve their potential, and then to progress to a good job or further study.”

Key features highlighted in the report were; students studying at Middlesbrough College acquired knowledge, skills and understanding that are highly valued by employers and that the College had invested in excellent physical and digital resources to support HE teaching and learning.

Zoe Lewis said: “We believe this gold rating highlights the benefits of studying at Middlesbrough College, particularly to young people who live in the area.

“Having a top-rated college on your doorstep – so you can still live at home while you study, if you choose – can provide all sorts of benefits for students in addition to quality teaching, including huge savings on accommodation costs.”

“We are the only GFE college in the Tees Valley to secure gold and this places us in the top 20% of higher education providers in the country – in good company with many outstanding colleges.”

The TEF results and the evidence used in the assessment can be found here. The awards will also be published on Unistats and the UCAS website, alongside other information, to help inform prospective students’ choices