YORK College has scooped a top accolade.

The Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) awarded the college a silver quality standard, which means it is among the highest rated in the region for higher education provision.

Introduced by the Government this academic year, the TEF recognises and encourages excellent teaching by monitoring and assessing the quality of teaching in England’s universities. The TEF is intended to help students choose where to study, by providing clear information about teaching provision and student outcomes. The Framework provides students with the information they need to judge teaching quality and aims to ensure all students receive an excellent teaching experience, preparing them for the world of work.

It also recognises institutions that do the most to welcome students from a range of backgrounds and support their retention and progression.

The Silver rating reflects:

• Engagement with employers who actively contribute to curriculum development, with vocational courses demonstrating and enhancing employability

• Appropriate contact hours and personalised learning, providing high levels of engagement and commitment to learning and study from students

• An institutional culture that facilitates, recognises and rewards excellence teaching through Professional Learning Communities

• An institutional approach to developing physical and digital resources, which are highly valued by students to aid and enhance learning and develop study and research skills

Says Andrea Shepherd, assistant Principal for Higher Education at York College: “We are delighted to receive notification that York College has been awarded a Silver TEF award. Being a General Further Education College, many people do not realise that the College offers university level courses and this rating will reassure prospective undergraduates that York College more than meets the Government’s criteria for higher education provision.”