UK quality mark for Tameside College
Tue, 16 December 2014
The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) has confirmed the quality and standards of provision at Tameside College following its review in September 2014.
A team of QAA reviewers visited Tameside College and judged that its academic standards, the quality and enhancement of its student learning opportunities, and the quality of information about its learning opportunities all meet UK expectations.
The review identified a number of examples of good practice. These include:
- the range of mutually beneficial employer partnerships
- the learner voice database, which tracks issues and actions arising from multiple sources of student feedback.
The review also highlighted:
- the wide-ranging institutional support for the development of all academic and support staff, especially relating to curriculum design and the enabling of student development and achievement
- the College’s responsiveness to the needs of part-time students, thereby facilitating their progression and achievement.
The review made some recommendations for improvements, for example:
- to ensure the consistent application of monitoring processes for the timely return of assessed work in accordance with the published deadline schedules
- to revise the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy so that it includes, where appropriate, reference to the RPL policies and procedures of awarding universities.
Peter Ryder, Principal and Chief Executive of Tameside College said "I am delighted with QAAs findings which reflect not only our robust approach to meeting UK Higher Education expectations, but also the prioritisation of our learners, staff and employer partnerships."
Ellen Thinnesen, Deputy Principal said "It is very pleasing to see that reviewers identified the good practice at Tameside College linked to the learner voice. Our commitment to putting learners at the heart of all that we do will continue to be a key focus."
A successful review means that Tameside College can display the QAA Quality Mark, indicating to UK and international students that the College meets national requirements for standards and quality.
The review team included Marian Stewart (independent reviewer), Dr Andrew Walker (Rose Bruford College), Dr Steve King (University of York) and Sarah Mullins (student reviewer).