Runshaw College has been selected to become a National Teaching School.
Teaching Schools take a leading role in recruiting and training new entrants to the profession, identifying leadership potential and providing support for other schools.
Runshaw is one of only four colleges in England to be granted teaching school status in the latest round, alongside The Blackpool Sixth Form College, Loreto College, and Truro & Penrith College.
Introduced in 2011, Teaching Schools are all rated as “outstanding”. They work with partner schools and colleges in an alliance to ensure high quality school and college-led initial teacher training and professional development opportunities for teachers at all stages of their career.
They raise standards through college to college support, engage in research and development, and ensure that the most talented school and college leaders are spotted and supported to become successful headteachers.
The National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) has a responsibility, in partnership with headteachers from the Teaching Schools Council, for the designation and quality of the teaching schools programme.
Simon Partington, Principal of Runshaw College said “We were absolutely delighted that the NCTL has recognised Runshaw’s enduring excellence and ongoing positive contribution to the sector by selecting the college to be a National Teaching School. Through our Runshaw Teaching School Alliance we will continue to offer exceptional teacher training opportunities and expand our support work with other schools and colleges.”
Charlie Taylor, the Chief Executive of NCTL, said: “Runshaw College should be very proud of this achievement. The college has been recognised as a centre of excellence in its area, with an outstanding performance and a track record of raising standards through supporting other colleges and schools.”
“There are now 600 Teaching Schools around the country with more to follow. They are at the heart of an increasingly school and college-led system, leading the way in improving the quality of our teachers and helping the schools and colleges in their partnership to become even better. Like Teaching Hospitals, they have become centres of excellence across the country, conducting research and training teachers.”