Rose Bruford College of Theatre Performance has been awarded a Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), which was introduced by the Government to recognise and reward excellent teaching in UK higher education providers.

The TEF awards were decided by an independent panel of experts including academics, students and employer representatives. Drawing on national data, and evidence submitted by each university or college, the TEF measures excellence in three areas: teaching quality, the learning environment and the educational and professional outcomes achieved by students.

Based on the evidence available the TEF Panel (which is made up of students, employers widening participation experts and academics) judged that;

“Rose Bruford College delivers consistently outstanding teaching learning and outcomes for its students. It is of the highest quality found in the UK.”

The statement of findings in particular reflected evidence provided which demonstrated:

  • An embedded strategy that develops students’ performance and vocational skills demonstrating that the course design and assessment practices provide scope for outstanding level of stretch
     
  • An outstanding institutional culture of personalised learning providing the highest levels of contact time, reflecting the creative nature and conservatoire approach to teaching
     
  • Outstanding links to industry that contribute to the student experience, providing opportunities to work in simulated and real-life professional environments
     
  • High quality physical and digital resources that support learning and are consistently made use of by all groups of students
     
  • An embedded institutional culture that facilitates, recognises and rewards excellent teaching linked professional practice

The gold award is another external validation of the College delivering the highest quality of teaching and standards, following the awarding of Taught Degree Awarding Powers in January 2017 and the UK quality mark by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) standard in November 2014.

Principal and Chief Executive, Professor Michael Earley, said;

‘'The Gold TEF ranking is a major endorsement for Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance and the kind of teaching and learning excellence that led to our receiving Taught Degree Awarding Powers in 2017. We are in the top rank of UK conservatoires and now rank with the best universities in the Teaching Excellence Framework. The Gold award is something we share with all students, staff and alumni, all of whom delivered this tremendous result.'’

Vice Principal, Dr. Andrew Walker, added;

‘We are thrilled to have received such an award. This reflects the tremendous work undertaken by all of the College’s staff in providing our students with a high quality learning experience during their studies on our wide range of undergraduate programmes –both full-time, part-time, on-campus and online –  in our School of Design, Management and Technical Arts and School of Performance.‘

The results and the underlying evidence will help students thinking about which university or college to apply to for autumn 2018, and encourage teaching and learning excellence across the UK.

Madeleine Atkins, Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England, said:

“Students invest significant amounts of time and money in their higher education. They rightly expect a high-quality learning experience and outcomes that reflect their potential. The UK already has a high bar for quality and standards, which all universities and colleges must meet. But the TEF judges excellence above and beyond this, clearly showing the highest levels across the sector.

“The TEF measures the things that students themselves say they care about: high-quality, egaged teaching and a supportive, stimulating learning environment which equips them with the knowledge and skills they need to achieve their potential, and then to progress to a good job or further study.”