Published: 19.06.08

The University of Brighton has become the only university in the country to achieve an 'outstanding' rating from the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) for management and quality assurance across the full range of primary, secondary and post-compulsory (16+) teacher education courses.

This follows the recent inspection from the education watchdogs, who awarded the highest grade to both the primary and secondary initial teacher training courses.

Among the key strengths listed in the report for the university's primary course was 'the content, structure and effectiveness of the training' and 'the high quality outcomes'. The 'excellent management of the partnership' and 'very good cohesion between school and university-based training' were also praised.

Merits for the secondary courses included the 'high quality of the management', 'the quality of trainees recruited', a 'commitment to inclusion and diversity' and 'excellent support for individualised learning'.

Inspectors also evaluated the Post-Compulsory Education programme, based at the university and its four partner colleges. The University of Brighton was the first institution in the country to be awarded a grade one.

The university's Faculty of Education and Sport is one of the largest providers of education and training for student teachers, teachers and other learning and development professionals in the country. Working in partnership with 294 primary and 506 secondary schools and colleges, the courses are described as 'excellent' in the recent Sunday Times University Guide.

Paul Griffiths, dean of the Faculty of Education and Sport at the university says: "I'm delighted that the high quality of the full range of the university's work in teacher education has been formally recognised by Ofsted.  It is down to the expertise, commitment and professionalism of staff and students that these results have been achieved. The effective partnership between the university, schools and colleges across the south of England where students gain the practical experience of teaching has also made a major contribution to achieving these outstanding inspection results."

The head of the School of Education, Lorraine Harrison says: "It is heartening to know that the quality of our practice is recognised and acknowledged by external scrutiny and there is no doubt that this enhances our reputation, both regionally and nationally."

For more information about the Faculty of Education and Sport please visit www.brighton.ac.uk/edusport.