University of Oxford’s PGCE course ranked as ‘outstanding’ across the board
28 March 2011
Ofsted has ranked Oxford’s Department of Education as ‘outstanding’ in all categories for every subject and for management and quality assurance. In a report, published this month, Ofsted praised the high quality of teaching that has been sustained by the Department over many years.
The report noted the ‘extremely strong’ partnership between the Department of Education and comprehensive schools in Oxfordshire. This year the Department has placed 191 prospective teachers or ‘interns’ in 27 schools in Oxfordshire for 24 weeks of a 36 week course. Ofsted noted that after the course most of the trainees secure jobs in school in Oxfordshire and many go on to achieve rapid promotion. Their successful careers ‘reflect the internship scheme’s ‘strong emphasis on laying secure foundations for trainees’ long-term professional development,’ says the report.
The report noted that ‘University tutors make frequent visits to trainees in school and the feedback they provide is of exceptionally high quality and highly significant in ensuring the trainees’ rapid progress’. Ofsted found ‘excellent coherence between elements of the course’ – between the University curriculum tutor, school-based curriculum mentor, University general tutor and school-based professional tutor.
Ofsted also recognised the significant role that research plays in the PGCE programme, highlighting that University curriculum tutors are involved in research that ‘challenges as well as supports schools in their teaching and learning approaches’. It noted that much of this research is firmly rooted in classroom practice and many partnership schools are directly involved. ‘Trainees benefit enormously as this informs their curriculum work. The quality and relevance of the research often mean that the University is leading, rather than responding, to change,’ says the report.
It said: ‘The University recruits highly capable trainees and the overwhelming majority make outstanding progress to achieve at very high levels by the end of the course. Trainees’ attainment overall is outstanding.’
Professor Anne Edwards, Director of the Department of Education, said: ‘Oxford’s Department of Education is delighted to have sustained its level of quality in its teaching on the Oxford Internship Scheme or PGCE Programme. We have long-held links with schools in Oxfordshire which, together with our very strong research in this area, is the bedrock of our success.’
For photographs of students on last year’s PGCE course or for further information, contact the University of Oxford Press Office on 01865 280534 or email:press.office@admin.ox.ac.uk