SUNDERLAND University has been given top marks for some of its teacher training.

The Teacher Training Agency has given the university's school of education A grades for its information technology and business teaching along with eight Bs and two Cs in other areas.

The ranking is based on the findings of Ofsted inspectors who uprated the school from two (good) last year to 1.8 (very good) this year.

Professor George Shield, director of the school of education, said: "The Teacher Training Agency awards relatively few A grades so we are particularly pleased with this rating ".

Each year, 300 secondary and 150 primary teachers graduate from the university