New College Swindon University Centre celebrates prestigious award

By Barrie Hudson - 17 January 2024

College & Higher Education

New College Swindon University Centre has received an overall provider rating of Silver in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

TEF is a national scheme, awarded by the Office for Students (OfS), that aims to encourage improvement and excellence in areas students care most about - teaching, learning, and positive outcomes from their studies.  

TEF, as part of the OfS approach to regulation, aims to incentivise providers to pursue and deliver excellence above the minimum quality requirements expected for all provision in the sector. 

Each provider taking part in TEF is assessed against three levels, Bronze, Silver and Gold, in two aspect ratings, for ‘Student Experience’ and ‘Student Outcomes’ as well as being given an ‘Overall Provider Rating'.  

Gaining Silver in both aspect ratings means that the student experience and student outcomes are both typically very high quality, which is also reflected in the overall rating of Silver. 

Lynne Plested, Interim Deputy Principal Curriculum, Quality and Higher Education, says “This a huge strategic achievement for the College, particularly our University Centre and Swindon and Wiltshire Institute of Technology (SAWIOT) provisions, the hardworking staff dedicate themselves to supporting the students to be successful. 

"Gaining Silver in the TEF framework confirms that the local community and the surrounding Wiltshire area have access to a good range of high quality and affordable university-level education right here on their doorstep.”

New College Swindon recently appointed Leah Palmer as the new Principal and CEO and is supported by an Executive Team with a renewed determination to improve standards at the College and create an innovative learning experience for all students.

Higher Education Manager Nicola Pedley, who worked closely with students and staff to prepare the submission to the Office for Students TEF panel, said: “Myself and the Higher Education team at the College are extremely pleased to have been awarded TEF Silver. 

"We are really proud of our University Centre provision and the opportunities we can provide to our students. This rating is a reward for all the hard work of our University Centre staff and reflects the very high-quality student experience and student outcomes the college provides."

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