Burton and South Derbyshire College ranked ‘silver’ in the Teaching Excellence Framework

Burton and South Derbyshire College (BSDC) has achieved the silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) for the quality of its higher education provision. Awarded by the Office for Students, the regulator of English higher education, the TEF silver status recognises higher education providers for delivering high quality teaching, learning and outcomes for students.

The TEF panel particularly commended the College for its continuous enhancement of quality teaching and learning; high quality facilities and resources and strong employer links.

The TEF is a Government-backed assessment of undergraduate teaching quality across all higher education institutions in England. It assesses excellence in teaching at universities and colleges, and how well they ensure excellent outcomes for their students in terms of graduate-level employment or further study. The results can help those considering higher education choose where to apply, alongside other sources of information.

The awards are judged by an independent panel of students, academics and other experts. The TEF assessment uses official data combined with a detailed statement from each university or college to arrive at the final rating. The data includes how many students continue their course from one year to the next, graduate-level employment outcomes, and students’ views about their experience gathered in the annual National Student Survey.

Burton and South Derbyshire College’s University Centre provides cost effective undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including HNCs, HNDs, Foundation Degrees and Honours Degrees. Run in partnership with and accredited by Staffordshire University, BSDC’s university level courses are cost effective options for anybody looking to take their career to the next step with a Higher Education course.

The College prides itself on providing a friendly and supportive atmosphere, along with small class sizes and focused one to one tutor support. Students benefit from a more flexible teaching style to university, giving them the chance to develop their skills in a supportive and learner focused environment.

Chris Beech, Assistant Principal and Dean at Burton and South Derbyshire College said: “We are delighted to have been recognised for our excellent teaching, resources and strong employer links. Smaller class sizes and more focused support means that our university level students can experience Higher Education in a completely different way to university. From state of the art facilities and training from industry professionals, to working on live industry briefs with real employers, the BSDC University Centre is dedicated to equipping students with the skills they need for success in their chosen career.”

Rhiannon, Foundation Degree in Contemporary Creative Practice student said: “I knew I wanted to stay at BSDC for my degree due to the excellent tutors and support there is here. It didn’t make sense for me to move away from that. The small class sizes at BSDC mean you are able to build an inspiring and supportive relationship with your tutors who always make sure you are comfortable with workload and assignments.”

Fellow former Foundation Degree in Contemporary Creative Practice student turned college lecturer, Steph Bonner added: “Having had a negative experience with higher education in a traditional university setting, I found the HE journey that I had at BSDC to be incredibly personal; the lecturers knew my strengths and worked with me to ensure there were opportunities for me to build on my confidence. This enabled me to go on to win a nationally recognised design prize, as well as a local competition to start a social enterprise and in turn my own business. Following this, I returned to BSDC to study further and having been inspired by the commitment my lecturers had to nurturing young talent, I have followed their lead into teaching.”