Northumberland College has been awarded Silver in the Government-backed Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF) Awards for delivering high-quality teaching, learning and outcomes for its students.
The College, which has around 4,000 students across three campuses at Ashington, Berwick and Kirkley Hall, is one of 16 higher education providers in the North East and one of four to offer academic, vocational as well as land-based learning programmes. It was awarded the accolade to recognise excellence in both teaching methods and preparing students for further study or employment.
Winners of the TEF awards are selected by an independent panel of experts comprising of students and academics that draw on national data as well as evidence submitted by each learning provider. They measure excellence of standards across three areas; quality of teaching, learning environments and the outcomes achieved by students.
Joyce Guthrie, Director of HE at Northumberland College said, “We are delighted to be awarded TEF Silver as it is great recognition for the hard work, dedication and high standards of teaching and learning support that our staff provide. Furthermore, it endorses the College’s industry-based learning facilities such as our land-based provision at Kirkley Hall and our multi-million pound STEM academy offering a range of real-life commercial environments to develop and improve skills for employment and apprenticeships for businesses.
“It’s an award that’s very highly regarded both within the education sector, by students considering higher education and the wider stakeholder community, so it’s a great achievement by all those involved.”
In addition, Northumberland College’s HE provision has also received top honours from The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), an independent body that assesses and ensures that all UK students working towards a HE qualification receive the education they are entitled to and to the correct quality standard.
Representatives from QAA visited the site to meet with students, course leaders and members of the leadership team over a two day period to assess standards and quality of learning available. Following the mandatory review, the College received full confidence for its HE offering.
Joyce added, “This is another accreditation that confirms the high standards and quality of learning at Northumberland College and how students receive the correct knowledge and skills to progress on to further study or employment. There are wideranging opportunities to learn at any one of our three campuses with courses that span many industries and I would advise anyone considering higher education to come and see what we have available.”
Northumberland College offers over 30 higher education programmes ranging from HNC and HND to foundation degree and top-up degree courses.
More details can be found at www.northumberland.ac.uk/higher-education or by contacting Northumberland College on t: 01670 841200.
