A SCHOOL’S teacher training programme has been rated Outstanding by the Government’s education watchdog.

The school-based initial teacher training (Scitt) programme at The Academy at Shotton Hall, in Peterlee, has been awarded Ofsted’s highest accolade.

Inspectors praised the excellent training on offer, commenting that newly qualified teachers from the school’s courses “are fully committed to their vocation of teaching…proud of their training, proud of their pupils’ achievement, and proud of the profession itself: they are professionals from day one.”

Inspectors also praised the strong subject knowledge of trainees and newly qualified teachers and stated that their outcomes are “well above average”.

Lesley Powell, executive principal at the Academy, said: “We are delighted that our Scitt has been recognised as outstanding and that inspectors have rubber-stamped what we know to be one of the highest quality teacher training experiences available.

“It was a big step for the Academy to take on the task of training the next generation of teachers, but the Scitt has been a great addition to the school and the award of the outstanding badge is the icing on the cake.”