A UNIVERSITY department responsible for training the next generation of teachers has been given a glowing report by inspectors.

Ofsted rated York St John University’s School of Education good with some outstanding features after inspecting both Primary and Secondary teachers that makes up the Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Partnership.

Inspectors highlighted how headteachers believe students trained by the university are "classroom ready" and that trainees "display the personal and professional attributes necessary to form effective relationships with pupils and involve themselves fully in the life of their schools."

The quality of leadership and management across the partnership was rated as ‘outstanding’ while the report noted that employment rates are high across all training routes because the partnership ‘meets the needs of schools within the region.’

The University offers a variety of routes into teaching, based on campus or in a school, including a three-year Primary undergraduate degree and one-year PGCE programme in both Primary and Secondary education.

The York St John partnership works with more than 400 schools from across the North East, Yorkshire and Humberside.

Caroline Elbra-Ramsay, deputy headteacher of the School of Education, said: “This is valuable recognition of the quality and consistency of our teacher training and demonstrates the enduring value of our contribution in this field, which is especially important given the University’s 176-year history as a teacher training institution.

"We are particularly pleased that the reflective and professional nature of our trainees and Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) has been recognised by Ofsted. We consider ourselves to be very lucky to work with such exceptional young people who are committed to making a difference to the pupils they teach."

Rachel Williamson, Director of Initial Teacher Training (Primary) for the Ebor Academy Trust said: “I’m proud to lead on the School Direct primary programme. As a partnership, we truly believe in investing in teachers of the future with York St John and our family of schools.”