Teacher training provision at Bradford College has received a ‘Good’ rating from Ofsted, the second highest possible grading, following a recent inspection. The report recognised the College’s excellence in all areas of Primary, Secondary, and Further Education & Skills teacher training, including quality, leadership, and management.
Over a span of four days, a team of 10 Ofsted inspectors rigorously assessed the Margaret McMillan School of Education at Bradford College. During the inspection, they engaged with a total of 101 trainees and staff from 27 different schools. The report praised the College for adequately preparing trainees for the challenges of the classroom, enabling them to apply the theories they have learned. Trainees were commended for their ability to manage behaviours, cater to the needs of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and provide support for students with English as an additional language.
The inspection report also highlighted the College’s efforts in considering the needs of disadvantaged trainees and recruiting locally to address the demand for teachers in the Bradford area. Additionally, leaders were commended for incorporating trainees’ feedback into future training and support, as well as prioritising their workload and well-being. Trainees were found to have clear milestones on their journey to qualified teacher status, with effective communication from their link tutors.
Several other strengths were outlined in the report, including the College’s collaborative curriculum design and implementation with schools, emphasis on safeguarding and individual student needs, integration of inclusion and diversity in training, up-to-date knowledge of educational theory, and demonstration of effective teaching strategies.
This Ofsted inspection result is particularly encouraging in light of the regional teacher shortages. Earlier this year, TeachVac, a teaching jobs website, reported a 63% increase in primary and secondary vacancies posted by Bradford-district schools compared to the previous year.
As one of the largest Initial Teacher Education (ITE) providers in the North East, Yorkshire, and Humber region, Bradford College has 345 trainees and apprentices under its supervision across all phases of teacher training. Some trainees travel from as far as Newcastle and Brighton to benefit from the College’s expertise. Sarah Applewhite, Vice Principal for Quality, Teaching & Learning at Bradford College, expressed delight at the recognition of the staff’s commitment to student outcomes and the College’s position as a leading teacher training provider in the region.
Katya Kitchingman, Education Lead for Post-Secondary Education and Training at Bradford College, further emphasised the positive outcome, highlighting the College’s ambitious approaches aligned with the Department for Education’s core content framework. Kitchingman conveyed appreciation to trainee teachers, partnership schools, mentors, colleagues in further and higher education, managers, quality colleagues, and support staff for their contributions during the inspection process.
For nearly 70 years, the Margaret McMillan School of Education at Bradford College has been offering comprehensive teacher training programs, preparing students for critical roles in the education sector. The School provides a variety of teaching and education training programs across different phases, including a BA (Hons) in Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) up to Master’s level, a Level 6 Teaching Apprenticeship route with QTS, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education and Training.
