LEADERS of a Skipton based teacher training programme have welcomed an 'outstanding' rating by Ofsted.

In its first inspection since being set up in 2015, the Northern Lights School Centred Initial Teaching Training (SCITT) programme also received an overall 'good' by inspectors.

Based at Skipton Girls High School, in partnership with Feversham College, Bradford - both also rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted - the programme works with secondary and primary schools across North Yorkshire, Bradford, and Lancashire.

They include Ermysted's Grammar School, Skipton; Settle College and Upper Wharfedale School, Threshfield; and Carleton CoE Primary School, Water Street Primary School, and Greatwood Primary School, Skipton, and Gargrave Primary School.

Inspectors praised leaders and management for a 'highly ambitious strategic vision' and a commitment to providing 'high quality teachers in areas where recruitment is difficult'.

Meanwhile, overall effectiveness, in how the partnership secured consistently high quality outcomes for its trainees; outcome for trainees, and quality of training, were all rated the second highest 'good'.

In its report, Ofsted said key to the success of training teachers to meet local needs in Bradford and in North Yorkshire was the diverse range of partner schools.

"Trainees have the opportunity to undertake complementary placements and to gain the skills needed to work in a variety of socio-economic contexts as well as schools judged to require improvement."

Jenn Plews, chief executive of Northern Lights, and executive headteacher of Skipton Girls, said:“Our teacher training programme was first developed as a way of growing high quality teaching talent in Bradford and North Yorkshire. Nationally and locally there is a significant shortage of teachers and there are needs to develop more teachers to make sure that schools in our region have high quality, skilled professionals supporting our children to thrive. The outstanding training on offer is testament to the partnership and hard work of our staff and schools who support trainees to be the best.”

Northern Lights trains people to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), and post graduate certificates of education, for secondary and primary education.

In June last year, 17 trainees went on to become teachers, and 25 others are due to complete their training in June.

Judith Kirk, Bradford Council’s Deputy Director for Education, Employment and Skills said: “This is a very positive report which reflects well on the Initial Teacher Education provided by the Northern Lights SCITT partnership.

“It praises the quality of the training provided, the outcomes it secures for its trainees and the partnership’s leadership and management which is rated as outstanding.

“Northern Lights works with many partner schools in our district and is making a big contribution to training teachers who can make a difference to the education of young people in Bradford."