Our track record of success is recognised in our overall student satisfaction rates, which are higher than both the regional and national averages. This is reflected in our recent Gold award in the
Teaching Excellence Framework – a national Government award programme that rates the quality of teaching and employment outcomes. We were the only general further education college or University in the Tees Valley to receive this highest accolade.
The Open University shares our ambition to deliver flexible learning that equips students with the skills and knowledge that employers need. We offer a different student experience to a traditional university, with smaller class sizes, affordable programmes and more contact time with tutors. Our courses provide the right balance of teaching input and academic support and resources, essential to developing independent learners with graduate skills and good employment outcomes.
We are also in the processing of developing our higher education portfolio, to include a bigger range of higher apprenticeships degree programmes. Many of our programmes are available to study on a full and part-time basis, giving our students the flexibility to study around their work and home life commitments.
Colleges up and down the country are increasingly being seen as an alternative provider of university level courses. The increase means that over 159,000 people now choose to study a higher education course at college (AOC, 2016).
