ANDOVER students are being taught by gold-standard educators, according to an education watchdog.

University Centre Sparsholt has received the highest commendation for excellence in teaching and learning with a prestigious Gold award from the Teaching Excellence and Students Outcomes Framework (TEF), regulated by the Office for Students.

The University Centre, which offers highly-specialised land-based degree programmes from Foundation level up to Masters, which are validated by the University of Portsmouth, received the much-coveted Gold for the quality of teaching, learning and assessment and consistently outstanding outcomes for students from all backgrounds.

Principal Tim Jackson said: “Outstanding teaching, excellent support and progression to further study or employment are the cornerstones of Sparsholt and these are the criteria we are proud to be judged against. These are also the criteria important to students when choosing where to study and to have these acknowledged to the highest possible standards by the TEF demonstrates that the expert teaching teams, outstanding resources and facilities deliver outstanding outcomes for our students.”

The expert TEF panel of leading academics, students and widening participation experts also praised University Centre Sparsholt for their course design, delivery and assessment practices which provide scope for outstanding levels of stretch.

Mr Jackson added: “It was very rewarding to see that the panel noted the excellent employability of students because of this mix of theoretical and practical skills where the high quality external student placements regularly lead to employment in that business or sector.”