The University of Portsmouth's provision of secondary education teaching has been awarded 'outstanding' in a recent Ofsted report.
The School of Education, Languages and Linguistics, secondary education training was awarded 'outstanding' in all three inspected categories - overall effectiveness, quality of education and training and finally, leadership and management.
Examiners found that students "benefit from an exceptional training programme". The report praised the curriculum, as exemplifying "ambition, rigour and aspiration". It found that everyone involved in delivering the programme united around this vision and that partner schools relish welcoming University of Portsmouth trainees in as they 'breathe oxygen into our schools'.
The report commended "the commitment and relentless determination to equip trainees with the very best knowledge and skills are evident throughout. The coherence of all elements of the training programme supports trainees in deepening their specialist subject knowledge."
We are delighted with the inspection outcomes for our teacher training courses. It is a reflection of all the hard work that my academic colleagues and our partners in schools and colleges put into supporting our trainee teachers.
Mr Andrew Porter, Director of Initial Teacher Training/PGCE Geography Course Leader, School of Education, Languages and Linguistics
Teaching staff were praised as being dedicated, passionate and committed. Inspectors commented that "strong relationships enable mentors to provide consistently effective support to trainees." The University's School of Education, Languages and Linguistics has strong relationships between all local schools in the partnership which results in synergy, consistency and a highly effective approach. All trainees are known personally and individually, which encourages them to "strive consistently to achieve the highest standards."
The Inspectors noted that although the School is aware of its strengths, they are not complacent and have a realistic view of where improvements can enhance the provision further. It concludes that "all involved in the partnership are relentless in their pursuit of making improvements so that the training is of the highest quality."
Mr Andrew Porter, Director of Initial Teacher Training/PGCE Geography Course Leader, School of Education, Languages and Linguistics said: "We are delighted with the inspection outcomes for our teacher training courses. This inspection framework is tough so getting good is challenging enough, let alone outstanding. It is a reflection of all the hard work that my academic colleagues and our partners in schools and colleges put into supporting our trainee teachers. Now, more than ever, we need to recruit and retain great teachers to give young people in the local area the best start in life. These inspection outcomes reflect all the hard work that goes into achieving that."
The commitment and relentless determination to equip trainees with the very best knowledge and skills are evident throughout. The coherence of all elements of the training programme supports trainees in deepening their specialist subject knowledge.
Inspector , Ofsted
The University of Portsmouth offers several routes to gain qualified teacher status (QTS) in either primary, secondary or further education and skills (FES). Trainees study to teach pupils aged either 5 to 11 years, 11 to 16 years or young people aged 16 to 19.
The University of Portsmouth works with 56 primary schools, 39 secondary schools and 14 further education and skills colleges across nine local authorities. Almost all partner schools were judged to be good or outstanding by Ofsted at their most recent inspection.
The University's provision of Primary and FE education teaching was awarded 'good' in all categories.
